A black and white recording of Davidson and the bull played on the wall. It was somewhat surprising to Davidson engage the creature so intensely. Almost as if he had something against the man. He would have to talk to Haily soon about her observation. Ah, his favorite part was coming up, where Davidson jump down a level to get the bull. His finger hovered over the rewind button. It was so tempting to watch that part again, but he doubted his visitor would appreciate it that much. Davidson had jumped into the air, aiming his right foot at the bull. Anderson froze the image before contact was made. No sense in seeing that part replayed. He memorized that particular image as soon as he saw it.

He pressed a button on the on the control in his desk and the screen went black while a panel slide down hiding it from view. Mitchell walked foreword and stood at ease. Anderson leaned back and steepled his fingers. “Somewhat impressive.”

“He’s a little raw for my taste,” Mitchell replied.” The only reason he won is because the bull underestimated him. And I’m sure the bull falling on the back of his neck helped a lot.”

“He used his environment to his advantage,” he countered.

“He got lucky. Personally I want to see how he does against an opponent with a little more skill.”

“If things go right you may get your wish.” Anderson leaned foreword and picked up Mitchell’s report of the encounter. “Remind me, what did he say as he was performing that last kick?”

“He said ‘Rider kick’ sir.”

“Any idea why he would say something like that?”

“Haily talked to him about it afterwards. Something about honoring a dearly departed friend or something like that.”

Anderson closed the file and took that in. A small opening into Davidson psyche, perhaps the first link in handling him. He would put more thought into it later. Right now there were more important matter to deal with. “Have the remains been taken care of?”

Mitchell nodded, “Just as ordered. They’re in store room C on the med lab floor. I already had the appropriate people called in. The ceremony will not be disturbed.”

“Good, double the guard for the remains. I don’t want them touched for any reason. Only the people involved are allowed in. The ceremony will take place in an hour.”

“Yes sir.” Mitchell saluted and left. Anderson reached for the control the moment he was alone. The panel slide down and the screen came to life. Davidson was still frozen in mid air. What was the best way to handle this situation?

***
After the battle Friedman insisted he return to his room. He told Jack he wanted to make sure nothing went wrong after his transformation. So now Friedman had him hooked up to various monitors in the room. The big surprise was a tech named Armstrong who had him rematerialized the belt so a diagnostic could be hooked up to his new system. There was nothing much he could do except lie there until the test were finished. At least somebody put a mattress on the metal bed since he woke up.

The only thing he could do at the moment was think. Think about how he’d lost six months of his life. About Richie. About the suits Mitchell and his men were wearing. Jack didn’t realize it at the time but the men after the monkey wore something similar. These guys were obviously trained and prepared to take them on. Why did they need something like him?

Rachel came into his view and smiled at him, “How you feeling Jack?”

He looked at the wires connecting him to the computers in the room, “Like a string puppet.”

Friedman chuckled, “You think this is bad? You should have seen how you were hooked up when you first arrived.” There was an image he didn’t need. “Everything looks normal on my end. How about you Barry?”

“Everything’s green,” Armstrong said before unhooking him from the computer. The belt faded away soon afterward. Jack wanted to ask how it did that but he was afraid of what kind of techno babble he would have gotten. But there was one thing he just had to know.

He propped himself up and said, “So, you were one of the guys who created this system inside me?”

“One of them,” he admitted. “Is there something you wanted to know?”

“Yeah, why do I look like a bug?” Rachel rubbed her forehead and started muttering in what sounded like French. He asked a couple of people a few times since he saw his reflection in the windshield. So far nobody had an answer for him.

“Is that all?”, Armstrong looked surprised. “It was purely psychological. You’ve seen what you were up against. It was felt that if they saw something similar to them it would cause them to pause momentarily.”

“So you turned me into a metal bug…”

“A dragonfly to be exact,” he interrupted.

“… with red eyes?”

“We took a little creative license.”

“And the power boost in my right foot?”

“That was Tim’s idea actually.” He shrugged his shoulders, “Not sure were he got the idea.”

“I’m sure Jack does,” Rachel told him. Friedman had him unhooked in a matter of moments and they left the room. She pulled up a chair as he swung his legs over the side of the bed. “I looked up those programs you mentioned. Your activator word doesn’t seem quite as strange now.”

