Biomorph

"Hey, what's up with your cat? Why did it send everyone messages?"

Josh sighed, and closed the simulation he had been running. Ayla had been bugging him for the last few minutes about this, and he couldn't concentrate.

"She is called Belle, for starters." Beta 43 piped up, before going back to the unfocused look that told Josh is sister was still running the simulations on her HUD.

"Belle is the result of a test the scientists did without the Major's permission. They took a cat, and transplanted some of my cells into her. The cells basically took her over, as I found out when she started asking me telepathically for food."

"That scared him!" Beta 21 laughed, before flashing a smile to josh as an apology.

"After that, the scientists put a couple of terabyte server in her, because they thought Belle wanted to stay with them. However, Belle always preferred us." Josh smiled, and then stretched.

"Anyway, after disconnecting from the Fighter clones, I had Belle wander over, so I could pick her up before we got on the bus."

"Why?"

"I'll tell you , Boone. This cat can link to any electronic system in a couple of hundred mile radius, and broadcast any signal I need her to. So, I can bounce the signal of my confrontation with The General off Belle, and stream it live for all to see! Then, he has to get fired at least!" exclaimed Josh, as he smugly scratched Belles head.

General Ross was in his temporary office, making the preparations he needed for his next battery of tests on Gamma 1, When the Major knocked at his door, and let himself in.

"Major? Is something the matter?"

"General, I only wanted to inform you that Beta 42 has been pinged on our radar. He isn't even trying to cloak himself. " The Major paused, and glanced at his watch.

"They're 30 clicks away. ETA 30 minutes. I suggest you hide yourself, then make an announcement to him over the intercom. That'll make him come running."

"Of course! Use his errors against him! Why didn't I think of that?" General Ross' eyes darkened as he said those words.

"Apologies sir. Just trying my best to be helpful."

"You are dismissed, Major." hissed the General, as he turned back to his plans. The tests could be on hold for now.

First? He had to kill that … mistake.

20 minutes later...

Belle stretched as she jumped off the bus, with the class following her example soon after. They looked at the rather unassuming building complex in front of them. The main type of buildings were the concrete cuboids that the military favored in the 2000's, with a few large antenna in the centre of the compound.

The antenna seemed slightly out of place in this almost historical image. They were the newest things on the compound, capable of light-speed transmissions across space, and could handle terabytes of data transfer at a time.

Also, there was rather a lot of soldiers who were coming to escort them.

As they came running up, they put a finger to their lips, and motioned that the class should follow. It seemed like their presence was being hidden. But from who?

Seeing that the class was inside, Jason sighed in relief. Those crazy kids were the military's problem now. However, as he turned his bus around, he noticed that the kid who had been hurt everywhere at one point - Josh, was it? John? He couldn't remember - didn't have the same look of wonder as most of them, or even the disinterest of that group of weirdos with the numbers. He looked like he was … resigned.

Ah well. They could do as they wish.

The Major was waiting at the elevator that would take them further into the bunker. He seemed very nervous, which was acceptable under the circumstances. He could be court marshalled for doing this. at the very least, demoted. He could even be killed if this went south.

However, his nerves seemed to get worse when he saw Josh. He almost fell to his knees, his eyes closed, and his lips , trembling slightly, mouthed a prayer to whoever was up there. However, Josh simply walked past him. He was preoccupied with what the plan with the best success chance would need him to do.

"Beta 42?" the Major whispered, confused as to this reaction.

"Ah, sorry Major. I was just thinking." Josh smiled.

"Also, "

The Major tensed, expecting a physical or verbal barrage.

However, he only felt a hand being gently laid on his shoulder.

"Thank you for keeping my family safe. I would have appreciated the knowledge, though."

As Josh walked away, and Beta 43 led the group to one of the training rooms, the Major slumped against the wall.

Step one, complete.

Now, it was Beta 42's turn.

The General glanced at the time, and realized he should try to get the clone warmed up. He punched some buttons on his wrist, and the tormented being lurched upright, then clumped down the hall towards a training room. Then, he would be able to move freely in that room for 5 minutes, then he would be brought back here.

No one else used that room, so why shouldn't the ultimate?

Beta 43 opened the doors, and showed the class into the room. The teachers and students alike were dumbfounded by the size. It was full football pitch in length, width, and height.

Various areas seemed specialized, whilst some others seemed general purpose.

"Welcome to the training room!" smiled Beta 43, as the class slowly walked in, and tried to drink in the entire room at once.

"How does this room compare to the last one we all used?" asked Josh, preparing himself for a warm-up exercise.

Beta 10 grinned.

"Way better! There are even bits that seem designed for you!"

"Really?" replied Josh, allowing himself to change his form.

"Well, I'm going to try that speed trial area first, then after that, maybe some target training. You guys enjoy yourselves!" he exclaimed, before he ran off towards the racing track in the middle of the room.

However, before anyone else could speak, Belle shook their back, and seemed to grow wings, in the same way that Josh did.

"Your cat can fly?" exclaimed Ayla.

"With sufficient propulsion, cats fly quite well. The landing is the tricky part!" laughed Beta 43, as she watched Belle take towards the flying agility course on the roof.