Zoey's recovery progressed in fits and starts, with her energy coming back in small bursts between lingering exhaustion and her body’s ongoing transformation. The scales on her body and face itched as they continued to settle, and every now and then, Zoey caught herself staring at her reflection, feeling like she was looking at a stranger.
Meanwhile, Etrius took on the bulk of the responsibilities, managing the gear they'd salvaged and the upgrades on the Donnerdrache. Through his connections and a fair amount of negotiation, he’d even managed to get the VTOL registered in his name, a small miracle considering the bureaucratic nightmare of owning military-grade tech within Sigma City limits. Despite the headaches, it seemed their gear would be ready for their trip soon, but Zoey’s transformation cast a shadow over every plan.
When the results on her bloodwork finally came in, they were… inconclusive. The medical staff shrugged and fumbled, trying to explain to her that every test had come back "normal." No serious infection, no contaminants, and nothing that could explain the scales. She couldn’t hide her frustration as they relayed the findings, her anger boiling up at the emptiness of the answers they offered. Zoey barely slept that night, hoping her mind would slow, but as soon as her eyes closed, she fell into another flashback.
She was back in the American facility where she’d been taken after her liberation from the Nazis. She saw herself through glass, monitors and equipment buzzing quietly around her as doctors and scientists talked in low tones just out of reach. She remembered the sterile scent, the stiff hospital sheets, and the piercing lights overhead. Then, a conversation she had forgotten floated back.
“There’s got to be more than just red fox DNA in her,” one doctor murmured. “Look at the regeneration rates, the bone density—none of this fits with just a single species.”
Zoey’s pulse pounded, feeling that strange clarity of dreams where every detail sharpened, too vivid to ignore. A chill crept over her as she realized this could be what she was becoming, something beyond even her own understanding.
She snapped awake, her heart racing, struggling under an unexpected weight. Etrius held her down firmly, his face a blend of concern and calmness. “Easy, Zoey. You were thrashing around. I didn’t want you to hurt yourself.”
Zoey’s first reaction was anger, lashing out verbally before biting her lip and letting it pass. She looked away, breathing heavily, her body still tense from the nightmare. She finally looked back at Etrius and hesitantly told him about the flashback, the lingering doubts it had left in her.
“Maybe this transformation was… dormant. A part of me all along. I don’t know. Maybe it was supposed to happen, or maybe it’s just some side effect of what they did to create me in the first place.”
Etrius listened closely, his green eyes unwavering. When she finished, he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Whatever it is, it’s happening now, and I think we can face it together. As long as you’re still healthy—or as healthy as any mercenary in our line of work could be—then maybe it’s not all bad.”
Zoey exhaled, the tension in her shoulders easing as she processed his words. “I miss the fox I used to be,” she admitted softly, her fingers brushing the scales along her jawline. But a faint smirk broke through her melancholy. “Being a dragon isn’t all bad, though.”
They shared a brief smile. Together, they decided they’d press on with their plans for Germany, hoping to find clues about her origins. And afterward…well, Zoey thought, perhaps a visit to the American facility would be in order.
After a few weeks, Zoey was on her feet again, a little stiff and sore but alive and walking. Bruises still dotted her like ghostly reminders of the close calls she and Etrius had barely managed to survive. It was a good day, the sun setting low and casting a warm glow through Sigma City’s harsh skyline as they made their way toward the Donnerdrache. Zoey glanced over at the freshly painted VTOL, now sleek and polished, its body finished in a matte black that seemed to drink in the light.
Etrius walked beside her, his expression relaxed but observant. “They did a hell of a job with the Donnerdrache,” he commented, a hint of pride in his voice. “You wouldn't even recognize it from the rust bucket we first got our hands on. The new radar-absorbing paint will help keep us off the screens, and I finally got those AMRAAMs installed.”
Zoey’s ears perked up, a glint of interest flashing in her eyes. “AMRAAMs? Seriously? They actually let you get away with that?”
“Not easily,” Etrius said with a slight chuckle. “I think they just decided it wasn’t worth the hassle once they saw how much I was willing to pay.” He waved a hand toward the plane. “Plus, I had them recommission the roof-mounted autonomous turret, too. Had to fight a bit on that. It’s not like I’m planning to take down anything in Sigma City airspace.”
Zoey raised an eyebrow, trailing her fingers along the Donnerdrache’s sleek surface. It was cold and smooth to the touch, and she could feel a shiver of excitement. The thought of them soaring through hostile territory in a fully kitted-out VTOL was oddly comforting. She grinned, though there was an edge to her voice. “Looks like you went all out, huh? You didn’t even think to get it registered in my name while you were at it?”
