Chapter 150: Journey 8

It took a long time to fish out why he is here. He avoided the topic like the plague, twisting truths like a talented politician.

“I have a bounty on my head.” He says, face downtrodden. All of a sudden, it clicks into place. This strange man, always moving, always running, never stays In one place for long. He took being a nomad to its most extreme. He has been moving in random directions for a long time then. He probably visits his family for no more than a day, hiding away with haste. Wandering the countryside, surviving off small settlements and the land.

“Might I ask what for?”

Sighing, he accepts his fate, he speaks. “I was caught selling information to both empires.”

Jengal jaw drops, “you are one greedy nether beast. Getting caught one is bad enough; you sold out both? To who?”

Face looking intently at the floor, “to each other.”

Jengal throws his hands up in the air. “I don’t know how you are alive.”

“Hey, I am a fast runner.”

Interjecting into their conversation, “what information did you sell?”

“Financial information.”

Walking to Jengal, “come with me for a second, buddy.”

Jengal looks confused but complies. We walk into a separate room.

“I can make it, so he looks completely different; get the bounty of his back. My question to you, is should I do it?”

Jengal leans against the wall near the door, thinking. “Why do you want to help him?” Jengal asks me.

“I feel bad for him. He has done wrong, but imagine living your life on the run from both empires.”

“He dug his own grave; why help someone who willingly ruined their life?” Jengal prods.

“Because greed clouds judgment.”

“True, but no one is blind enough not to see the dangers in what he did.”

“We need more information before making a judgment.”

Jengal nods, “Aagreed.”

Returning to the room, the stranger looks nervous.

“Out of curiosity, why trust us with the information. You could have just walked out the door; rather than take the risk.”

He looks me in the eye when he speaks. “You have hosted me three times, and honestly? I am exhausted.” Taking a moment to breathe. “So very tired, tired of running, of hiding, of surviving off handouts and berry bushes. If I am to be caught today, so be it. I have run long enough; I will face my execution and smile in death’s face.”

“You are sure you will be executed?”

“Positive!” He says without a shred of doubt.

“If your bounty is gone? What would you do?”

“Ha, like anyone would pay the 100 gold payoff. I would explore cities unencumberedun-encumbered by my name.”

Turning to Jengal, “verdict?”

He brings his hand to his thin, stroking it with his index finger. “Yeah, give him the offer.”

“Okay, I can make it, so your appearance changes drastically. You won’t be human, but you also won’t have the face on your wanted posters. This will irreversibly change your species; your children will not be human. Do you want it?”

He steps back in surprise. “you aren’t turning me in?”

“No, I just offered to clear your bounty.”

He closes his mouth, taking on a concentrated expression. After several minutes, he visibly deflates. “Fine, do it. BetterBettter than my current life, one is hunted the other is an outcast.”

“I will have you know; I am a successful non-human species.”

“Just get it over with.”

Nodding, “I will be right back. Find somewhere to lie down.”

Returning to my island, I rush towards Sling, my slime. Finding him in his giant form, slowly munching on a small pile of carrots. “Hey, buddy. I need some of your genetic material. Sorry, this will hurt.” Scraping some cells of my pet hurt me as much as my pet. He didn’t attack me but sent dirty looks at me as I walked away.

Rushing towards my genetic editing area, I extract the gene ‘slimy.’ Processing it into a complete cell; before placing it within centrifuged blood. Teleport back, green-tinted blood in hand.

I see he is lying down on my sofa, visibly shaking. He watches me approach, eyes nervous. “Hi, you ready.”

He mumbles out, “yes.”

“This is gonna hurt like a bitch.” I say, plunging the needle into his side. Injecting the contents, he shrieks. Once the syringe is removed, he gently rubs the area.

“That wasn’t so bad.”

I just start maniacally laughing, “he said a flag, he said a flag.” Looking over at Jengal, “hold him down. Don’t want him to rip his own head off in pain.”

The poor man begins to trash in panic, “don’t hurt me!” he shouts; before realizing he is in for a world of hurt. Eyes going wide, dilating, he begins to sweat. He looks at me pleading, before it starts. He begins to struggle violently, crying and screaming in pain. I reluctantly hold him in place, unnerved by the sounds the man is making.

After a few minutes, I begin to lose my grip.

Gazing at him, he is turning transparent. His skin is becoming a slimy green as his body softens. His thrashing slows down, allowing me and Jengal to step back. He comes moments later. Sitting up, he cries jelly. Stepping up, I place my hand on his shoulder. “I know, it hurts like a son of a bitch.”

Turning to me, “you went through that?”

“All alone.”

He slowly calms down, gazing at his arms with more curiosity now. “What am I?” He asks me.

“Part slime. No one will ever connect you to your previous form.”

Looking over him, he looks like a humanoid slime with crystal green eyes and a somewhat cloudy center. He still has all his digits and the same shape; but appearing completely different.