“If I knew what I was going to turn into I would have tried a little harder to think of something else. I’m telling you Richie’s having himself a good laugh right about know.” he looked up, “Maybe an ‘I told you’ so if he could get away with it.”

“I’m sure he wouldn’t say that.”

“You didn’t know Richie. I’m telling you if he was in my position he’d be grinning ear to ear while dancing a little jig.”

“Sounds like an interesting guy.”

“That’s one way of putting it.”

She smiled before getting serious again, “I suppose we should continue our little talk. I’m pretty sure nothing in here is going to turn into one of those creatures.”

“If it does I’m hiding behind you.”

Acting like he didn’t say anything she continued, “You already know what the Fusion system can do. It enhances your strength and your speed. Not super strong or fast, we weren’t sure if the human body could take it. But you’re at least three times stronger than a normal human. That should put you on par with the average Drakan.”

“Drakan? Is that what the monkey and bull are called.”

“Yeah, they’ve been around for a long time. There have been reports that theorize that the werewolf myth was based on them.” She paused, obviously waiting for him to make some kind of remark. When he said nothing she went on, “We think most of them just want to be left alone and live out their lives peacefully. It’s the more violent ones that we’re concerned with.”

“Like the ones who places bombs and set’s them off?” She nodded. “I got an idea were this is heading and to be honest with you I really don’t want to think about this right now.”

“Fair enough. How about after you get something to eat? I did promise you some lunch after all.”

“Ok, but the first sign of somebody turning into anything and I’m turning around and heading the other way.”

***
Anderson walked the hall with Mitchell right behind him. The people they past greeted them, he barely acknowledge them. Store room C quickly came into view. The guards saw them and reacted immediately, one punched a code into a keypad and the other open the door for them. He said nothing to the men or to the others people in the room. Mitchell gave them and the two guards inside orders, “Guard the hallway. Nobody, and I mean nobody get within fifty feet of this room.”

“Understood,” one of them said. Mitchell closed the door and stood in front of it.

Anderson walked around the group until he stood at the head of the table. He looked at each of the people standing there then at the remains of the once mighty bull. “Some of you might say it was wrong to sacrifice this one. You might be right, we lost a loyal follower to the cause. One who gave his life to the cause

“Let us not forget we currently live a life of conflict. In that life sacrifices must be made. We had a weapon that needed to be tested.”

“So why him?”, one of them asked. A breach in protocol but it was better to deal with this now then let it fester.

“Who better than one of the strongest of us,” he answered. “Not only that, but one of the bravest as well. Would one of you have agreed to test the prototype so willingly? You all saw the tape of his death. Could any of you look at your certain demise and not flinch?” They all looked at each other but said nothing. He knew that would get them. The alpha always knew how to handle his pack.

“Let us no longer sully this solemn moment with whys or why nots. We are here to herald this ones arrival to the next life. We herald his arrival to the place were our brave and honorable are greeted by there ancestors. The place where we are told at birth peace is finally awarded to us. Let us announce that one worthy of that peace is on his way.”

The other turned into various animals. A timber wolf, shark, lizard and other stood around the fallen Drakan. Anderson turned into a green cheetah, dots of various shades of green catching their eyes. He looked at each one with a look of feral superiority. Mitchell, the lone human in the room, stood a little straighter when his gaze came upon him. Anderson put his hands on the table, his fingernails making a clicking sound as they came into contact with the metal it was made of. The other soon followed suit and as one howled at the ceiling.

When they stopped Anderson spoke again, “His ancestors have been warned and are awaiting him. The example he set in death let us use in life.” They nodded and returned to their human disguises. Mitchell opened the door and let them out. Soon it was just the two of them. “Is there a problem Mitchell?”

“It just freaks me out a little when you change like that.”

“You can ‘freak out’ all you want, just remember where your loyalties lie.”

“Always.”

***
“Well this slop is better than I thought it be,” Jack said. He picked up a spoonful of what he was eating and let it fall back into the bowl. He hadn’t eaten much of it. Rachel forced it on him saying he would love it. Fortunately he was able to hold off tasting it for awhile by talking to her.

“It’s not slop,” she corrected him, “it’s jambalaya. My aunt made it every time I visited. They get it close to her recipe but it’s always a little off.”

“So, what, you ask them to make a certain dish and they’ll make it for you?”

