The Beast Within (Book One of the Changes Series)

-Killian’s POV-

I don’t think we knew what to say. I never heard of anything like this ever happening, but I guess I wouldn’t if it had.

The major cleared her throat, “Our country’s national security is still your chief goal. It’s because of the sensitivity of the problem that it has to be done in secrecy. I expect you all to dedicate one hundred and ten percent to the cause. Whatever you find out today, just know your country needs you.” She stopped again to give us all a once over.

It wasn’t lost on any of us that our paths were already chosen, whether we liked it or not. We all waited for the major to continue.

“Now, as I’ve already said earlier, this is a proving ground base, which means grounds to test prototypes and new technologies. A serum all of your bodies know well was invented and manufactured within these very walls. For the past year, all of you were placed on the LT4 serum, and you were told it was a preventative treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. However, the medication was actually manufactured to aid certain skills to develop.”

“Major, permission to speak freely, ma’am?” Hernandez asked.

“Proceed.”

“The development of what, ma’am?”

“Yourselves… We believe we have found the future of bio-warfare in you six.” If I wasn’t mistaken, she seemed to gleam with pride like a momma bear looking over her cubs. “I think this conversation would be better served if I have our lead biochemist explain and show you the rest before I continue.” She pressed the earpiece in her ear. “Dr. Chaplin, we’re on our way. Meet us in viewing room C in five.” Without a word, she pivoted, her back now facing us as she began to walk. “Everyone follow me.”

I’ve been on some wild missions before, but nothing like this. The major led us through an entrance taking us through corridors and tunnels before we followed her into a narrow hall with thick metal sheeting instead of gray plastered walls. The metal covered the entirety of the walls. I also noticed huge slits that held what looked like containment walls that would slide down when activated, locking whatever was trying to breach the area behind the barrier. By my estimation, there was a hidden metal barrier every twenty feet or so. It seemed to be overkill, in my opinion. What could be out in the mountains that we needed this much safeguarding against?

During my deployments, I’d been a witness to some twisted shit. So I wasn’t going to try to guess what was behind doors number one, two, or three down in this piss pipe. I just wished I had my pistol. My gut told me I might need it.

We finally reached an area that opened into another large domain, with two rows of giant, densely barred holding cells on either side of us. Every cell we passed was empty, but whatever would be held here had to be huge and extremely strong.

Major Hardaway ushered us into an average-sized room that smelled of fresh paint and leather with stadium-style seating that faced a darkened panoramic window.

“All of you, take a seat, and the presentation will begin shortly.”

I would usually take the seat closest to the exit, but it appeared Garvey, Hernandez, and Davis had the same idea as I did, so I took the second-best option and sat in the top row for the best vantage point. Of course, McPherson followed suit, taking the seat next to me. Thankfully he seemed to be too fascinated with the room to talk for the moment.

I watched Washington sit down farthest away from the entrance and the team in the first row. The major didn’t sit at all, standing in the far corner instead.

A mouse of a woman with glasses and long, stringy brown hair entered the room. From her generic white lab coat, this must be the lead biochemist Hardaway was talking to earlier. She didn’t acknowledge our existence as she went straight to the major, speaking in a hushed tone. Whatever response Hardaway shared was obviously not what the other woman wanted to hear as she tried to hide the disgust on her face.

I watched as the biochemist retraced her steps, ending back in front of the door, opening a hidden panel on the wall. The lights in the room dramatically dimmed as the young woman fiddled with a gadget on her blouse.

“Hello—testing—Ah yes, my name is Anastasiya Chaplin, and I’m the lead scientist for the base.” I was mildly surprised by the raspy thick Russian accent. “I’m responsible for the creation of the supplement you know as LT4. From our gathered data, I know you all felt the perks of the medication.” She paused for a moment for dramatic effect. “There has been an increased sensitivity of your smell, sight, hearing, and taste. I’m sure you have also experienced the amplified strength and energy for the first four hours after injections were given. We’ve been giving you testosterone-lycanate. It’s a synthesized hormone of sorts.”

I noticed Washington’s hand come up from the corner of my eye as he cleared his throat to catch Dr. Chaplin’s attention. She nodded in his direction, giving him permission to speak, but her irritation wasn’t lost on most.

Washington started with his question anyway, “So basically, you’re telling us we’ve been juicing?”

“Juicing?” She shook her head, “I haven’t been giving you human-based testosterone.” I would’ve been able to hear a pin drop in the room for how quiet it was. Dr. Chaplin continued, “I’ve increased all of your dosages up to one-third of a dose daily for the last four months. Well, almost all of you, Chief Petty Officer Killian is actually on a half dose twice a day. He has exhibited zero side effects and the reflexes of a cat which earned his team world recognition.”

