Becoming Monsters is the creation and property of Ai Loves, setting used with permission.

 

—

 

Chapter 15: Seeking Truth

 

The next morning dawned slowly and painfully. Thursday. In fine college tradition, a day to get through until the parties could happen. Especially today, the first one of the semester. In suite 222, five people were dragging themselves out of bed after an unbelievably busy Wednesday. Well, three were, anyway, after being woken up by the two who had turned in a bit earlier than the others.

 

May was many things. “Subtle” and “quiet” were not among them as she rode Todd into the bed.

 

The two emerged from Todd’s room to three sets of raised eyebrows. He was slightly sheepish. May was no such thing. Song, wearing her Human face, yawned a bit before archly asking “I thought you were mana-limited?”

 

Todd winced slightly, then called up his Status screen. “Um, thirty-nine percent now. If my rates hold up, I’ll be able to recast Investiture at full strength after dinner?”

 

Song sighed with relief. Ghata’s grin was a bit wry. “As opposed to doing so, what, right after lunch, then getting to buff me?”

 

“I, ah… crud. I screwed that one up, huh?”

 

May was digging through her bags for that day’s clothes, but looked over with a smile. “Maybe, but you also screwed me upwards, so you can count it even!”

 

Ghata’s left eyebrow raised, a gesture oddly like the conversational equivalent of the sound of a shotgun cocking. “Is there anything you don’t turn into innuendos?”

 

“Was I too subtle?”

 

“ANYWAY!” Todd was desperate to avoid a cat fight. Especially when one was a Rakshasa. “I need to get to breakfast if I’m going to make it to History. We do still need to study, next week’s placement testing is going to be kind of important.”

 

May grinned. “True. And Ghata, if your vagina is feeling lonely, I can fix that while you wait.”

 

Todd ran. Fast. Made it to the cafeteria in record time, and found that the doors weren’t open yet. It was odd to just be standing still. It just seemed that whatever else was happening, all this week he’d been DOING something… or someone… always going places, dodging people, in a class, out of time. Just standing here, waiting for doors to open? That was different. Gave him time to think.

 

There was a lot to ponder, though. Martin still needed help, for one, and there were a million ways that could have happened. Privately? Todd thought he likely was thinking with his dick instead of his head for a moment too long and got caught. It just seemed like the kind of mistake someone around here could make. Whether his remorse would be enough to convince his lady to accept him back would be its own problem.

 

There was a more immediate concern to ponder as the doors opened. The assignment from Professor Ruddertail. He had a notebook with notes, contexts, ideas… but nothing definite. He needed to get SOMETHING to show for his week away from the classroom or his college career would definitely be getting off on the wrong foot. Or tail.  Todd’s thoughts were slightly scrambled, he figured it might be a good time to grab one of his infrequent cups of coffee.

 

Which led to a different problem. There didn’t seem to be any. In a freaking college campus cafeteria. This was not something he’d anticipated dealing with, despite recalling some moments later that the campus was kept free of coffee due to the number of Races that had severe reactions to it. Something in the info pamphlets somewhere. He had to settle for orange juice and brain fog, and being thankful he hadn’t built up more of a reliance on it before coming. Todd could therefore be excused for how long it took to catch up with two more facts while munching on his scrambled eggs.

 

Two things were missing this morning, besides his suitemates who had a bit of extra time to get ready. He could see no members of Alpha Omega anywhere. It was like every Angel, Demon, Spirit, Ghost, and Shade all decided to eat elsewhere that day. Todd looked around to check, and sure enough. Plenty of fur around, Theta Delta was still out in force, but zero Alpha Omegas. There was also almost no signage or poster up for the Development League. Just one up in a corner that appeared like it got overlooked.

 

“That’s… strange.”

 

“What’s strange?” Martin’s nasally New York accent seemed to come out of nowhere.

 

Todd shook his head. Either Martin had used his abilities to sneak up and sit down with his own breakfast, or else Todd needed more time to wake up. “Nothing posted at all for Development League. After how hard they were pushing it the past few days, I’d have thought it would be more bold. Not less.”

 

“Yeah, you know what? You got a point. It should have some pop,” went the Weasel.

 

“Mind keeping an ear to the ground? I know you’re not participating directly, but I am, and so are basically everyone else in our little group unless they changed their minds.”

 

“Sure. Hey, uh, you’re headed to World History, right? Gonna leave here in about five or ten minutes?”

 

Todd nodded. “Yeah. Tiny and Corey are there, too.”

 

“Thought so. Look, Jem’s meeting up with me later this morning to start her hunt up, but here’s the deal. School’s only got three Protogen in it, they tend to be close to each other, and one of them is gonna be coming out of that building when you get there. Brassy colors, got musical notes on his displays. He might have some info on Lucas if you ask.”

