I do not own Chaotic nor anything related to it. It belongs to TCDigital.

-[]-[]-[]-

The Nightmare Team

-[]-[]-[]-

It's become increasingly clear to everyone that the M'arrillians have somehow lost the advantage they'd had during the first ten solans of the invasion. The strange omniscience they'd had seems to have vanished, leaving behind directionless and confused M'arrillian army. Their attacks on cities, previously taking inhabitants by surprise with their efficiency, are now frequent but fruitless.

Enre-hep has been feeding information to the Mipedian army, but only now are his words being taken seriously. What had at first been a laughable idea, that after my rescue the M'arrillian tribe's strength would deteriorate, is starting to seem more and more plausible to them.

Iflar has gone out on a campaign against the M'arrillians. It's another rescue mission at the Deepmines. If luck holds out, Iflar will be able to save many more creatures from the M'arrillians than the last rescue.

Several Humans in Al Mipedim, myself included, have been explaining what had happened during the war within the context of the game back on Earth. Theb-sarr and Illexia have agreed to the early formation of the Dryland Alliance, but Chaor and Maxxor, well... it doesn't look like they'll be joining anytime soon.

Huh, all these thoughts about the war. I should set them aside for now. Right now it is time to be with my family while I wait for the Danians to be ready.

-[]-[]-[]-

"Daddy, look," Hera says as she shows me her cupped hands.

I look at Hera's hands. There are little scraps of torn up paper inside. What's amazing is that the confetti paper is spiraling around in her hands like a miniature tornado.

I whistle. "Very nice! Did Tiaane teach you that?"

Hera shakes her head. "He had Sobtjek teach me."

"How big can you make it?" I ask.

"Hm." Hera focuses on the tiny tornado, and the paper spiral begins to grow-

Poof.

Paper is everywhere, slowly fluttering to the ground.

Hera blinks, then says, "I can make it that big."

I hold back a snicker as I brush confetti out of my hair.

"Hera!" a small voice whines.

Hera and I look over across the room to see Jupiter sitting on the ground and wiping the confetti away from something. Isis sits in a chair nearby, hiding a grin behind her hand.

Jupiter picks up a large piece of paper from the place he wiped it away and holds it towards Isis. "Mommy, look."

Isis leans forward, then grins. "Very nice."

"Jupiter?" I say. "May I see?"

Jupiter glances at me, then drops the paper and moves so he's behind Isis and buries his face in her dress.

Isis presses her eye ridges together with concern. "...Jupiter, go show that to Daddy."

Jupiter whimpers a little and doesn't move. Hera grumbles a bit, picks up the paper, and gives it to me.

There's a bunch of wobbly Mipedians drawn on the page. A red one is labeled "Ma," and next to it is a shorter red one labeled "Sis" and a much shorter one labeled "Me." Then there's "Gran Pa," "Uncl I," "Uncl M," and "Jo."

Hera is looking over my shoulder. "Jupiter, where's Daddy in this?"

I had also noticed my absence from the picture. "It's okay," I tell Hera. It is a little painful, but Jupiter barely knows me. I can't expect him to accept me as his father right away.

-[]-[]-[]-

Hera cleans up the paper confetti in the most amazing way possible, by picking everything up in another hand-held tornado. Joalle then takes the children to their room. It's time for me to meet with the Danian controllers.

Isis, thankfully, wants to be here for me. "As grateful as the Danians may be towards you," she had said earlier, "I still have misgivings about their parasites and the ones who utilize them. I don't trust them enough to leave you alone with them."

So not only will she be with me, so will Maliph, Malvadine, and several other Mipedians chosen by them.

The controllers are escorted into the room I'm in. There are three of them, their features hidden by the tattered brown cloaks they wear.

The Danian at the rear of the group looks around at the soldiers as he enters. "I sense a lack of trust," his raspy voice clicks.

The Danian in front of him sighs, "It is reasonable for them to be on edge. His Highness's last encounter with the fruits of our craft was not the most pleasant experience."

The Danian at the very front mutters, "At least they give the courtesy to show that we are being watched. They could very well have waited invisibly instead."

