The Citadel..again..

The ship docked into the Citadel. Various crew members left as soon as we docked. Leaving ahead of time instead of waiting for dismissal procedures. I thought this was rude but not Maldova, she understood the hurry. They each left messages saying they would come back for the goodbyes. Some were regretful some were not. They were just happy to be debt-free again.

Before Maldova went to make her report to the Citadel, I talked to her again. I did my best to get her to listen to me. With a lot of persuasion and coercion, we went to an apartment Galtea had rented for me. Entering inside I realized it was pretty spacious, very luxurious and then some. What shocked me the most, was that Galtea was here. In her physical form no less. So were Alistair and Alma. Jaina stood at the bar drinking something. Whatever it was, it was full of magic that's for sure.

I felt my pulse quick when I saw them all. I was happy and something else that I couldn't quite make out. I felt the Soul aspect of my power shift about. It gave me new insight on how everyone was doing. More of how they were doing spiritually than psychically or emotionally like my biotic strands did. Shaking it off, I listened to Galtea talk to the crew. It went on for a few hours or so. I piped in when I didn't like what she said.

"I rather not do that." Looking at Maldova and the crew wide-eyed in the apartment. These were the ones she trusted.

"It will make it easier to convince them," Galtea said. "Just do it! Multiple ones at that."

"Fine." I accessed my inventory and tripped out at the items inside. 'Man I have not used my stuff in a while it feels like.'

System: Racial pull... found a valid target... Laguz blood.. on hold. Magical pull... matches found. Dark Fire.. incompatible... Dark Water used instead.. on hold. Primarch genetic information found... adapting... on hold. User has Overlord abilities adapting... upgrading mana storage...

"This will only hurt for a moment," Galtea said smiling. "Release all holds." She waved her hand in the air and the room shifted a little.

System: Initiating. Laguz mutated due to the presence of Operator XXXX... changed to Demonic Cerebus... Dark Water.. cannibalized into Rune Magic.. Intelligence increased.. by 2 physical attributes increase by 1

"Aaahhh!" My skin started to burn off as a large amount of magic erupted from within me. My bones broke under the pressure while my muscles tore. "Ahhh!" I could only scream in pain. As I felt myself burning away I reformed into a large wolf. I could feel my massive body still aching. But that was not the biggest problem. The smell was. A sensory overload had me seeing spots.

System: Dexterity Check Successful 23

My paws scraped the floor as I tried standing up straight. "Groo roo ra." My voice came out in barks. I was trying to say this is hard. With luck on my side, I stood up on all fours. " Grr ro." I did it.

"Clap, clap. Good job" Galtea said. "How do you feel? Does it still hurt?" She looked me up and down before reaching for my nose.

"Chop," I snapped at her fingers and glared at her.

"Easy. Can you not speak with words. No matter." With a glowing finger, she pointed at me. Warm energy invaded my body.

My throat parted and new tissue started to grow. I felt like throwing up. In a matter of moments, the pain vanished. I was left with a searing headache.

"You are starting to get on my nerves," I told her. My voice sounds rough and slightly off. "My voice has changed .. why?"

"New vocal cords. They will always adapt when you take different forms. I remember how you hate not having the ability to communicate." Galtea then looked toward Maldova and her crew. "So do you believe us now?"

"After that.. yes. I know I speak for myself when I say I will come with. As long as you allow me to help with our world as well." Looking at the people with her she saw the look of wonder. "You have us at your employee."

"That is good. I think it best if everyone takes this time to do a little shopping for personal effects and the like before we depart." Galtea said addressing them each.

"How are we going to depart. I am losing my ship."

"That will be taken care of by us. Dont worry..." Galtea looked at me still in my wolf form. "You stay wolf boy. We need to discuss a few things."

"Grr fine!" I was not happy. Watching the others leave I sat my butt on the floor. "What is it?"

"You need to know something. Your death will only keep you from that world. Unless their is a method for the resurrection that defines the world itself. You will drop in power as well as stats." Galtea said walking over to me. "I am making it hard for you on purpose. Someone is still watching us. I have to do what I can to make you stronger. I know that is what you want. Strength to live. So I will keep it up. I am ok with you getting mad every now and then. I know deep down it is due to what is happening." She released her own power washing it over me.