 

“Got a name to go with that description?”

 

“I’ve been awake for less than an hour, or I might have.” Martin shrugged.

 

“Can’t argue that.” Todd scarfed down the last of the fruit on his plate and grabbed his tray. “I’d better get going, then. Thanks for the info again!”

 

The two took off from there, heading in entirely opposite directions from each other. Martin was headed back towards the dorms and Order houses, but Todd was on a schedule. One that just got a lot stricter as he had someone to intercept. Someone who might need something else, but who might have info that could keep him alive. Only mostly figuratively, so he picked up the pace. It was good that he had, as he approached the class building he spotted a knot of students leaving. Mostly Humans, but a solid mix of various shapes and forms. Pointed ears, folded wings, rainbow skin tones… and one familiar wolf-like shape plated in brass and standing about six feet tall. The displays on this one showed sixteenth notes.

 

Yes, he knew what those looked like. Bardic Knowledge isn’t limited to math.

 

Another big difference with this one? He was smiling. An expression that was not at all present on the last Protogen Todd had come across. It might have been drawn in pixels, but it was definitely a smile. Todd breathed a sigh of relief at that tidbit of information. Knowing that he wasn’t likely to be slain in this coming exchange, he decided to just walk up and try introducing himself. The group alerted onto him like a bunch of gazelle spotting a tiger.

 

That was also a new sensation.

 

There was muttering in the group he could not quite make out, followed by one distinct voice. “Aha! The Bard who managed to simultaneously prove and disprove every stereotype we have!” It was like the sound of a pop song perfectly written and scored, then fed through a bad autotuner expertly used. The Protogen stepped forward, smile on his facial display.

 

“I guess that’s me. Todd Reed, I actually wanted to talk to you for a sec if you have the time.”

 

“You can call me Kithkin then. I have a moment to spare, and more than enough curiosity.” He turned to the others. “Guys, don’t wait up. This is either going to be quick and I’ll catch up, or it will be detailed and I won’t realize the time has passed. Either way, I suspect he wants this one to be one on one.”

 

In moments, the two were alone. “Bit of an odd name, Kithkin. Nickname?”

 

The tall robot shook his head. “No, it’s my legal name now. A lot of us took that after the Change, when things didn’t work out. It is poetic, really. Family of a friend, or friend of the family depending on how you want to read it.” The fact that he could affix Todd with a piercing gaze when his eyes consisted of a few dozen large pixels each was a testament to his skill at body language. “So what is it that you need from the family of a friend, Todd? Or should I call you Tidbit?”

 

Todd managed to limit his own wince of pain at those words to a momentary freeze. “If you do your research well enough to know that nickname, you should probably already know what I’m here for… and that I hate being called that. Cards on the table, last night Lucas almost put myself and seven of my friends in the hospital during the League game. I need to know what his deal is.”

 

“Lucas? The Soulsaber? For him to raise his weapons in anger is something I’d not have expected. I assume you are asking me because Protogen stick together, yes?” His words were melodic, but his body language blanked. His movements ceased other than the absolute necessity of facing, his imitation of breathing and adjusting posture became as a statue.

 

“You’re right, and I get the feeling you have not told me what you know.”

 

“I would normally ask a favor for that, but the knowledge of the question is favor enough. If something has convinced him that it was worth turning his weapons on fellow people, that something was worth the price of his soul.”

 

“He was working with Alpha Omega.” That seemed important. It seemed very important, when talk of souls were on the line. “If you can, I’d appreciate it if you talk to him about this. One Bard to another, Kithkin? There is a lot going on at this school that isn’t on the surface. Lucas is a symptom if what you tell me is true, and I’d rather stop it now. You know, before someone gets hurt.”

 

“Or hurt worse, you mean. I hear you also had a run-in with Bradley’s fist after having a run-in with his girlfriend.”

 

“You’re a couple of days slow on that bit of news. Tell you what. I can fill in the details later if you put in a few good words? No time to talk further, gotta make it to class.” Tiny was walking up, which meant that Todd was about to be late to the class they shared.

 

“You have any idea how rare it is for anyone to say any piece of that statement to me while having the sheer audacity to be right? Fine, you’ve got yourself a deal.”

 

Across campus from this conversation, another bit of investigation was happening. At the edge of the fence between the campus and Yellowstone Park, well away from the actual gate, a building stood. Though new, like everything on campus was, this one had an unfinished feel to it. It was as though between states, like those inside wanted none of the finely polished facade of the rest of the world. Or, perhaps, they just wanted to be closer to the raw wood and stone.

 

Either way, the two people walking up had a lot to do. One was a Weasel of about five and a half feet. The other was an Amazoness in full Witch’s attire. They stopped not far outside. Jem turned to face Martin. “So this is where the event happened?”

