Something about the research tab called to James. Mostly because the last message talked about researching something his people couldn't find out. With a few taps of his fingers, he pulled up the messages for the research. There weren't many, but he read a few of them.

"FYI Caretakers Memo 1. FYI Caretakers Memo 2." Scrolling down further, he found the beginning of the list. "Welcome to Station 14. Project Overview. First Patients."

Starting with the welcome message, he started to read.

Welcome Dr. Sebastian Inera

Those of us at Research Station 14 would like to formally welcome you to the team. Here at Research Station 14 we strive to discover the reason behind the mutation of the human race and the animals of the world. Shortly you will be sent a Project Overview that will detail the wing of the station that you are in. Per your specialty, you have been assigned to those we have begun to call Demi-Humans. We look forward to what you can uncover.

The message was short and to the point and gave James just enough information to check on the souls near him. They still weren't moving, and he began to understand that they were likely some of the first cases of demi-humans that changed when the rents opened.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he read through the Project Overview. It wasn't anything special and had a bunch a jargon that he didn't fully understand. Essentially, Sebastian was tasked with discover why humans had animal features or became other fantasy races.

Ignoring the First Patients message, he moved to the memos. The first memo was interesting.

FYI Caretakers Memo 1

As per our understanding, it has become clear that some of you have become emotionally involved with the patients. Need we remind you that they are here for scientific purposes only. Their reproduction systems are not needed to be tested at this moment.

With that said, you will cease to express your attachments immediately. All further reproduction will be met with swift judgement and correction.

It made James laugh when he finished reading the memo. Apparently putting a bunch of people in charge of researching a new species led to romantic relations. Who would have guessed that humans would be attracted to the unknown.

Shaking his head, he read through the second memo and found it to be a reminder that some of the patients were pregnant, or the staff was pregnant. A switch of focus to reproduction was ordered.

There were plenty of messages to read still, but he had enough to understand what was going on with the souls he was feeling. The question he had was, how are the demi-humans still alive after all of these years? Are they artificially alive, just like his people were?

He didn't know, but it was clear he needed to check on them. He wanted to keep reading, but this seemed more pressing. If for some reason, they were truly alive still, then he needed to free them.

Bringing the pad with him, he started the walk toward the souls. They were still a good distance from him, and it quickly became clear that there were hundreds of dorm rooms for the staff on this side of the complex. He didn't take the time to learn how they opened, but he did notice hand scanners next to the doors and could only assume that they were the key.

Meandering down the straight hall, he started to zone out. His thoughts traveled to his companions and decided to check on them again. Luna was still in her Soul Form, tearing through a pack of monsters as they tried to swarm her. She was faster and stronger and could Siphon better than the others.

Zenaria and Linda were working together and it was clear that the kitsune was leveling faster than everyone. She had already passed level five and was approaching level six at an incredible pace. Linda was actually falling behind.

Grace was back to her normal psychotic state as she felt overly happy while spreading her poison. He could feel the fear from the group she was fighting as they struggled to reach her, hoping to end the threat. With even more giddy excitement, the skunk finished them off before sending him so much happiness that he nearly missed his next step.

Quickly pulling away from her, he hesitantly turned to Amber. The nekorian's soul vibrated when he touched her, but she didn't stop fighting. He pulled away the moment she started sending him love and comfort.

Yeah, there are definitely some unresolved issues between the two of us. We are going to need to talk, and soon.

Returning his attention to the task at hand, James found himself close enough to the souls that he found they were split into different rooms. In fact, groups of ten were in each room, and he quickly found there to be five groups. There weren't as many as he first thought, but the other side of the complex held many more souls.

Hesitantly, he touched the palm reader outside the room and watched it flash green. With furrowed brows, he watched the door slide open.

Why did that work? It didn't work in the last station. But it did work in the city I woke up in. What criteria is being used?

He knew it wasn't likely that he would get answers, but he still wanted them. He would have to question the elders of the sects to hopefully gain any knowledge on how they determined the technology and systems used.

Stepping into the room, he found ten tube-like pods that were horizontal and suspended three feet above the ground. Wires were connected to all of them and a chill was emanating from each pod.

Are they frozen?

Moving to the first pod, he wiped his hand across the misty glass and found an elf inside the pod. His eyes were closed as if he was sleeping peacefully. Moving to another pod, he found a female dwarf and from there, many of the animal demi-humans of different heritages.

Reaching out, he pulled on Luna, urging her to join him. The Fenrir was confused at first, but quickly started heading back toward the nest. He knew he wouldn't have to wait long and kept looking around.

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The computer equipment was still being powered, but it was barely active. The pulsing red lights were disorienting, but he could read enough on the screens to know that he could wake the group.

With nothing to lose, he did just that. A moment later, the pods started to hiss as the cold air was pumped from the pods and flooded the room with a hazy mist. He shivered slightly and was surprised when one of his skills increased.

Cold Resistance: Level 2/10 (+1)

He could tell the pods were doing something that would take time. He didn't know how long it would take, and Luna was still going to be a few minutes at least, so he looked over his entire character sheet.