I felt she enjoyed tormenting me. She did not hide it in the least. I was able to pick up something else behind that though. Everything she was doing to me helped her grow stronger than me somehow. She questions what was happening. Wanting to find faster results.. she pushed it further and faster. But she knew it made me stronger. I could not wrap my head around this at all really. I felt like a glorified putz.

"You take the trouble to get the points. I will use the points correctly. I have not wasted any." Galtea smiled playfully. "I will make sure your people and the places you go to will be ready. Be careful though, the System will calculate accordingly and send more missions."

She brushed her hand through my fur. I wanted to growl but stopped when I saw the look in her eye.

"Makes sense," I said not really caring for some reason. "Wait... what about the others who are with me during that time? What happens to them? You know when I die and all."

"If they are key to the world.. they will be sent back fully integrated if you die." Galtea stared at me. "They can become recruited again but it will cost much more unless other measures are taken. I am working on making them stronger so dont worry about that. Just get stronger, I can feel your worry. Your Empath powers are stronger than your body can handle. You are an open book at times."

I couldn't help it. I rubbed my head against her face. My Soul Power started to climb upward. Moving a paw out I pulled her closer to me. I kept her despite her few struggles. I felt my body enlarge again, stronger but settling quickly. Laying my head down, I was surprised when Jaina walked over slightly drunk. Well, mana drunk anyway. She leaned against my stomach and took a nap.

"Nice and comfy. Reminds me of a dire wolf I met." Her voice slurred.

Galtea smiled and leaned into me and slept when she realized I was not letting her go. Alma and Alistair smiled before leaving. Sophia came from out of the kitchen and climbed on top me taking a nap as well. Apparently, I was the new sofa I guess. I finally saw my engineer again. We barely spoke much on the ship.

He moved to my back paw and leaned against it. One of the male members from Galtea crew curled up with him.

I didn't my biotic strands to tell me what was going with them two. Sending him a message, I wished him good luck. He turned and smiled at me before looking at the man in his embrace. They snuggled tighter as he smiled.

'Well glad someone found themselves, someone.' "Ah," I yawned softly before resting. I looked in on the others resting in my Netherealm. Well some of them anyway. A few of the others took Mileena and the rest to the medical facilities here. I was not looking forward to that bill. Before I fully relaxed I saw Alita digitized across from me. "What is it?"

'Speak to me in your mind." Alita sent to me. 'It is time for me to pull my weight. I have recovered enough. At least I think so anyway.'

'Sure you have. But...' I ran my power over her slowly. 'No. Continue to rest more. However..' I felt something happening in the Citadel as I looked that way. "Hmmm, I have something for you to do. Head to the medical area. Check on our people for me. Someone thought it was a good idea to put tabs on them... in an informal way."

'Very well.' Alita thought to me softly. She was a little bothered I didnt continue the conversation telepathically.

'I dont know why you wanted to do it that way.. but the reason I spoke out loud was for her.' I nudged my head to the side. 'It was for her over there hiding all the time.'

With a flicker, Kasumi appeared. She nodded to me and then looked at Alita in her wolf form. In a split second, Alita turned into magical energy and wrapped around Kasumi.

"Ohh, that is defintely nice," Kasumi said touching her Omni-tool. She reactivates her cloaking and left.

'Alita keep her safe. Stay in touch as well.' I finally went to sleep after that. I felt Galtea shift near me. She turned to me sleeping heavily almost defenseless. Her few loose strands let me know she was scared of something.

'Ahh so many problems. I need to discuss this with myself.'

(Half a day later back at the hanger.)

Galtea stood in front of her other crew members who were leaving. She gave them a hard look from behind her visor. I still have not seen what she looks like other it. It was infuriating not knowing.

"Attention Crew. I will miss all of you. best of luck to you and everything you do in the future. Just always remember you were once A member of Maldova Mercenaries. Keep your head held hide."

With that, the crew members left the hanger. The next moment Citadel officials came up to the ship and started to take it apart.

"It will be ok. Come on I have a surprise for you." Gesturing for her from getting too emotional I tried to get her away from all of this.

"Ugh, what is it Sunstrider? Look at the remainder of my crew. I still need to get work for them. I won't let them down." Remembering something she turned to me. "I know you will provide opportunities in the future. but the here and now needed to be addressed."