Etrius looked at her, and she could see the amusement in his eyes fading to something more serious. “Zoey, it’s not that I didn’t think about it. I did. But…” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “I thought it might be safer with me on the paperwork. Your… ‘record’ here in Sigma City isn’t exactly clean.”
Zoey felt her blood boil instantly, fists clenching before she caught herself. She took a breath, forcing her jaw to unclench. “Right. Safer,” she said, her voice low and even as she struggled to keep her temper in check. “Just didn’t expect you to leave me out of it like that.”
Etrius held her gaze, unfazed. “Zoey, if this bird is under my name, we’re less likely to draw the wrong kind of attention. You know that.”
She swallowed the retort rising in her throat, looking away as a flood of irritation mixed with a grudging sense of reason. “Yeah, maybe. I just… thought it could be mine, that’s all.”
A flicker of sympathy crossed Etrius’s face. He reached out and gave her shoulder a light squeeze. “Listen, it’s still yours in every way that matters. You’re the one who pulled it out of that mess and got it in the air. Paperwork doesn’t change that.”
Zoey’s shoulders relaxed a fraction, her fingers easing as she looked back at him. “Fair enough,” she muttered, brushing past him and making her way toward the cargo bay door, a pang of guilt bubbling up as she recalled her outburst. “Sorry. Just… feels weird having so little control these days.”
As Zoey stepped into the cargo bay, her eyes fell on the Mantis, looking almost new. The familiar APC gleamed with a fresh coat of red and black paint, giving the rugged vehicle a sharp, ready-for-anything look. She stopped, a surprised smile tugging at her lips as she walked up to it, running her hands along the freshly cleaned armor.
“Surprised?” Etrius asked, following her in.
“More than a little,” Zoey admitted, still taking in the sight of her restored vehicle. “Looks brand fuckin' new. You really outdid yourself.”
“Actually, I had some help,” Etrius said, a hint of pride slipping into his tone. “The SCDF had a couple of older Mantises lying around. I talked them into scrapping those for parts. Figured you could use an upgrade more than those relics would.”
Zoey paused, the weight of what he’d said sinking in. She turned to him, her expression softening. “You really pulled strings to make that happen, didn’t you?”
Etrius shrugged, leaning against the Mantis. “Eh, I just made a point. Told them that if anyone deserved the things, it was you. And if I have to justify that to anyone, I will.”
Zoey’s throat tightened with a strange, warm feeling she rarely allowed herself to acknowledge. “Thanks,” she murmured, touching the smooth edge of the Mantis with a gentleness that seemed foreign even to her.
“There’s still the KKP-42, too. Haven’t had the time to check on it myself, but I put a drone out and had a look. It’s… mostly fine, though it’s still a few hundred kilometers out.”
Zoey nodded, her mind drifting to the small tankette and the chaos of having to drop it to gain speed. “As long as it’s not completely trashed, it’s worth going after. Besides,” she added, a spark of excitement in her voice, “It’s a part of our story now.”
Etrius’s smile widened. “Always thinking ahead. I like that.”
The moment the weight of it all hit Zoey, she didn’t even feel herself collapsing. One minute she was staring at her repaired Mantis, marveling at how intact it looked, and the next she was on her knees, her body shaking as sobs erupted from somewhere deep inside her. Her hands clutched at the cold, metal floor of the Donnerdrache’s cargo bay as she cried, raw and unguarded. It was like everything she’d held back—every nightmare, every ache, every shred of uncertainty about her transformation—finally broke through.
Etrius was at her side instantly, kneeling down, his presence solid and grounding. He didn’t say anything at first, just placed a steady hand on her back and let her cry. She could feel him there, unwavering, and it only made her cry harder, the flood of emotion she’d kept buried tearing free.
“Etrius, I…” she choked, words spilling out between sobs. “I don’t know if I can… keep doing this. The nightmares, this… this constant feeling like I’m barely holding it together.” She raised her head, looking at him through tear-blurred eyes. “I don’t even know who I am anymore. I look in the mirror, and I see… this thing. These scales, the horns… I’m not me. I’m just… some experiment that went wrong.”
Etrius’s hand never left her back, his grip firm and reassuring. “Zoey, you’re not just some experiment,” he said quietly, his voice steady and calm. “You’re Zoey Lavender. You’ve survived things most people wouldn’t dream of. This… transformation, it doesn’t change who you are. It doesn’t change that you’re still here, fighting.”
