Once we were in the hanger, the rock that hid the tractor beam closed. I guessed that we were at least three thousand feet under ground. Well that explains why Valael lost track of Kelly and Aeon.
As soon as the plane was landed, we were boarded. Usually Eilosati ran with self thinking clones of himself. Which were humanoids with wings coming from their backs and sharp talons. This time they still retained their humanoid like shape, but now they were covered in scales and they had claws both on their hands but on their feet. The wings were leathery rather than a bunch of feathers. The faces were what changed the most. It was now extended like a slim snout with high ears in the back there were mutable horns around their eyes and back of the head. Lastly, there was a long green tail with a spear tip, some scales pointing up to create a sort of spine running up the back.
"Come on humansss, the master isss waiting for you." The first one said, showing its razor sharp teeth and forked tongue. It grabbed me, but unlike last time we dealt with Eilo and his cronies these are a lot stronger. The same thing happened with the others, we were easily overpowered and thrown into chains. Then I blacked out.
When I finally came to my sense, I saw Kelly and Aeon stuck in the same situation, hands bound behind our backs and feet tied. Though they had gags on and we didn't. I looked around, we were in a cave surrounded by boxes and crates full of who knows what. Then Eilostai walked in with both clones and his new things behind him. "Ah how good nice of you to fly in?" He flapped his eagle wings, and he showed us our surroundings with his talons.
The story behind his mutation, is when he was younger his parents were scientists. They were working on genetic mutations to give humans animal traits. He got brought to his parent's lab one day. But then when they were extracting some eagle DNA, he ran in front of the beam, thus getting fused with the eagle's DNA. Then I got bored from there when he told us last time.
"I see that I'm boring you Aqua. That's a shame." Eilo said mockingly.
"Oh, yeah. Were you saying? Sorry, I zoned out. I figured that it was the usual. "I'll kidnap some important figure and hold him/her hostage till I get all the money and power I want." I replied smugly.
"Wrong. I plan on using my new Pandryls t-"
I bursted out of laughing," what? Ran out of ideas so you picked just took a bunch of letters from a box and made up that name? You could have chosen something a bit more intimidating. I mean where is the effort!" I figured I was going to regret this later.
"Gag her then prep her for the DNA transfer machine."
I gulped while I was promptly gagged and dragged over to him. Yup I did. I figured I would get into some sort of trouble by mouthing off to the villain.
"Now for the rest of you who decided to respect me, I can now finish. I was going to use my new Pandryls, humans mutated with Dragon DNA. I got enough from this." He took a claw pendant from around his neck," my parents gave it to me before they left. But all that time I was in prison I had time to scrape the DNA off of this, buying my time till I had enough.After I returned to my nice cozy lair, I had my clones fetch some unsuspecting humans. Then merging the human and dragon DNA to a 35/65 percent ratio. I have my Pandryls. Using them and their ability to alternate between the original and true forms they will bring this mutated bread and grain to all major restaurant chains. When a human ingests the mutated bread, nothing happens. Until I press this little red button. When I do the dormant DNA that was place into the grain will explode. Merging with the host, thus creating my Pandryl army. Another benefit of this merger is that they are completely loyal to me. Get her into the machine." He snapped and I gulped.
I was dragged to a large tube shaped object. It was roughly twenty feet high. I was shoved into the tube standing. I tried to run but then the front of the tube closed, a single panel of see-through glass was the only part that was non-metal. Then I stood back, a thick green smoke filled the tube. I covered my nose and mouth with a napkin that I had earlier. Though it didn't work, my mind was getting slow and groggy like I just woke up. I could feel myself changing. I clenched my fists then un-clenched them, now thy had claws. The same thing happened to my feet. I felt that my wings were growing. I screamed in pain, then I could feel my all my internal organs shutting down so that way they could be reformatted to better sustain my new form. I was in so much pain I couldn't scream anymore because my vocal cords stopped working. Kill me now! I screamed in my head while my face was also getting reformatted. Now becoming longer and more sleek. Then scales started to cover my skin. Lastly the tail came out of my back. With my organs now properly reformatted I was able to scream again. I was in so much pain that I was willing to get shot in the heart just to stop it.