He looks at me, “I will wait to thank you after I know this has worked.”

“That is fine.”

We leave him to explore his new body, entering the second floor. Jengal turns to me; when I upgrade myself, will that happen?”

“Yes,” I say flatly, not hiding it.

He visibly shivers. “How do you manage the pain?pain.”

“By using clones. I upgrade them separately.”

“Lucky.”

“I had to go through it at least once; for my first upgrade. Just had to grin and bear it.”

“I am not looking forward to it.”

“It doesn’t take long, as you must have noticed.”

What concerns me is Hanna’s silence during this whole thing. She is just in deep contemplation.

We leave each other for the night, Jengal and Hanna heading to their rooms.

Jengals point of view:

Remembering how that man trashed and screamed scares me. The idea of going through it terrifies me. What scares me more is the fact my mother watched how it works.

She calls me into her room, “come here, Jengal.”

“Yes,” I say, walking inside.

She closes the door behind me, crossing her arms. “you are not seriously considering going through that, are you?”

“Well… Yes.” I stammer out.

“Are you crazy? That man was screaming in agony!”

“And I am being offered the ability to upgrade my entire body!” I shout back.

“At what cost, being something like that thing,” she says with a look of disgust.

“That thing is a person!” Disgusted at my mother for implying such.

She takes on a look of contemplation, “you are right; it is a person.” Nodding her head. “Still, you would be a fool to ruin your children’s future for a lust for power.”

“Whoever said I wanted children?” I retort.

“I will be damned if our family linage ends with you. Children are a must.”

“Fine, but they won’t be human children.”

She scowls at me.

“Look at me all you want; I am an adult. I make my own choices. It’s not my fault you had the vow.”

“If I didn’t vow away my right to remarry, we would be living in squalorsqualler.” She says, emotions in her voice.

“And here we are, being given a golden egg, yet you wish to decline it.”

She sits down, hand on her head. “I just don’t want you to get hurt. You are my baby; I cannot have another.”

Feeling my eyes grow wet, I sit by her side. “Look, I haven’t even decided if I will use it yet. I understand, but this is an opportunity to rise above. Create a whole new family linage, or just be strong enough to not be bullied.”

“Promise me you won’t take it without serious thought.” She says, grasping my hand.

“I promise.” We hug, allowing the stress to fade away

Aeternums perspective:

Wow, that guy didn’t handle it well. From what I recall, it was far from that bad. Although it has been a while, I may be wrong.

Mentally hoping he doesn’t discourage Jengal; it truly isn’t that bad. And a little pain for what? Making your genetics superior? Your children would appreciate it, I would.

Doesn’t matter; it is his choice. I head to bed, scribbling In my diary. Quickly flicking through my phone, watching a few trashy videos. Started a new book, one from the app. I Will read it in the evenings.

I fall asleep with ease, feeling the warm abyss take me.

“blood… screams… chains….”

Watching as the scientist cuts away at a prisoner’s arm, draining blood into his vessel. Slowly condensing it, chanting some kind of spell as it turns into a glowing crimson liquid.

Shooting up from bed, cold sweat all over my body. “Damn, doing that operation stirred up my nightmares again.” Opting to have a shower to feel clean. “That is not going in my dream diary.”

Once dry, I get clothed and head downstairs. Finding a slumbering Stranger, no one else is awake yet. Opting to wake people up with the smell of bacon.

Cooking the strips of bacon on a frying pan; while taking out a jar of confit tomatoes. Once the bacon browns and starts crisping up, I pour in the tomatoes. Adding white pepper and dried basil as it cooks. Allowing the tomato to soften and hydrate the bacon.

Turning it to low heat, I hear a shuffling. Spotting my guest rising from his sofa bed. “Something smells good,” he states.

“Breakfast. Wait until everyone else is awake first.”

He nods, “That’s fair.”

It isn’t long before I hear my fleet-footed companion gliding down the stairs.

“Breakfast?!”

“Breakfast, go get your mother.” He rushes back upstairs to get her.

Once the group is assembled, I bring the pan to the table, handing out a round of bread. “Dig in,” I say, allowing the magic words to cause chaos.

With tomato and bacon sandwiches in hand, we all enjoy breakfast.

“This is nice,” my guest says.

“Thank you.”

“I am just happy I can still eat in this body.”

“I am glad you can eat and tastetase; it would be a sad life otherwise. Generally, the change doesn’t affect the body'sbodies human functions. Like your ability to walk on two legs, use 10 fingers, taste, smell; that kind of the stuff.”

“Good to know. Wish I knew that last night.”

“At least you know now. Anyway, good luck with that whole bounty thing.”

“Thanks.” He says, finishing off his sandwich.

We all finish our food, putting the plates in the kitchen.

“Well, another day of traveling it is.” Preparing to brave the day.

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(Aces note) since you wanted to know how this chapter was I think it was okay except for Aeternum laughing at the flag part.