Zoey let out a strangled laugh, more of a sob than anything. “I don’t want to keep fighting, Etrius. I’m tired. Every night, it’s the same nightmares. I’m back in that lab, back with them. They’re talking about what’s in me, what they did to me. I was just… some plaything to them. And I keep thinking, maybe this transformation was their plan all along. Maybe I was always meant to turn into this hideous monster.”
Etrius’s expression softened, and he knelt down fully beside her, his voice gentle. “Maybe it was. But that doesn’t mean they get to define who you are. You decide that, Zo. You’ve survived, outlived, and outsmarted all of them. None of them can tell you who you’re supposed to be.”
Her breath hitched as she looked at him, his face a blur through her tears. She wiped her eyes, shaky but a little calmer. “I just… it’s so much. I feel like I’m drowning sometimes. Like… like I’m on my own in this.”
“You’re not on your own,” he replied softly. “Not while I’m here. We’ll figure it out, Zosh. Germany, the facility—whatever it takes, we’ll get the answers you’re looking for.”
She swallowed, nodding as she took a few deep breaths. Etrius helped her to her feet, his hands steadying her as she composed herself. He gave her shoulder a light squeeze. “Let’s get you dressed, okay?”
Zoey managed a nod, following him to a storage locker where her clothes waited. She pulled on her black cargo pants, tucking the edges into her combat boots before shrugging into a gray tank top and zipping up her well-worn leather jacket. The familiar feel of her gear helped steady her, anchoring her in herself as she finished.
Etrius watched her pull on her boots, a faint smirk touching his lips. “You know, I’ll never understand the obsession with footwear. Seems like more trouble than it’s worth.”
Zoey shot him a dry look, raising an eyebrow. “That’s because you have digitigrade feet and they don’t make boots for seven-foot-tall tiger chimeras. Some of us need something to keep from tearing up our toes.”
Etrius chuckled, the sound low and warm. “Fair point.” He glanced down at his own clawed, digitigrade feet. “I’ll stick to my way, then. Less complicated.”
Zoey snorted, rolling her eyes. “Well, lucky you. Some of us like a little class with our feet.”
They laughed, the tension easing, and Zoey felt her spirits lift as they left the Donnerdrache behind and headed to Etrius’s sleek, black Airesuqqe. The car was a beast, low-slung and smooth, with a rumbling engine that promised power well beyond anything legally allowed in Sigma City. Zoey squeezed into the passenger seat, feeling the hum of the engine beneath her as Etrius turned it over.
The drive was quick and smooth, and soon enough they reached her favorite bar, a cozy, dimly lit place tucked away in one of the quieter districts. It was a spot Zoey had found early on after arriving in Sigma City, and the familiarity of it was a balm to her nerves. She slid into a seat at the bar, Etrius settling beside her, and signaled to the bartender.
“Beer for him, vodka and root for me,” she said, her voice rough but a bit steadier.
The bartender raised an eyebrow, glancing at her before setting down their drinks. “Almost didn’t recognize you, Zoey. If it weren’t for that order and those clothes, I’d never have guessed it was you.”
Zoey forced a laugh, trying to brush it off, but the words hit her deeper than she cared to admit. She managed a weak smile, taking a long drink from her vodka-rootbeer as a sense of melancholy crept in. She didn’t want to admit how much it stung.
Etrius watched her, his expression unreadable, but he didn’t press. Instead, he sipped his beer, letting the silence between them settle, and Zoey was grateful for it. She took another drink, the vodka burning its way down, numbing the edge of her anxiety and sorrow. She glanced over at Etrius, a faint smile touching her lips.
“Fuck,” she murmured, “I needed this. Dulls everything for a while and they don't let you have shit in the hospital.”
Etrius raised his glass, a small smile in his eyes. “To dulling everything,” he said, clinking his glass against hers, happy that the old Zoey he knew and loved was coming back.
She smiled back, finishing her drink quickly and ordering another, grateful for the warmth and haze that spread through her as she drank. For the first time in a while, she felt herself relax. The weight of everything she carried, all the pain and uncertainty, faded just a bit, pushed back by the alcohol and the company.
As the night wore on, Zoey’s eyes grew heavy, her posture slouching as the weariness caught up with her. Etrius noticed, a quiet understanding in his gaze, and when she finally drifted off, he caught her just before she slumped forward. Without a word, he slipped an arm under her and lifted her, careful not to jostle her too much.