“No this also happens to be one of Mr. Anderson favorite dishes as well. And you have to keep your boss happy you know.” Before he could say anything a faint howl filled the air. Everybody in the cafeteria was trying to locate the source. It was low and echoed in the room.

“What the hell?”, Jack looked at a vent near their table. It sounded like it was coming from there but ended before he could check.

“I don’t know,” Rachel said looking uncertain. Things settled down after a few moments. “Maybe a couple of dogs got into the air ducts or something.”

Jack looked at her, “This company develops military prototypes, yet you let stray animals and people who turn into monster just wander in?”

Before she could answer a guy he hadn’t seen before walked up to them, “Hi Rachel.”

“Hi Terry, what’s up.”

“Mr. Anderson asked me to find you guys. There’s a meeting in his office in an hour and a half that he wants both of you at.” He motioned to Jack, “He wants to discuss Mr. Davidson future.”

“Nice of him to invite me,” Jack mumbled. Rachel shot him a look out of the corner of her eye. “It’s my future after all.”

***
Haily and Davidson had walked into Anderson Office. He appreciated the way Davidson eyed the two people he wasn’t familiar with. Sizing them up like a predator. He could definitely respect that. Anderson stood, “Mr. Davidson, I haven’t had a chance to congratulate you on your victory earlier.” Davidson remained motionless, all business he liked that. “Please have a seat.”

As they sat he gestured to the man seated to his right, “Allow me to introduced Bradley Allen, my VP.” Allen nodded. He then turned to the woman on his left, “And this is Heather Williams, she in charge of the Drakan situation. You already met Mitchell,” he was standing behind his chair and gave him a two finger salute. “Miss Haily did educate you on the Drakans?”

“We went over the basics,” Davidson told him.

“Good. Then she also told you our plans for the Fusion project then?”

“Not quite sir,” Haily admitted. “Jack guessed what the intentions were but he didn’t want to dwell on it at the time. I felt it was best not to push the matter.”

“Why?”, Allen asked suddenly.

“He went through a lot in a short period of time…”

“I mean why give him a choice. Do you realize how much money we put into this kid? As far as I’m concerned we own him. He’s as much our property as that chair he’s sitting on.” He shot Davidson a particularly nasty look. “Of course he wants a say we could have mommy foot part of the bill.”

Davidson showed his first emotion since he walked in, “Ever have a piece of property kick your…”

“Gentlemen,” Anderson interrupted, “please, let’s not have this get physical. Mr. Allen is in the wrong here, you can not own a human being.” Anderson leaned back in his chair, “However we do own the Fusion system. We seem to have a bit of a dilemma.”

“Yes you do,” Davidson told him flatly.

“Jack,” Haily said in a warning tone

“You’d be dead if it wasn’t for us,” Allen told him.

“Who asked you to save me?”, Davidson shot back.

“We assumed you be grateful.”

“You assumed I’d fight those things for you.”

“Not all of them,” Williams interrupted. “We just want you to handle the more aggressive ones.”

“I don’t blow things up on command,” he informed her.

“You had no problem with out friend earlier,” Allen said.

“I was told he was with the monkey.”

“What monkey?”

“A Drakan blue monkey,” Haily informed them. “If you remember one of our teams was after him six months ago. Jack was caught in the trap it set.” That opening Anderson detected earlier just became larger. He leaned foreword slightly to study Davidson. How far could he push that opening before the man pushed back?

“Well I can understand Mr. Davidson reluctance. He wants to get his revenge on the person who did this to him, yet he doesn’t want to become a cold blooded killer.” Davidson eyes narrowed a bit. Anderson took that a sign that he hit the mark. “If Miss Haily hasn’t told you we made it our business to track the Drakans, particularly the more violent ones. When we feel they become a danger to the general public we take them out. As quickly and as quietly as possible. With the resources we have I feel we can help you find your monkey.”

“In exchange I take out some of your problems.”

“I ask you to handle them. If you can find a more peaceful and nonviolent way to do that, then I suggest you do it. I must warn you though, the ones we’ve come into contact with were not so eager to find a peaceful solution.” Williams’ cell phone rang. She excused herself and stood by a window.

Davidson thought about it for a moment. “After I get the monkey I’m out.” Allen started to say something but Anderson held up a hand to stop him.

“Agreed.”