Name: James Matson

Soul Strength: 11.250022

Soul Skills

Soul Siphon

Soul Strike

Soul Blade

Soul Vault

Soul Senses

Soul Puppet

Soul Control

Soul Retribution

Familial Bonds

Soul Crafting: Level 7/10

Soul Water: Level 7/10

Soul Pulse: Level 1/10

Skills

Regeneration: Level 10/10

Antihistamine: Level 3/10

Pain Resistance: Level 10/10

Heat Resistance: Level 10/10

Cold Resistance: Level 2/10

Poison Resistance: Level 7/10

Rot Resistance: Level 10/10

Corruption Resistance: Level 9/10

Corrosion Resistance: Level 8/10

Acid Resistance: Level 5/10

Lingering Death Resistance: Level 1/10

Deception Resistance: Level 1/10

Piercing Resistance: Level 6/10

Slashing Resistance: Level 5/10

Concussive Resistance: Level 4/10

Soul Resistance: Level 5/10

Improvised Weapons: Level 3/10

Crude Tanning: Level 6/10

Crude Leatherwork: Level 6/10

Crude Armor Crafting: Level 6/10

Tanning: Level 1/10

Enchanting: Level 3/10

Familial Bonds

Luna Rys: Soulmate

Amber L'hito: Confidant, Protector, Flirt, Tease

Jamie Riclan: Sister, Enchanter Heart, Rival

Brandon Riclan (Mender): Brother, Soul Healer

Linda Silvertree: Sister, Crafting Heart

Tian Brusk: Trainee, Man of Hidden Intent

Grace Lo'vo: Toxicologist, Kindred Soul

Zenaria Everfall: Sister, Phantom

Everest: Dragon Daughter, Kind Soul

Shadow Paw the Stalker: Companion, Leader of Arms

Strong Beak: Companion, Flock Leader, Confidant

It had been a while since he looked over the entire sheet and was pleasantly surprised to see that Zenaria had made the list. He also marveled over the fact that many of his skills were maxed out. Even his poison resistance was nearly there, reminding him that he still had the vine wrapped around his arm. Sadly, it was taking a while to increase in skill again.

The pods continued to do something as Luna arrived. Her eyes were wide as she took in the pods and souls, her mouth working to ask a question that she couldn't voice.

"I don't know either," James said. "But they were experimented on by the humans of this station."

Moving to the first pod, Luna wiped away the fog and gasped. "They are demi-humans!"

"Yup. They were trying to understand how the demi-humans suddenly evolved from humans once the rents came."

"How long until they wake up?"

"Not sure," he admitted. Moving to her side, he touched the pod. "Let's wake the others while we are at it."

Nodding, she left with him and moved to the next room. Repeating his actions, he started to wake them before waking the other three rooms. Returning to the first room, he found they still hadn't woken and settled in to wait.

***

Amber felt concern from James as she checked on him. Most of the time he didn't notice her prodding his soul, and this was one of those moments. When she touched Luna, she felt the Fenrir recoil for a moment before sending her concern as well. Both of them were below the surface.

What could they be doing? Did they sneak away for some alone time and run into a performance issue? Grace told me that was never a problem.

Panning her gaze over the dead monsters all around her, she felt how close to level seven she was and decided to keep going. If James needed her, he would send a soul prod. He was very good at invading personal spaces.

Strolling toward the next kelp patch, she Soul Shifted and summoned her Soul Claws. Without anyone around, her anger was manageable and she restrained herself from rushing into battle.

Approaching the next group, she felt a few hundred monsters gathering around the kelp. Why they were such large groups was beyond her, but they weren't very strong. Everyone in the party was uniquely equipped to handle large groups apart from Luna and James. The only reason why they did so well was because they could Siphon most of the monsters at once.

Amber knew she wasn't the best with groups either, but with Soul Shift, she could cut through their souls without them being able to hurt her. It was cheap, but worked well for groups like this.

Rolling out her shoulders, she approached the first fish hybrid monster. Flexing her claws, she made sure her legs were in their feline form with their own claws. Crouching, she leapt at the first monster and slashed through its body, her claws passing through the creature and striking the soul directly. A large chunk of energy flowed into her before she Siphoned and ripped the last of it out.

Swinging into a kick, she slashed through another before starting her dance of death. Moving from target to target, she ripped souls apart and absorbed every drop as she felt herself tip over to level seven. With a satisfying moan, she savored the change as she gained a new skill

Souls Absorbed: Soul Strength: 7.002 (0.327)

New Soul Skill: Aura of a Thousand Kisses

Frowning at the skill, she instinctively knew that the skill was misleading. It wasn't a serene skill, but one that would multiply her killing by several fold. In a radius ten feet around her, her attacks would hit everything, friend or foe, so she would need to be careful using it. But for solo fighting like what she was doing, it would be perfect.

Pulling up her character sheet, she smiled.

Name: Amber L'hito

Soul Strength: 7.002

Soul Skills

Soul Siphon

Soul Claws

Soul Shift

Soul Cats

Soul Senses

Thousand Cuts

Aura of a Thousand Kisses

Soul Bond: James Matson: Confidant, Protector, Flirt, Tease

Skills

Regeneration: Level 10/10

Pain Resistance: Level 10/10

Heat Resistance: Level 10/10

Cold Resistance: Level 1/10

Poison Resistance: Level 4/10

Rot Resistance: Level 10/10

Corruption Resistance: Level 5/10

Corrosion Resistance: Level 7/10

Deception Resistance: Level 2/10

Piercing Resistance: Level 6/10

Slashing Resistance: Level 5/10

Concussive Resistance: Level 4/10

Soul Resistance: Level 3/10

Deft Hands: Level 8/10

It was nice seeing everything at once. She was deadly, and her build was really starting to shine. She would never be able to match the raw strength of James and his ability to explode monsters, or Siphon hundreds, if not thousands of souls at once, but she was an asset all the same.

I'll catch you James, but first I must pass Luna. Only ten thousand kills to go, or some very strong souls. Once we reach the nest, I'll soar past your soulmate and claim my spot by your side.

She made the promise to herself, and she knew she would achieve it. James had given her the life that she always wanted and a person to devote her love to. If he was a god, then she was his devote follower. He was the one she prayed to each night, and she would only help him grow.

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