Early September 2121

The transformations lasted approximately an hour before reverting. Ness couldn't explain why. Everyone's altered forms were intriguing, but Risutto was missing. Had he escaped? Was he dead? None of us knew, not even Ness. All we knew was that this situation was far from normal—but then again, had anything been normal since we arrived? It was surreal to think that Risutto, the small, unassuming guy, had transformed into a rat, a pest. Our own transformations seemed ironic in comparison: Lune, a woodland creature; Kumo, with multiple arachnid-like arms; Sarura, sporting red facial hair and robust arms; Tokage, growing a tail; Arimizu, sprouting small spikes; Okamina, resembling a canine; Howaida, taking on panda-like characteristics; and Ness, with gills and fins.

"Tell me this won't happen again?" I asked Ness.

Her expression was tense, apologetic. "Unfortunately, it will happen again once we run a few more tests, then it will become permanent."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. This unnatural circumstance burdened us all, adding to our confinement and isolation. As expected, details were scarce. Knowledge was power, and Okamura made sure we were kept in the dark. Milly sat silently, contemplating the events of the previous night, only planting a kiss on my cheek.

"Can we control these transformations?" Arimizu ventured.

"Eventually, I assume," Ness replied.

Milly shifted in her seat, a sign that months of confinement were wearing on her.

Suddenly, the intercom crackled to life, summoning me. Okamura wasn't following his usual routine this time. All eyes in the cafeteria followed me anxiously as I hurriedly left.

The large metal doors mocked me as I pushed them open, entering the doctor's office.

"Ah, Kati, glad to see you're well," Okamura greeted me with a forced smile.

I avoided eye contact.

"Feeling a bit shy this morning?" he teased. "Well, I'll do the talking; you just listen."

Zedak loitered in the corner, always present but aloof, observing silently with his arms crossed.

"Please step on the scale."

I complied, watching intently as Okamura scribbled notes on his pad. He seemed pleased about something, and my curiosity got the better of me.

"What did you do to me?" I asked sharply.

His demeanor faltered momentarily at my question. He held the papers in his hand with a hint of remorse as he shifted his weight and smiled.

"I've genetically infused your chromosomes with those of a specific beast. Last night, you glimpsed only a fraction of your true transformation. When you ingested the supplement pill provided by the twins, it dissolved, triggering a reaction with your new chromosomes, allowing your body to transform. I call this pill 'God's Pill.' Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

"What have you put inside me?" I inspected my hands, the flesh covering me, recalling the metallic table and the screams as IVs drained and refilled me.

"Have you heard of the Hawk Eagle?"

His bony fingers traced lightly over his pen and clipboard as he moved toward the door. I remained silent, fear gripping me. Wings and talons—I was capable of sprouting them. Milly was right; I was a monster.

"Follow me to the examination room. Let's see what's under there," Okamura gestured toward my body.

I followed with Zedak trailing behind. This time, strangely, I wasn't uncomfortable. I needed to know what was inside me. Surprisingly, the wounds from last night were gone this morning. The effects must have worn off, but after the X-rays, Okamura showed me how my bone structure had changed. The sixth and seventh ribs on both sides had shifted forward, and the seventh thoracic vertebra had split to accommodate the folded wings beneath my shoulder blades. It was shocking to see such abnormalities within myself. I had always strived to be my best for my family. Whether this alteration was a success or a mistake, I wasn't sure.

"Isn't it remarkable?" Okamura muttered to himself, gazing at the X-rays on the wall.

"No, it's still grotesque," Zedak remarked.

The doctor chuckled and moved behind me. He gently placed his hands on my shoulders, feeling around the holes in my uniform.

"So, these wings only emerge with the pill?" I asked.

"Oh, yes! Only when you take the pill, until your system stabilizes enough to control it. It truly is a fascinating phenomenon. Your wife, you know, has been infused with lion DNA. It's a remarkably compatible match, given her leadership and independence. Don't you agree?"

Silence was my best defense. He sought a reaction from me, a reason to have Zedak sedate me. With that in mind, I remained still and quiet—no easy feat given my circumstances.