 

He nodded. “Yeah, just inside the front door is a big open room where the party was. I can take you to the bedroom itself if you need me to.”

 

She shook her head. “Won’t be needed. You know the exact time and place you were born? The more precise the better, to the minute and mile if you can.”

 

“I’d have to ask my Pop,” went the Weasel. “I just know the day, and that it was in the evening in NYC.”

 

“That’ll have to do, and I hope nobody else in here is under the same general signs as you.” She pulled out her phone and a notepad, looking a few things up and jotting down notes. Nodding at her work, she muttered a litany of supplication to the Moon Above, her eyes opening once more with a glow. One like a cat’s, reflecting more light than you expect. Glancing his way, she nodded in a satisfied kind of way. “Alright, looks like what you told me was accurate enough. My detection spell is picking you up and locking in now.”

 

“So what are we doing here? I told you what happened.”

 

“Couple of things. You said what you think happened. You told me what you feel about it. Thing is, that’s all you. I need to know what really went down before I can do anything else. I definitely see your route as you came in.” She started walking forward toward the building’s front door. “It feels… a bit odd. You were alone?”

 

“Kinda? There were other people, but I wasn’t with anyone here. Just trying to make a good impression, you know? Theta Delta, they’re the only ones around who’ll take someone like me in.”

 

Her head snapped upwards. “Of course this is the TD house. What else would it be?” There was heavy sarcasm in her voice. “Can you get me in the front door? I don’t exactly fit in.”

 

“I mean, pretty sure I can, but I’m also pretty sure nobody there’s gonna care. They’re shapeshifters in that house, not just Beastfolk. Lots of people walk through the front door wearing a different face and body every day of the week.”

 

He wasn’t wrong, either. They entered the creaky front door to find four people in the various chairs of the large room before them. Nobody glanced up at them for more than a second. They were unremarkable, unworthy of the effort to positively identify. Jem wasn’t sure she liked it. Good, bad, or ugly, she had been standing out in every crowd for the last three years. Not here. The sheer lack of eyes on her was like a thorn in her foot. One she had to just leave in place for now as her spell guided her around the room. A table in the back corner had a few drinks on it now, but with how often Martin’s trace came here in the course of the night it obviously held much more a few nights prior.

 

“Hey, looks like there’s leftover drinks. Mind handing me a pop?” went the Weasel.

 

She reached over to grab one, but as she handed it to him she noticed something. As one trace walked away, it blurred. He was becoming less coherent. That could be caused by a few things, really, but one was a lot more likely than the others. “Martin, you’re nineteen years old, right? Just making sure I remember things right.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“Then why were you drunk at that party?”

 

He looked up at her. “Wait, what? I’m no saint, but I know better than that! Can’t keep an eye or a nose out if you’re three sheets to the wind, can’t make a good impression if you can’t get your words out without slurring them!”

 

“Martin, I’m telling you that there was alcohol on that table, and you got enough into you to affect your aura.”

 

He was quiet for a moment as he followed Jem’s steps. “You… you think that affected things?”

 

“I don’t need to cast a spell to tell you that. Alcohol impairs judgment, it’s just what its purpose on this Earth is. If you aren’t using it to kill microbes, it’s killing brains and livers.” She stopped and looked at a door. “This the place?”

 

He looked at the door and swallowed hard. “I… I think so. It’s a bit hazy from here. The girl and I…”

 

“The girl? You didn’t even get her NAME?”

 

“I think we’ve established that I wasn’t making good decisions at the party already, Jem! Come on, let’s get in here and you can do whatever it is you’re doing.” One problem with that statement, though. Specifically, it was locked. The doorknob made a nice clacking sound but did not turn. He looked at the open and vulnerable keyway and knew he’d be able to get into the room almost as quickly as his own. “Rats. You get enough info for now?”

 

Jem shook her head. “Without being able to get in there? Too much I don’t know. I need to get a read on that moment of the past or I can’t advocate for you in good faith. What else did you…” Her words were interrupted by a click and a creak. The door opened from the inside.

 

Martin the Weasel had described the woman as a vixen before. Jem immediately saw why. Even beyond her fox features and two tails, the lady was extraordinarily attractive. This even after Jem had had the tongue of a Greater Succubus exploring her less than 24 hours prior. Her fur was bright red-orange, her body fit, her breasts high and firm. And she was not wearing a single stitch of clothing, that was worth noting. “Can I help you… oh! You’re back? Sorry to say I don’t have time for round two, didn’t think you’d want to after what happened last time.”

 

Dangit, even her voice is hot. What is it with this school and having stupidly sexy women everywhere? Jem got a hold of herself fairly quickly, though. “Hey, I’m Jem. Martin here,” she gave him a glare, “did something stupid here, I assume with you. I was getting the story. Mind if I come in for a few moments?”