The bartender gave him a nod as he carried her out, and Etrius returned it, making his way to the car with Zoey nestled securely in his arms. He set her gently in the passenger seat, buckling her in before sliding into the driver’s side and heading back to his penthouse.
When they reached his apartment, Etrius lifted her out of the car and carried her upstairs, moving quietly through the darkened halls until they reached his bedroom. He lay her down on the bed, tucking a blanket over her, and watched her for a moment, her face peaceful in sleep. After an hour or so of watching whatever slop was on TV, he joined her, carefully laying next to her and quickly falling asleep.
Zoey awoke slowly, the warmth and weight beside her a reassuring presence. For a moment, she let herself drift in that comfortable haze, feeling calm and… safe. It was rare, so rare, that she felt this way. She glanced over at Etrius, who was still asleep, his face softened in the quiet morning light filtering through the blinds. She shifted closer, her hand reaching out to brush gently over his golden arm, waiting patiently until his eyes opened, drowsy but attentive, meeting hers with a surprised, sleepy look.
“Morning,” she murmured, a hint of something more in her voice.
Etrius blinked, waking up fully, and his brow furrowed slightly in curiosity. “Morning… Zoey?”
She hesitated, a flicker of uncertainty passing over her face before she pushed it away, letting herself be a little vulnerable. “Etri,” she whispered, her fingers trailing up his arm. “Would you… could you hold me?”
A smile touched his lips, a hint of warmth softening his eyes. “If that’s what you want, of course.”
He reached out, his arms circling her, pulling her close as she relaxed against him. They shared a soft, quiet moment, then she lifted her face to his, her gaze holding his as she let her intentions be known without words. There was a hint of surprise on his face, but he didn’t resist. Instead, he leaned in, their breaths mingling as the last of the space between them disappeared.
The morning hours passed in shared heat and quiet intimacy, their touches lingering, each breath deep and heavy. The walls around her cracked, just for a little while, and she felt herself fully surrender to the moment, feeling truly seen, unafraid. She didn’t have to think about anything else, just this, and she allowed herself to give in completely. When they finally lay back, catching their hot and heavy breaths, Etrius looked at her, still a bit surprised.
“I didn’t… I didn’t think you’d be in the mood for that kind of thing, especially with all you’ve been dealing with.”
Zoey rolled onto her side to face him, a faint smile on her lips. “Well, self-consciousness won’t do me any good, will it?” She laughed lightly, brushing back a strand of hair. “I guess I just… felt like it.”
He chuckled, looking at her with that same gentle humor. “Not that I’m complaining. I… guess I didn’t expect it to feel quite so different, though.”
Her brow lifted, curious. “Different, huh? How so?”
“It was…” he paused, his gaze drifting as if trying to find the right words. “A lot warmer. Wetter, even. And definitely tighter.” His voice softened, a hint of lingering surprise. “Guess your transformation has a few… unexpected side effects.”
Zoey snorted, nudging him lightly. “Unexpected side effects, huh?” she teased, but there was a quiet satisfaction in her voice, a relief that maybe she hadn’t fully lost herself in this strange, changing body.
They stayed like that for a while, their hands touching and sparking as they settled into a comfortable quiet. Eventually, they got up and headed to the bathroom, the hot water of the shower helping to ease away any remaining aches. Etrius adjusted the water, and Zoey felt herself leaning back against him, his arms wrapping around her once more. For a moment, she let herself be happy, the laughter between them light and free. She leaned into him, enjoying the steam curling around them, her worries melting away under the warmth.
But then, a thought crept into her mind, a dark cloud across the bright morning.
Etrius wasn’t hers, not really. This intimacy, this closeness, it was a comfort she knew she couldn’t hold onto. Etrius was her closest friend, and they shared these moments, yes. But she couldn’t shake the emptiness that came with the realization that she still had no one who was fully hers. And that was her own fault. She’d built these walls, kept people at arm’s length because deep down, she knew the truth.
She was truly broken, shattered in ways she or anyone else couldn’t fix.
Before she knew it, she was trembling, silent tears slipping down her cheeks, mixing with the hot water. She tried to keep it together, to push the feelings back, but it was too much, too overwhelming.
Etrius noticed immediately, his metal hands gentle as he turned her to face him, his expression a mix of worry and understanding. “Zosh…” he murmured, his voice low and comforting. He pulled her close, holding her tightly as her tears fell, her face buried in his shoulder as she let herself break, if only for a little while. They stood like that, wrapped up in each other under the stream of water, and for that moment, Zoey felt like she didn’t have to carry it all alone. She didn’t have to be strong or guarded. She could just be.