"Well, just inform everyone to keep taking the pills, and everything will be fine. If they don't... well, consequences will naturally follow," Okamura nodded, his tone ominous.

I wasn't sure what consequences he meant, but I was certain they wouldn't be good. With a nod and an escort from Zedak, I returned to the courtyard, joining a few other inmates. Milly wasn't around; Howaida pointed me toward the cafeteria. Or rather, she gestured and muttered, "Go away"—same difference.

Ness and Milly were at a table, eating whatever the twins had served when I arrived. Ness noticed me and motioned for me to join them, as if I wasn't already headed that way.

"It seems the doctor only wanted to see you," Ness remarked.

I hadn't realized that until she said it. After I left his office, he hadn't called anyone else. Was I special to him? The thought disgusted me.

"What did you two talk about?" Milly asked.

As I recounted Okamura's ramblings and sinister remarks, Milly filled in the blanks about his plans and what happened after ingesting the pill.

"He called it 'God's Pill,'" I finished.

"That's Okamura for you. He loves playing God. I remember once I overheard him in his office, spouting nonsense about ruling Osakage, making everyone bow at his feet as if he were a deity. It's his twisted obsession."

"So, when we ingest the pill, it activates, but it takes about half an hour to fully dissolve. How could we speed it up to work instantly?" Milly unexpectedly inquired.

"I suppose if we took multiple pills at once, it would accelerate the reaction, but the risks are too high. Bones might break, organs could rupture, or our skin might peel off entirely. It's unpredictable, untested," Ness cautioned.

"What if we test it?" Milly's proposal startled both Ness and me. What was she thinking?

"Are you suggesting a suicide pact!?" I exclaimed.

"No, listen. If one of us manages to attack a guard, maybe to escape, we could take one or two pills before being tased and dragged into isolation. But if we all strike at the right moment—with the Burūto, Konchū, Okamina, and everyone else—we'd be a force to be reckoned with," she whispered. "These powers and transformations would just be a bonus."

"Yeah, and Okamura showed me X-rays of my bones all rearranged," I added loudly, hoping they'd catch my drift.

I sensed them watching; a while ago, I had noticed blinking red lights on many of the flies. They weren't just surveillance cameras in every corner; these flies were there to eavesdrop and gather details of our conversations. Okamura had covered as many bases as he could think of, but sometimes willpower outwits cunning.

"...showed me X-rays of my bones all rearranged," Kati's voice echoed through the camera.

"So, you're saying Number Ten had the most promising transformation?" one voice asked.

"His mutation was extraordinary. Flawless," the doctor affirmed.

"I guess you all owe me two hundred Osakoins," a gruff voice muttered in the background.

"Are these alterations intended to become permanent?" Kamitto's voice cut through.

"Perhaps eventually. I haven't decided yet. I'm open to suggestions," Okamura replied with a sly grin.

The fly buzzed away, and our conversation resumed.

"Theoretically, it might work," Ness shrugged, "but the risks are still substantial."

"I'm willing to take that risk," Milly argued. "Either we escape, or we die trying. Living like this—confined, insecure, subjected to their experiments—death seems preferable. Any chance to break free is worth the risk. But what then? Run forever from Okamura and his lackeys, always looking over our shoulders? Would we rather spend our lives as puppets, or as fugitives?"

Ness glanced at Milly with a mix of admiration and concern. "You've always been bold, Milly. But this plan... it's dangerous. Okamura won't let us go easily."

"He doesn't control us," Milly asserted, her eyes burning with determination. "We can fight back. Together."

Ness nodded slowly, her determination mirrored in Milly's gaze. "Alright. Let's start planning. We'll need allies, a distraction..."

As we continued discussing our strategy, I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. For the first time since becoming a test subject, I felt a sense of purpose beyond survival. With Milly's leadership driving us forward, maybe we stood a chance against Okamura and his oppressive regime.

Leaning forward, my mind raced with possibilities. "If we can create enough chaos, it might buy us time to escape."

"Chaos is easy. Coordination is hard," Howaida remarked with a wry smile.

"We'll manage," Milly said confidently. "Kati, can you check if any of the others are willing to join us? We need numbers."

