Chapter 13

We peered down into the gaping hole that Santorelli had collapsed into. There were signs of metal framing, bolts torn from their nuts, and plates that had given way to form a pile around the bewildered wolf and the mound of dirt. Santorelli stared back up at us, uninjured and unfazed.

You okay? Jake asked.

Never better, he replied. These Kelbrid bastards can't build shit!

The place is still being constructed, Jake said. It's going to be weak in spots. What do you see?

Santorelli looked one way and then turned to look the other. It's a tunnel. Some poles and a couple of patches of metal tiles. The rest seems like it's just been dug out.

That might have explained why it had given way so easily. They must have only just dug into this ground. Jake, should we go down? I asked.

Jake looked upwards to where Tobias had nestled into the branches of the dead tree above. Pretty sure we've found the base. We should carry on with the plan. Mendy, swap with Tobias. We need to be in Kelbrid form for this.

Menderash had regained his morphing powers after we'd acquired Kelbrid DNA, so he could not join us further into the base. His wolf morph began to shrink just as Tobias floated down to the ground to start his morphing process. Menderash said nothing about having to sit out of the meaty portion of the mission yet again, but we all knew that there was no better option. We needed a lookout and as many people in that base as we could manage.

I jumped into the shallow hole and landed beside Santorelli with a thud. You just had to find it, didn't you? I huffed. Your fat ass just had to collapse a whole tunnel.

It's called muscle, he replied. Not that you'd know the difference, Monkey Man.

I don't know… Your wolf body looks pretty damn weedy. It's like a toothpick.

Just more embarrassin' for you when I knock your ass to the ground.

Jake broke our spate of banter by landing deftly between us. A hawk - Tobias - soon followed, and our team was complete.

I am airborne, Jake, Menderash announced from somewhere above. I have eyes on the tunnel and the local vicinity.

Let's morph before anybody comes to check what caved the roof in, Jake instructed. He began to change, his fur becoming slicker, coating with the toxic ooze of the Kelbrid.

He could control his morphing, a skill he had obtained after years of training. Meanwhile, my process was more cumbersome, and the order of change was completely random. The first change was the thickening, strengthening, and lengthening of my hind legs, causing me to brace to stop an embarrassing collapse onto my own head. My tail grew a little longer. Sprouting from it was a series of defensive, toxic tendrils. It seemed like my lower body was doing all of the changing, but then my vision began to alter. Color was greatly enhanced, and everything seemed sharper. My field of vision widened, like going from an old box TV to a home theater.

I could stand upright on powerful hind legs as my spine curved inward further down my back. I flexed my muscles and twiddled my fingers. I was all Kelbrid.

Ready, I said, realizing that I was the last to finish.

I don't mean to be the buzzkill, Santorelli started. But I look identical to you, boss.

We had taken our Kelbrid DNA from an admittedly small stock of two. My morph looked incredibly, suspiciously similar to Tobias'.

Do Kelbrids get twins? Santorelli asked.

Split into twos, Jake decided. Tobias, Sarge, wait here until I give you the call to move. If we stay apart by enough distance, we should be fine.

He flicked his head down the direction of the tunnel, and together, we strolled like confident Kelbrids into the semi-darkness. A dull glow, place of origin unknown, permitted our passage as it led us deeper into the mountain ground. The further we went, the more complete the tunnel became.

They've completed the walls around here, I said. It looks a lot sturdier. Is that a door?

I thought Kelbrid doors were circular, Jake disagreed. That's what we saw on Kyritlyp.

They also wore some clothing on Kyritlyp. Not much, but some, I added, looking down at myself. Think they'll get all offended 'cos we're nude?

Do we even know what body parts they get offended by?

Maybe they're naturalists.

Somehow, I doubt that.

Hey, incoming…

The slightest hint of a moving shadow made itself known as we spiraled down another turn. We silenced ourselves and corrected our strides before the stranger could see us approaching.

Our questions were unsatisfactorily answered when the Kelbrid became more than just an approaching shadow. He wore a very tight orange piece of clothing that covered his upper arms and chest. He spotted us immediately, but we just carried on as normal.

His eyes didn't leave us, and what had started as a casual walking pace had become a curious, slow gait. His head followed us as he moved past. Thankfully, he didn't stop to ask questions.

I don't think he recognized us, I suggested.

It was another reason for Jake to be concerned, and though neither one of us turned back to look at him, we knew the real Kelbrid was still watching us.

We can't stay in plain sight for too long, he concluded. They may be a close-knit team down here. We might be identified as intruders.

If that's true…

We're pretty fucked, he stated. Just keep cool. We won't be staying long. Tobias, Sarge, start moving.

And see if you can find some fashionable clothing on the way, I added.

Roger that, boss! Santorelli replied distantly. He didn't even ask for clarification.

We came to a break in the tunnel. The walls opened into a clearing full of alien machinery. There was the sharp gleam of a drill the exact size of the tunnels we had passed through. Boxes were strewn about and formed into great pyramids, and big black screens rounded off the corners of the ceiling. Rooms headed off to either side, but they were closed and without windows to grant us the wisdom of what lay behind.

I think I hear more movement, I said to Jake.

He's behind that pile of boxes, he replied. I see a tail. Don't worry; I can talk our way out of any trouble.

What are you going to say if he decides to say hello?

Hello.

Ah. I like your thinking. What's the Kelbrid for hello?

Reon Adisdi.

Reon Adisdi, I repeated clumsily. Got it.

We continued our passage, coming closer and closer to the pile of boxes that hid the mystery Kelbrid. He came further into view, and the flash of orange was visible once more.

Turns out there were three Kelbrids, all with weird alien cups in hand. It must have been a drinks break. They all stopped chattering and watched us walk nonchalantly by.

"Reon Adisdi!" Jake called. I trusted that his implant meant his pronunciation was fluid.

"Oop aka winayt!" one of them shouted back. The three then went back to their isolated circle, ignoring us entirely.

That went well, I hummed. What did he say?

Um… Jake hesitated. In politer terms: Go away.

I huffed. Some people…