Come Around

My blood rain was the final straw that broke the camel's back. In a few minutes, the ships were sinking into the ocean, few to little marines resurfacing only to be promptly captured by my forces.

Gliding to the ground, I looked around. I didn't see any bodies and only a few injured. I was starting to wonder why when I felt it. In each of my soldiers, I could sense the presence of altered DNA. The variation differed significantly, but it was there.

"Fleet Admiral!" I turned to the voice and saw a human soldier in a salute. There was an insignia on his uniform marking him as at least an officer. "What is it?"

"Vice Admiral Abby wants to see you in the communications tent." I paused, "And pray tell where that would be?" The officer pointed into the forest, "It's right around your lab, less than a stone's throw."

I quickly thanked him before running to see what was going on. Every soldier snapped to a salute as I passed by, and I could spot different mutations from them taking the darwin serum. There was also a trend of those higher up in the rank having more specialized augmentations belying their strength.

Reaching the command tent, I pushed aside the flap and almost hit by a head-on collision. The attendant quickly apologized before going on, not even noticing who I was. Ignoring her, I moved on. The room was circular with an outer ring of communications with an inner circle dominated by a large war map.

Around the war map, I recognized Abby Evos's love interest, who was studying the table intensely. Almost immediately, I felt the presence of the serum in her DNA, and her appearance reflected it.

Her skin was almost pure white with specks of blue reflecting the light, but the most prominent feature was the two nearly invisible antennae that tucked behind her ears and trailed down her back.

Periodically blue light ran up their lengths, "Abby, you wanted to see me?" Her head snapped up from the table, shocked, "Fleet Admiral, you're finally awake. I almost didn't believe the reports of that attack you pulled off."

I frowned, "How long have I been out?" Abby sighed, "Nearly a month, you were pretty banged up. Even though all your injuries healed and the doctor said you were in perfect health, you refused to come out of the comma."

A wave of guilt and dread washed over me, "How many battles have I missed?" Abby's head hung low, "We've been almost in constant battle the day after you left. After their first attack, there haven't been too many casualties. We have you to thank for that. It was what saved my life and gave me my powers. Like so many others."

"What do you mean powers?" I asked, still trying not to think about the trouble I could have saved by being present. Abby smiled a gestured around her, "All of this, when I took the final dose, I was able to pick up waves lengths. I have a form of telepathy now. It makes me perfect for my role as the communications officer."

Diving into her DNA, I quickly isolated the gene and found that she was telling the truth, "That's a pretty useful ability. I have to ask, though, who else has taken the final dose." Abby was about to answer when her antenna lit up, and she closed her eyes.

A second later, she smiled, "Actually, here comes one of them now." The flap opened, and I smiled when I saw who walked through. He was much taller, now nearly two feet, but that was all I was able to notice when I locked eyes with Evos.

"Soren!" The young man launched himself at me, hugging me tightly, and I felt my ribs creak, "Easy, now I just woke up don't want to send me into another coma." Evos laughed sheepishly and backed up, allowing me to get a good look at him.

Besides his apparent growth, there were more subtle changes. Alongside his neck, I could spot several slits on both sides. His skin also felt smoother, almost slippery, and it had a chill to it.

Evos noticed me checking out his mutation and smiled, "After Abby took it, I decided I should just about and sign up. All of us did, though most wanted to keep their natural features."

"Not you, however?" I asked, "Trust me. The benefits were well worth it. And if you still doubt me, you should see the others. I'm the least changed out of all of them."

Trying not to let my imagination run wild, I turned back to Abby, "So after my coma, what happened." She sighed as if remembering as if the event was yesterday, "They came out of nowhere. It was just before dusk. Suddenly the sky lit up with cannon fire and flaming boulders hurled from siege weapons. Luckily Karathen was able to get us out of the cross hands, though not before the damage was done."

"The next day, we started to give out the serum to everyone who wanted it," Evos picked up where Abby left off. "Since then, the Marines have been on our asses. In the first battle, they separated us from our allies. Luckily, we can set up a location to meet up and before the final attack with Abby's ability."

"I missed the hand-off on this one, didn't I?" Evos smiled though there was a sad undertone, "Maybe, no one can blame you. What you were doing was part of the plan, and it happened to backfire. The thing is, you're here now, and it couldn't be a better time."

Nodding, I picked myself up, "Okay then, Abby can you send out a message that I need to see all ranking officials?" She nodded before closing her eyes, "I'm telling them to meet you here."

I smiled, "Good it's about time I take control around here."