I hesitated, glancing around the cafeteria at the other test subjects. They were a diverse group, each with their own story of captivity and transformation. Some were huddled together in quiet conversation, while others sat alone, lost in their thoughts. It was risky to approach them, but Milly was right—we needed allies if our plan had any hope of succeeding.

"I'll do my best," I replied, my voice tinged with uncertainty.

Ness placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "We're in this together. We'll make sure everyone knows what's at stake."

With a nod, I stood up and began walking among the tables. I approached Lune and Kumo first, who were engaged in a heated debate about the ethical implications of their transformations. Lune, with her gentle demeanor and ears twitching nervously, listened intently while Kumo, arms moving animatedly, argued passionately.

"Hey, have you heard about Milly's plan?" I asked cautiously.

Both Lune and Kumo looked up, eyes wide with surprise. "Plan? What plan?" Lune asked, her voice soft but curious.

I quickly outlined Milly's proposal, explaining our desperate need for allies and the potential risks involved. As I spoke, I could see the uncertainty in their eyes, the fear of retaliation from Okamura and his guards.

"It's dangerous," Kumo muttered, glancing around nervously. "But maybe... maybe it's our only chance."

Lune nodded slowly, her cub-like stature imposing yet thoughtful. "If it means freedom... I'm willing to fight."

Encouraged by their tentative agreement, I moved on to the next table where Sarura and Tokage were sharing a meal. Sarura, with her fiery red hair and strong, muscular build, looked up sharply as I approached. Tokage, his tail flicking nervously behind him, eyed me warily.

"Hey, can I talk to you both for a moment?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Sarura and Tokage exchanged a quick glance before nodding cautiously. I quickly explained Milly's plan, emphasizing the need for solidarity and courage in the face of danger.

"It's risky," Sarura admitted, her voice low but determined. "But I'm tired of being a pawn in Okamura's game. If there's a chance to break free..."

Tokage nodded in agreement, his tail twitching with nervous energy. "We've been cooped up in here for too long. I'm ready to fight."

Encouraged by their support, I moved on to the next table where Arimizu and Okamina were quietly discussing their own transformations. Arimizu, with small spikes protruding from her arms, looked up with a mixture of surprise and wariness as I approached.

Arimizu and Okamina were deep in conversation about their transformations when I approached. Arimizu's spiked arms twitched nervously as she looked up, surprised to see me. Okamina, with fresh canine-like features, regarded me with curiosity.

"Hey, have you two heard about Milly's plan?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tension in the air.

They exchanged a quick glance before Arimizu shook her head. "No, we haven't. What's going on?"

I quickly outlined Milly's proposal, emphasizing the need for unity and the chance to escape Okamura's control. Arimizu's spikes bristled slightly with nervous energy, while Okamina's ears perked up in interest.

"It's risky," Okamina admitted, uncertainty coloring their voice. "But staying here... not good."

Arimizu nodded firmly, determination hardening her expression. "If this is our chance to break free, count me in."

With each conversation, I felt a growing sense of solidarity among us. Despite our fears and uncertainties, we were united by the common goal: freedom from Okamura's experiments and oppression. But as the night wore on and our plans took shape, I couldn't shake the lingering worry about the risks ahead.

Back at our table, Milly, Ness, and Howaida were deeply engrossed in discussing Howaida's rough sketch of Okamura's facility map. Milly traced her finger along the routes, identifying key checkpoints and potential escape routes.

"We'll need distractions here, here, and here," Milly pointed out, her voice steady as she laid out the strategy. "Ness, can you handle disabling the security systems?"

Ness nodded, her focused gaze on the map. "I know the system well enough. We can cause enough chaos to buy us time."

Howaida leaned back thoughtfully, crossing her arms. "And once we're out, where do we go? We need a plan for that too."

Milly glanced around the table, meeting each of our gazes with determination. "We'll figure that out as we go. The important thing is to get out of here first."

As we continued finalizing our plans, the atmosphere in the cafeteria grew tense with anticipation. Unnoticed by us, surveillance cameras buzzed softly, capturing every movement and whispered conversation. Okamura's facility was a fortress of secrets and uncertainty, but tonight, we were determined to defy our captors and seize our chance for freedom.