When her breathing finally steadied, she pulled back slightly, looking down at him with a faint, fragile smile touching her lips. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the shower.
He nodded, his hands gently brushing a few wet strands of hair away from her face. “Anytime.”
The days passed quietly in Etrius's apartment as Zoey recuperated, her body mending fully as the bruises, cuts, and fractures faded into memories. With the Donnerdrache safely stationed at the airport and her Mantis APC alongside it, Zoey had everything she needed to relax and regroup under one roof. But now, fully healed, her restlessness grew; the safety of Sigma City felt hollow knowing those reptilian aliens were still out there, biding their time.
One day, as they lounged in Etrius's living room, Zoey busied herself inspecting her Vulpes Titan suit, feeling the comforting weight of its familiar metal plates as she adjusted a few connections. “What did you end up doing with those extra power cores I grabbed from the Manhattan facility?” she asked, her tone half-focused as she fiddled with a latch.
Etrius glanced up from his work at the counter, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Oh, those? I’ve got them stashed away in my gun safe. The only one out right now is the one in your suit, doing its job.”
Nodding, Zoey looked over her armor, her gaze catching on the interface port that allowed her suit to sync with her Mantis. “And the makeshift power harness? That thing always felt like it could short out at any second,” she said with a smirk.
“I took care of it,” Etrius assured her. "Well, hired someone to take care of it. Made it safer, more stable. You’re all set.”
She paused, a thoughtful look crossing her face as she took in his words. He’d used so much of his own wealth, had coordinated repairs for the Donnerdrache, seen to her Mantis, and covered every angle to make sure she had what she needed. A sense of gratitude swelled in her chest, bittersweet and grounding. He’d done so much for her, had been by her side through it all, never wavering.
Finally, she broke the silence. “So… when are we getting back out there? We can't just stop because we’re safe here. Those aliens—they’re still out there, Etrius. The longer we stay idle, the more they have time to plan against us.”
Etrius exhaled, nodding as he leaned back, considering her question with care. “Berlin’s the first stop,” he agreed. “The only surviving city left in Germany. From there, we stock up, then head for the mountain where the old testing facility’s been sitting since...well, you know. Are you really ready for this?” His tone was soft, yet serious. “I’m with you to the end, you know that. But this… this isn’t just a mission. That place—it isn’t just a memory, not for you.”
A shadow crossed her face as her hands curled into fists. Her voice was sharp, cracking with anger. “How dare you?” she snapped, her eyes narrowing as she fixed him with a fiery glare. “How dare you question my resolve? Talk about that… haunted place like it’s just a building?”
“Zoey,” he said when her anger had quieted just slightly. “I’m not questioning your strength. I’m asking if you’re ready. The Vulpes Titan can’t protect you from yourself, from what you might feel when we’re there.”
Her face twisted, frustration mingling with a look of raw vulnerability. She struggled with the words, her voice losing its edge. “You don’t fucking get it,” she yelled, her tone breaking. “You think I don’t want to? I want to fight this, fight them, fight… me.” Her gaze fell, and her shoulders slumped, her body seeming to deflate as her anger dissolved into guilt.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered after a moment, the words barely audible. “I didn’t mean to yell. I hate this, Etrius. These… these outbursts, this anger I can’t control. It’s like I’m not even myself sometimes.” Her voice cracked, and tears welled in her eyes as the floodgates opened. “Every time I lose control… I feel like I’m breaking. And it’s just one more thing I can’t stand about all this.”
Etrius stepped forward, closing the space between them, his arms enveloping her as she broke down. He held her as she wept, letting her lean into his strength, his presence steadying her. “It’s okay,” he murmured, his voice a soft anchor. “You’re not alone in this, Zoey. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
She clung to him, the last of her anger giving way to the familiar ache of helplessness. And in that moment, with his arms around her, she let herself surrender, knowing he was there to catch her, to hold her through the storm inside her.
When her tears finally subsided, she stepped back, brushing the remnants from her cheeks as she looked up at him. “Thank you,” she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
He smiled gently, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “No need to thank me,” he replied. “Just… don’t be afraid to lean on me when you need it, alright?”
She nodded, her gaze softening as a fragile but determined look returned to her eyes. Together, they would face what lay ahead—her past, her pain, and the challenges they would find in that broken, haunted place. And as she drew a breath, ready to move forward, Zoey knew that she was stronger for having him by her side.
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