I had to go onto my knees after that, but the gas started to dissipate, and my mind became more focused. I could now see every single weld from the inside. Soon all of the gas was out of the chamber and I stood up. I walked out shakily, my body still screaming in pain but not as bad as before. I collapsed into Eilostai's arms. He turned to one of his other Pandryls," you were supposed to give her Morphine before you started!" I could hear my former friends gasping when they saw me. Eilo, my master, my jail breaker let me gently against a wall," Aqua, how do you feel?"
I opened my eyes, the pain now completely gone. "I feel, great, stronger, faster. Though was that enlightenment process have to be so painful?" I asked calmly. Twitching my now longer ears.
"No my sweet Aqua. One of your brothers or sisters forgot to give you some morphine. But the pain is to be expected, considering you must reach the brink of death in order to be reborn. But do not worry my daughter. That pain is a one time adventure. You truly one of the strongest people I have met. Many of the others had to have a lot of morphine in their system to make it through that, even then they screamed." He said sincerely concerned and worried.
"Did… Did you really care that I was screaming the entire time?" I asked weakly. My transformation took a lot out of me. I should have asked for this ages ago. I feel so free now!
Aqua! This isn't you! You are human, you are a fighter! You are my best friend! Please come back!
Shut up whelp! We are not friends while you still remain in your ignorant shell! I severed the mental connection right then and there.
I looked him in the eyes," yes. I consider you an equal, both when you were a mundane and now as a Pandryl. True the others may be my children in their new life, but you are my true daughter now Aqua, it pains me to see you suffer through that. But fear not. Your friends will be joining us soon." He said reassuringly. I felt so much better.
"Thank you father. Now I realize how naive I've been to think that you were truly evil. How may I help?" I asked now standing up and did a quick bow. Most of my energy was back.
"Why not you choose the next person you would like to join us. The morphine is in the other room, give it to the one you choose in about twenty minutes. Also, you may want some earplugs while this entire process is going on. It really hurts your eardrums. Also, there is no need for bowing my daughter. I need to talk to the others." He said smiling, then flapped his wings some more and flew into the other room.
With my new upgrades I could accurately tell what time it was. I also had all of Eilosati's knowledge of operating and moving around the caverns. Who should I have join our ranks next? Definitely not Kaitlyn. She should be last. Kelly? True she has been here longer and I've known her for a while… Vena I've just met but she is very knowledgeable and has a strong will. Aeon? No, I have not been around Aeon long enough to make a good decision. That leaves George… Yes… George it shall be. I thought to myself while I fished around for a syringe full of morphine. I also took some earplugs and flew off towards my former friends.
I quickly checked up on the others, though most of them were sleeping Kelly was somehow up. She must have slept earlier. She is almost never up first. After checking up on them I walked back over to the DNA Binder. I then put the syringe and earplugs on a crate near the Binder. Then I flew back towards the others and that caused them to wake up. Kelly was the first one to speak," Aqua? What have they done to you?"
George shook his head and stared at me in horror. "Aqua. How? Why? When? Are you ok?" He listed the questions back to back.
I threw my head back and laughed," I'm more than fine, I am great. Eilostai was kind enough to show me the true path. Now come on George, you are coming with me." I walked over there and lifted him onto my shoulders.
I gently sat him down against the wall and injected the entire siringe full of morphine into his bloodstream. Thank god that all of these are pre portioned for us. There should be enough to dull all of his nerves. I waited a few more minutes before putting him into the machine and undoing his bindings. I then ran over to the controls and closed the door. This hurts me more than it hurts you. I'm so sorry George but this is how it has to be I adjusted some of the controls and put the earplugs in and turned the machine on.
I winced every single time that he screamed. I hated how he had to go through this pain. It is for the best George. I know what must be done. Ten minutes later I stood up and walked over to the Binder. I waited for the tube to open up. George stumbled out and landed in my arms, his knees buckled under his new weight. Almost all of one's energy goes into keeping the person alive during this entire procedure. He looked up at me, his face the same as mine. But there were a patch of scales that had a darker tint that looked like two rectangles going from the bottom of his eyes to the side of his face. "Is.. is it over? Am, am I dead?" He asked weakly. I set him down against a wall.
"No, you are not dead. You have left your frail life as a human and joined the ranks of the enlightened. We are the Pandryl. Now rest George. You will need it." I tried to sooth him. He soon fell asleep. I got up and left him.