"Um, hello," I say, not sure if the controllers are listening.

"Your Highness," the three hiss more or less simultaneously as they bow.

I feel Isis shudder beside me and almost grab my arm. She pauses, then lays her hands on her lap.

The lead controller straightens first. "We have been assigned to perform the next step of the process that will restore your former strength."

"Will it involve parasites?" I ask, skipping right to the part I'm anxious about.

The controller pauses briefly, then I see his hood lower and raise. A nod.

I almost want to call the whole thing off right now. I don't, though. I don't want to look like a skeleton anymore.

I take a deep breath to steady my nerves, then say, "Thank you. You may continue."

The controller immediately begins speaking again. "After today, you will be required to imbibe the meals we prepare for you, but only on the days we actually meet. On other days you may consume what you wish."

The three Danians spread out in a row. "Today, though," the Danian on the left says, "we will use the preparation you have undergone in the days before we arrived."

I can taste the honeybeer in my mouth again.

"Are you ready to begin?" the Danian on the right asks.

I take another deep breath, then slowly let it out. "As ready as I can be."

The center Danian gestures at the floor. "Then disrobe and lay down in front of us."

-[]-[]-[]-

My soldiers are respectfully averting their gazes. The Danians are standing over me. Isis is kneeling down beside me. I raise my hand towards Isis. She hesitantly holds my hand.

I feel a flicker of a memory, but I focus on Isis's face instead. Isis looks worried as she sees the strain on my face.

The three Danians kneel down. Each raises their hands and holds them over my body. I can see a squirming, clicking little bug in one of the four hands of the middle controller.

A thought occurs to me. "Isis," I whisper, "you may have to order the soldiers to hold me down."

Isis slowly nods. "I will if you need me to."

The controllers lower their hands at the same time, a set of hand touching my legs, another set touching my face, and the third touching my stomach and hips. It feels like something sharp has burrowed into my stomach. The eyes of the Danians glow slightly from beneath their hoods, and their hands press down on me-

-\/-\/-\/-

His hands press down on me, then start to wander. "You've been such a good little Human," Aa'une taunts. "I have a reward for you," he whispers with a sinister grin. He wraps a hand around my penis and begins to stroke-

-\/-\/-\/-

My screams and thrashings are partly from the pain of the infection, but mostly it's the memory that had been sparked. Maliph is holding my left arm down, Malvadine my right, and the other soldiers are busy preventing me from kicking anyone.

Isis is still holding my hand. Her jaws are clenched together, and her eyes are squeezed shut. Is it that difficult to watch? Or is she in pain?

...Wait... I'm still holding her hand. Very tightly. I force myself to let go, and she quickly takes her hand away and holds it close to her chest.

I'm surrounded by Mipedians. Are they attacking me?

And there are the thoughts I knew would come. I feel my chest tighten, my skin hardening into a Danian shell.

I can see other Danians. The do not look concerned. The Mipedians are not a threat.

I clench my jaws shut and force myself not to scream. I can feel sharp pain in my sides as a pair of arms make their way out.

There's a Mipedian woman other there, holding her hand to her chest. Why does she look so worried when she looks at me?

No! I need to keep remembering Isis! Don't make me forget her!

Why am I alone? All these Mipedians do not matter. I want to hear the call of my hive. My brother Danians, why do they not speak to me?

Maliph and Malvadine are now holding down my extra pair of arms. The Danian controllers watch. I can see one of them tapping his fingers against his leg.

The middle of my three tribemates steps forward and places a hand on my stomach. I feel a burning sensation in my gut. I'm struck with realization. I'm... I'm not to become a part of the hive... By who's will is that?

I feel my exoskeleton, freshly formed, begin to soften into skin. My lower pair of arms begin to wither away. I can feel my mind fading... my eyes closing...

I guess this is goodbye, my brothers... but I'm not angry... Whatever this is for, you will it of me...

I am... always happy... to serve...

-[]-[]-[]-

Up next: The Change

-[]-[]-[]-

Like I said before, Chaotic belongs to TCDigital.

If you like the story, please follow and leave a review!