 

The Kitsune woman smiled lazily. “That sounds like you’re asking for a favor, doesn’t it?”

 

Jem looked down at her. “All accounts payable by Martin the Weasel here.”

 

“Oh well in that case, I guess you already paid it forward, didn’t you? Shame, he was a good lay and it looks like I’m not going to get a chance at another go. You have ten minutes while I get dressed for class, but then you have to leave. Martin might have a shot at rushing for us, but Jem? You don’t seem the type.”

 

Now with the door open and the (nude and curious) Kitsune watching, Jem stepped in. No big shocks. The aura she was following did some fairly predictable wandering around before ending up on the bed and brightening up as his encounter started. Then suddenly dim. Ah, that’s probably when he got found.

 

Jem recast her spell, but this time she wasn’t dialing in on Martin. Rather, the moment in time when his reality came crashing down. “You really were just… riding in the moment.”

 

The vixen walked up, now with shirt and pants on. “Kind of like I was riding him. Practically bucked me off when that girl busted in.”

 

“Megan was… she was mad. I don’t blame her, I would have been in her place. What I did was stupid.” Martin was looking down and to the side, his nose twitching. “She stormed out, I tried to follow. Tripped over my own pants while they were around my ankles. Ended up catching up with her halfway back to the dorms. The conversation’s a blur, but the slap she dealt me at the end is not something I’m gonna forget. Just glad she didn’t have her claws out, but she hasn’t talked to me since.”

 

“That was your girlfriend? You just have a thing for Foxes or something?”

 

“You aren’t helping…”

 

“You don’t even remember my name, do you?” She looked back at the Amazoness guiding this trip down the rocky part of Memory Lane. “He’s gonna need a lot of help, but you need to go. I have class.”

 

“I figured that out. Thank you for letting me in, and if you want to talk favors for other things you can find me in the Humanoid dorms. Suite 222.”

 

“I’ll think about it.” She sounded like she actually was going to. Still, the dismissal was obvious. The two left the room.

 

They unfortunately weren’t done just yet. The way out of the building was blocked by two people. One, they recognized easily. Song was someone they spent a lot of time around, after all, and the slight Korean woman was distinct in her own way once you got to know her. The other, though… the other was a different matter. She was quite short, shorter even than Song, but nobody present could possibly mistake her for meek. Her brown hair was shaggy and down to her shoulder blades, yellow eyes bright, her muscles powerful, her dark tan skin crisscrossed by traces of bright white scars.

 

Her stance also indicated, for a lack of any better word, dominance. She owned this conversation and this room. There was no doubt in her about this fact or any other, and no doubt in any of the others present. It was basic fact. She turned towards Jem and Martin, and under her glare Jem wished she was back to being below notice. “You. Who are you, and why are you in the Theta Delta house?”

 

“My name is Jennifer Lyons, and I’m here helping Martin try to fix a mistake he made at a social that was held here a few nights ago.” Jem had no idea why she gave her full name, but there had been no thought of even trying to use her nickname. Not saying the truth of her task was similarly inconceivable.

 

“That is not reason enough to be here, but it is for me to let you leave. Go.” Her voice was low and powerful, full of as much certainty as her stance.

 

Jem fled. Martin was close behind her. They didn’t go far from the Order house, perhaps a couple hundred feet, before they stopped. Jem felt herself breathing unreasonably hard for reasons she could not explain. “Who. Was. That?”

 

“Uh, not sure how to explain this one, Jem, but her name is Amelia Cantor. The Theta Delta order leader. She runs a super tight ship in there.”

 

“Wait, then why the heck was Song there? Do we need to go back for her?” Jem was looking back at the house with a sense of dread.

 

Martin shook his head. “If I remember what you all told me? Bet she’s there trying to rush for them. She belongs, Jem. You don’t. I might be able to get in the door, but I can’t do anything that will help her.” He didn’t look all that much better than Jem was feeling. “We gotta calm down so we can get to class. You think you know enough now?”

 

“I’m close enough. The rest, I’ll get when I track down and talk to Megan.”

 

Martin winced. “I guess that makes sense, yeah. Well, time to get to the part where I calm down a bit.” Martin reached into his pocket, grabbing something that had a distinct plasticky rustle to it.”

 

“I’m afraid to ask.”

 

“Oh, it’s nothing serious. Old trick from my childhood, before life went the way it did three years ago.” Martin pulled out a wad of bubble wrap. Jem wasn’t sure exactly what she was expecting, but that wasn’t it. “Real simple. I get stressed, I grab the bubble wrap. After a few of these, my nerves are usually doing well. Come on, try it. You can give it a pop,” said the Weasel.