“Just in time,” Williams said as she came back to the desk. “We just sighted a Drakan in a known human disguise about five blocks from here.”

“Five blocks?”, Davidson said in disbelief.

“What’s one doing so close?”, Mitchell asked

“He could be trying to find the bull,” Haily offered. “It might be his contact.”

“We better intercept him,” Anderson said. “Mr. Davidson this looks like your first chance to find a nonviolent solution. I’ll send Mitchell to back you up just in case and to secure the area. No need in any innocents getting hurt. I wish you luck.”

Mitchell headed for the door, “Let’s rock and roll buddy.”

***
Jack stood in an alley about three blocks from World Inc. One of Mitchell’s spotters saw his target enter this block from the other side. The plan was to intercept him in the middle. In order to go in alone he agreed to wear an earpiece so he could contact Mitchell in case this went bad. If he wanted to find a peaceful way out of this he didn’t need an armed squad right behind him.

Of course he’d be in a better mood to find that way if his feet weren’t being crushed in these boots they gave him. They told him they didn’t have time to find some in his size. A few moments to take another look, that all he asked of the guy. Jack was trying to stretch them out when he saw his apparent target walking around the corner. The guy was even wearing a dark colored trench coat, how cliché could you get? They stared at each other for a moment. “I know who you’re looking for, he ain’t coming. So why don’t we both turn around, go back were we came and forget we ever saw each other.”

The man sniffed the air. “I smell Drakan blood. On you.”

“Really?”, he didn’t remember the bull bleeding. Either way this couldn’t be good.

“You killed a Drakan.” Four insect like legs emerged from it’s back. As they lifted him off the ground he transformed into a blue spider.

“Ah hell.” Jack needed back up now. He reached for the earpiece when one of the legs caught him the side throwing him into the wall. The earpiece was jarred out of his ear on contact. Jack knew he didn’t have time to find it. He got to his feet and raised his left arm across his chest. The belt materialized around his waist, the metal glowing in the light. He moved his arm to the left and raised his right arm to his face. “Henshin!”, Jack shouted as he slammed his right hand on top of the belt. The belt scanned him and he was soon wearing the black body suit and blue armor.

“You had your chance ugly.” Jack charged the spider. He jumped to avoid one of the larger legs and punched it in the head on the way down. The spider staggered from the blow. Jack kicked out one of it’s legs out from under it but it didn’t fall. Instead it grabbed him by the neck with his regular arms and lifted him off the ground. Jack stared into it’s multiple eyes and kicked it in the gut. The spider dropped him and Jack immediately jumped back up for another kick. It leaped out of the way landing halfway down the alley. It’s opened it’s mouth and spit something out. Jack raised his arms to block, webbing covered his forearms.

The spider cut the webbing with it’s mouth and quickly pulled up on it. Jack went flying in the air before crashing on the other side of the spider. He quickly realized one thing, it was stronger than it looked. The spider repeated the throw move a few more times. As he tried to get to his feet the spider jumped on top of him knocking him back down. It’s fangs were reaching for his neck and he was barely keeping them away. The spider was trying to wrestle his arms out of the way in order to finish him off. Jack risked letting go with his right arm and punched the spider in the head three times. It raised up enough for Jack to get his legs under it’s belly to push it away. He rolled backwards to his feet and put some distance between them. The spider spit out his webbing again. Jack grabbed a pipe and put in front of him and the webbing caught onto it. The spider tried to throw him again but he was ready for it this time, throwing his weight back. They played tug of war as the pipe bent under the strain.

The meter started going wild again and Jack let go of the pipe. The spider was caught off guard and staggered back trying to keep it’s balance. He pressed the button under the belt. Two mini turbines behind the belt’s red face plate started spinning and a charge went down his right leg. The spider jumped high in the air. Jack waited for it to descend before he jumped at it. He brought his foot up and caught the spider in the belly. The charge forced the spider to bounce away and explode. Jack flipped backwards so he landed on his feet and not his head. The flaming remains of the spider landed a few yards from him in a heap. That was two he had to live with.

***
On a rooftop a few blocks away a blond haired man watched the battle through a pair of high powered binoculars. He snarled when the spider blew up and held his gaze at the metal insect for several moments. He reached into a pocket and pulled out a cell phone. Quickly dialing a number he waited for an answer, “We have a problem.”