I swore I could feel McPherson’s seat vibrate, “Holy shit, you’re part of Team 6, aren’t you?”

I was proud to be a part of Team 6, but I wasn’t used to my anonymity being lifted. The president himself didn’t know who was a part of our operations and who wasn’t.

Everyone’s eyes were on me, looking for an answer to the newbie’s question. I didn’t sit there for long before Hardaway answered for me.

“Yes, McPherson, he is. Not only was Killian in the operation you’re referring to, but he was also the soldier that delivered the lethal shot. From my understanding, the mission wasn’t going smoothly until you assumed control.”

“It was a joint effort from start to finish, ma’am,” I said as I felt my irritation rise.

I turned my head towards Dr. Chaplin, waiting for her to start again. From the look plastered on her face, I could tell she was as agitated as I was. “As I was saying, the substance has been a success within the test study so far. Now we have come to the part that I tell you exactly what you’ve been taking. Mr. Washington was only partly right. Testosterone-lycanate isn’t an androgenic hormone of a human male. Rather, it’s the testosterone of a lycan male or lycan female.”

Did she just refer to a mythical creature as if it were real? The low hum in the room was electrified by confusion. Dr. Chaplin seemed pleased by our reactions.

“Excuse my French or Russian, whatever. What the hell is a Ly-can, and why the hell are its hormones floating in my bloodstream?” Garvey asked.

I peek over at the major, and she appeared just as excited as Dr. Chaplin.

“A.N.N.A., open the window for viewing cell C,” Dr. Chaplin loudly announced.

“Yes Dr. Chaplin, would you like me to start the transformation process as well?” An automated female voice questioned.

“No, not yet.”

“As you wish, give me the final command when you’re ready.”

“So you have robots too? I’m waiting to see if Spock makes a cameo.” Garvey said as Hernandez tried to ignore him.

“It’s an A.I., not a robot, you imbecile,” Davis corrects.

“Ms. Davis is right. A.N.N.A is an acronym for Artificial Networked Nanotech Assistant.” Dr. Chaplin proudly added.

Garvey scoffed, “Yeah, thanks. That helped clear everything right up.”

“I think they’re talking about computers that think like humans, right? I thought that only existed in sci-fi movies.” Hernandez said.

“For civilians, this technology is based in fiction only, but A.N.N.A. is a fully functional A.I. that can learn. Of course, only within the parameters we allow. Her main function is collecting data in the labs and holding cells if needed. This cuts out staff injuries and fatalities. Plus, humans can’t be as diligent and in all places at once as A.N.N.A can. ”

Dr. Chaplin’s speech on the wonders of A.I. only added to my discomfort. If the computer that thinks wasn’t the main attraction, I hated to think what was.

“A.N.N.A., proceed with the viewing.”

“As you wish, Dr. Chaplin.”

The dim lights became dimmer before leaving us in complete darkness. In seconds, the viewing room lights flickered to life, making our surroundings viewable again. As our eyes focused on the scene set in front of us, no one muttered a single word.

On the other side of the protective glass was a room with padded walls. The ground had the same thick metal siding I had seen earlier, but that wasn’t what had all of us speechless. It was the unconscious, naked man secured to a colossal, slanted metal slab.

Dr. Chaplin’s voice broke the silence, “The man that you see strapped to that table in front of you is a lycan, or what you Americans refer to as a werewolf.”

Everyone but Major Hardaway, Dr. Chaplin, and I began laughing. I might have joined them, but the underground base, thick barrier doors, and the holding cells that looked as if they could hold the Hulk supported Anastasiya’s claim.

“Okay, this is some kind of joke, right?” Davis asked.

Dr. Chaplin shook her head, “No, testosterone-lycanate is something found within the body, like a mutation on a cellular level, written in the code of his and his kind’s DNA. For most cases, we see a depletion on chromosome seven and a replication on both twenty-two and twenty-three. The trait works similarly to how a person receives the color of their hair or eyes. If only one of the parents is a carrier, the child will also be a carrier. However, if both parents carry the trait, the child will most likely go through the transformation.”

Dr. Chaplin hesitatingly paused and pointed towards Davis’ raised hand.

“So the pasty pile of skin and bones strapped to the slab is the genetic equivalent of what a biochemist would call a werewolf because of the abilities someone can derive by injecting his hormones?” Davis inquired.

“No, we biochemists call them werewolves because they’re just that.”

Davis didn’t wait to be called on again, “Do you think we’re going to believe that people turn into wild dogs during the full moon and change back into a human when the sun rises? I think you might be due for some real sunlight away from the underground base.”

The laughter started back up, but Major Hardaway killed it immediately.

“There won’t be any further interruptions of the presentation from this point forward,” Hardaway demanded.