Different

Needless to say that the members of Team C were surprised to see Kane back in one piece. They were further surprised to see her deny their claims that she got evicted. Their suspicions were clarified during the next day of the training, that is after a week since Kaze escaped their planet, when Kane was chosen as the Captain of team C. Surprisingly enough no one, including Kane herself was happy about the situation.

That day, from every team a Captain was selected, to send them for group missions. Their training was soon about to be group oriented which meant, they will see your strength as a group instead of an individual. As for team C, it was already most broken, with a member less giving them a tactical disadvantage from the rest of teams. Nevertheless, they had no choice but to go ahead as a group of four instead of five.

 "Guys, something's not right" That day, after their training session ended, Sanders sister told the rest of the team.

"As in"? Her brother asked.

"I dunno. I went home to talk to mom, she… she has been acting weird" Sander's sister mumbled.

"Stacy, our mom is always acting weird," Sanders brother shrugged.

"Yeah, but Wayne, that's the thing. She is distant, cold… barely around, right?" She asked her brother, "But, she made me a welcome home lasagna"

"Maybe she made lasagna and said it's welcome home" Wayne shrugged. 

"No, she made it after I went there," Stacy insisted. "Okay, maybe we can overlook that, but… she hugged me," Stacy said with a lot of surprise in her voice.

"Hugged you"? Even her brother, Wayne Sanders, was shocked.

"Yeah," Stacy gave him a horrified nod.

Xander who happened to overhear them simply shook his head due to the family drama. So? A mother hugged her daughter who had been gone for a month? Is it really that much of a surprise? People do miss other people.

Kane, who was just throwing a ball in the air, just to catch it, stopped in the middle. "At any point, did she feel like… I dunno she was someone else"? Kane asked Stacy.

"Yeah"? Unsure, Stacy replied. "Why"?

"Nothing". Kane shook her head.

"Look, if you know something, tell us. Secrets are fine, but we need to learn to act as a group" Wayne insisted, surprisingly calmer than usual.

"I have been going through this thread in snippicks, it's an app. Many people are complaining that people they know are different. They 'feel' different, but no one would believe them because they sound ' too crazy'" Kane shrugged.

"Now that you mention, I had noticed a change in our boss in the shop I used to work with" Xander mumbled. "I mean, I didn't know him well enough, but he was suddenly… I dunno. Paying me on time and all. I didn't pay much attention to it, but..." Xander sighed.

"Do you guys really think something is going on"? Stacy asked.

Everyone simply looked at each other. Kane went into deep thought before mumbling, "Only one way to find out"  she got up from her bed, and was about to leave when Xander blocked her route. "If you are gonna go wandering off again, tell us where you're going"!

"You can follow me if you want, now move"! Kane threatened. Xander shook his head which prompted Kane to scoff, "You know I can just throw you away, right?"  She challenged, pushing her tongue against her cheek.

"Go ahead, I know how to fight"  Xander pursed his lips, "We have risked a lot following your whims, risking the threat of getting evicted. I know you don't trust anyone but, you're our team leader, you need to trust us, at least a little bit." Xander declared sternly.

"And what makes you trustworthy"? Kane challenged.

"I'll follow you," Xander declared. 

"We all will" The siblings declared from the back. Kane looked around and wondered what the hell was wrong with these people. A few hours ago they couldn't stand her being the Captain, and now they are all up for being a team.

"Our team is really weak, and we have decided we are willing to work on it. As a team leader, as our Captain, are you"? Xander asked Kane, inadvertently answering Kane's dilemma.

"I am going to the transmogrification room," Kane declared. "I am sure like Dr. Karen Raymond, there were many who didn't make the list of authorised transitions. But I wanna verify it with my own eyes." She declared.

"We'll go with you" Xander nodded, glancing at the other two who nodded as well.

"Fine, just keep your mouths and your phones quiet. We must not get discovered" Kane declared.

She led them to the transmogrification room, which was indeed quite difficult considering how everything was back online. Not only did she need to avoid security checks, she also needed to avoid the cameras and other security protocols put up there since Kaze's arrival made the IAEA question the security of the room.

Surprisingly, she managed to nail every bit of it, impressing her teammates along the way. "I want to ask how you know all this stuff, but I know I am not gonna get an answer" Xander mumbled.

"So you are not an idiot anymore. Good for you" Kane offered him a sarcastic smile. They entered the room, to find it empty and found themselves a perfect dark, empty corner to hide.

Even after ours there was really nothing much going on, until a slimy substance slid right below the door. "Is that-" Stacy was about to ask, in a whisper, but was silenced by her brother by putting a hand on her mouth. He indicated to her to stay sushed and simply observe as even the slightest noise can make things worse. 

Kane however, took out her phone, zoomed in the camcorder and started recording. The slimy substance took a form, a form of an alien… then again it turned into a semi-solid substance before it took a human form, which resembled none other than… Captain Mckinley.