"Just follow me… Captain." Walking off I turned towards the small shuttle. "They will be paid coming with us. In various ways."

"A Captain without a ship."

In a few minutes, everyone loaded in with there supplies and gear. In the other shuttle, the rest loaded up. Leaving the Citadel I explain to her what was gonna happen next. She was still skeptical about the rifting apart.

'Galtea are we ready?' I asked through the System link. I rather not alert anybody via omni-tool.

Galtea: Yes. Activating cloaking ring now.

The ships disappeared from sensor view.

Pulling into the docking bay. I exited the shuttle. "Come on already," I said over comms.

The crew unloaded from both locations.

Maldova looked around the hanger. It was massive. More than the standard ship they all had in the current fleets.

"This will be your new vessel to command. Everyday ship activates are yours such as upkeep. Making sure it stays in the air. Well, space anyway. When we are in this Galaxy feel free to send others out for mission as you see fit. I will still be in charge of my team as well as getting funds." looking at her gobsmacked look I noticed the others as well. "This is a Paris-class heavy frigate from one of the first worlds I gained abilities from. It has been modified with a Cerebus blueprint, Imperium flagships, as well a few other places.

"I… can definitely do that." Maldova looked at her Omni-Tool that received an update of the ship capabilities.

Looking back I stared at her and the crew for a moment. "Meh, you all with get straighten out by her. So far from me just dont break my ship. It is new. Chari can you find me later when you have the time? As for you Hotshot..."

"Yeah, what is it?"

"I am gonna brief you on the first assignment we have. Come with me. We are going to meet up with Riku and Sophia." We left the area at a brisk pace. She was very excitied to get started.

Going through the magic we talked a little about the change that she will experience. It took about a half-hour before she understood the gist of it. I got it she was really excitied about it.

"The first place we are going to… well, it does not have Asari. The only thing close to you is like a Fishman thing. I am pretty sure you do not want to look like that." I looked at her reaction in the corner of my eye.

"I do not. But why cant I just look like me? I do not mind sticking out."

"Well you might get mistaken as something called a 'sin spawn' and I definitely dont need you killing people for that."

"Fine then!" She said lightly ticked. "What can I be then?"

"Human, Ronso if you want to be furry. There is a human variant called Al Bhed. They have a higher affinity with water and I think technology."

"Hmm, let's go with the Ronso. I wanna try being furry." She said gleefully. I imagined her with whiskers and stifled a laugh. We joked around and talked about various things. Making it to the Gym area we stopped. "Ok change into this." I handed her a standard Lin Kuei garb. It was completely white. "Once we get your elemental option we will get it changed."

She undressed right on the spot. I was a little surprised she did so. I started to close my eyes to not be rude but stopped immediately. Her biotics brushed against me. I then felt the biotic strand. She wanted me to look. For some reason, she was comfortable around me. She needed me to look. From the stand, it excited her like in her younger days. With another wave of her biotics, I received an impression of her and a few other Asari fighting side by side.

"You.. you are a Justicar. Were a Justicar..." I couldn't help but say. Seeing her frown I apologize immediately. "My sincerest apologies. It is my biotics at work. If you like, I will not bring it up again." I rubbed my temples. 'I am changing somehow..mentally that is. Why is that? Is it the memories of the others or something else?'

"No. It is fine." She stared at me intently. "You do.. something with Chari do you not? No dont tell me what it is. I definitely dont want to know. I would not be able to look at her straight if you did." She said putting her hands up in front. "Just if I ask you to talk to me... sit with me. Will you do it?"

"Huh. Yeah of course. As long as some calamity is not happening I will make time for you. We are a team. Hopefully friends someday."

I saw a flicker in her eyes. A small smile crept in then left. "Right a team." She said somewhat, I guess cryptically.

"Alright. Anyway time to unlock your elemental affinity. Something for you to build up and train within your downtime."

"Sure no problem."

I grabbed her by the hands and circulated my water abilities. Purchasing from the system the basic body unlock to help with the process. A quick hour passed by as the water coursed through her. Her affinity seemed to be really high already.

"Good job. That is a lot of water." Seeing her frown a little, I tried to determine the problem. "What is the problem?"

"This drains a lot of energy. I was using the sweat off my body to help supplement it. But that won't work. Not till I get the hang of it at least." Hotshot stopped and pattered her feet across the floor. A smile appeared on her face as she grabbed my hand and headed off. "This does not work like my biotics. Not fair it does for you."

"Where are we going?" I hadn't the foggiest idea what she was thinking of heading to.

"To an area with a lot of water." She gripped me tighter. She pulled me into the shower area.

I instantly had flashbacks of Bootcamp. Well, it was different this time. I had a woman next to me. She took off her clothes and stared at me.

"Come on, get undressed already. I am not doing this by myself." She had a look of mischief in her eyes. Something that just dared me to do something, but not actually do it. Riku tends to always have that look as well. "Besides you are my Master. Are you gonna stand there and not supervise me correctly?"

"Umm, right." My head was swimming slightly. I took my clothes off and set them to the side. With the day I had already a bath would be nice. Well a shower anyway. "Pulling something like this, knowing I have to behave myself. Oh man, this is just not fair."

"I have shut off the drains. So the water will pool up. After we finish I will turn the recycler to give it a double dose to clean it all up." Hotshot said amused. She keyed in a sequence and the two shower towers came on. She set it to sprinkle I guess.

The water came out thinly as she closed her eyes and concentrated. After a few minutes, the water that immediately came out started to gravitate towards her. Eyes still closed, her hands raised up and the water followed suit. As I watched the droplets rise my Soul power and Rune magic activated.

I started to fold my legs as I floated on top of the water. Small little ripples opened on the surface. Little images of people danced and played about. Physic impressions from somewhere. Most of them came from her. A memory maybe. Or possibly her childhood.

'Best I dont interrupt. I will guide her with my second mind. Need to go over my stats with primary mind.' Assigning my points I still couldn't get over the rest of my points. I cannot even start to understand the amount that was spent on everything. The ship and the crew she purchased... ugh made my stomach hurt. 'Why did my base stats change so much. This does not make any sense.'

Name: Azul Sunstrider Class: Soldier (Experiment) Second Class:

Level: 13 AC: 19 Health: 286/286 Cantrips 4 Spells 2

Strength: 23 Constitution: 31 Dexterity: 23 Intelligence: 26 Wisdom: 35 Charisma: 24

Lv 3 239/500 Adrenaline Rush, Lv5 321 /370 Biotic Shielding, Lv4 1/100 Misty Fist,

Lv1 85/150 Concussive Shot, Lv2 1951/3500 Mental Cleansing, Lvl3 0/6000 Rune Magic

Physical Traits: Pather, Biotic Armored Body, Primarch 3/??, Eldar Pysker, Laguz

Mental Traits: Lustful, Brash, Curious, Dazful, Blunt, Foolish, Kind, Ruthless, Egotistical, Persona, Physic Digital Gland

Abilities: Mediation II, Mental Suppression II, Soul Power/Psycho Power, Psychic

Equipment: System, Omni-Tool, Cerberus Node/Digital field, Archaic System

Skills: Gun: B 15/250 Melee: B 10/800 Tech: C 55/250 Sword: D 85/150 Medical: C 110/460

Science: C 124/310 Engineering Reversal: D 93/200 Magic: C 85/400

System Abilities: Inventory Medium, Store, Auxiliary Subroutine, Observe, Netherworld (Locked)

Companion Slots: 4/9

Follower Slots: 2/XXX

Pets:1/9

Standing: Lady Maldova: ???? Chari: 1374 Slipp: ??? Riku: 1504 Alistair: 2540 Mia:??? Lluvia: XXX Shalla: 1400 Mileena: ????

Crew:4254

System Points: 7,000

Companion Points: 7390

Loyalty Points: 7

Knowledge: Alliance, Cerberus, Lin Kuei, Geneticists, Sacae, Netherworld, Imperium, Eldar, Saint, Laguz,

Inventory: Digimon Terminal, Growlanser Ring, Common pulls 2x, Banner, 3 Auxiliary patches, 3 soul patches, 2 Mind patches, High pull x3, Weapon pull common 8x, Clothing pull x3, Sphere Grid Custom, Stone????, Standard Cerebus Armor, Standard Mjolnir Mark IV Powered Assault Armor (Locked)