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Arcadia: Promoted

349:10:26:09:11:01

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Finn jerked awake, swinging his big head left and right in confusion. Behind him, Marv also jumped awake. Both of them winced at nearly the same time as Marv's thick rhino cock throbbed deep inside Finn. Evidence of the previous night's endeavours still lay strewn about them with cum stains everywhere and puddles of their seed drying on the floor. For a moment, Finn thought he had imagined the scream but then it came again and he glanced over his shoulder at Marv.

Both rhinos rubbed the sleep from their eyes, pulling apart from one another. It was no surprise that Marv was hard. Finn had some very steamy dreams the previous night and with Marv pulling out of him, he was reminded of the wild thrusts of the big rhino that had knocked him into dreamland. It didn't help that he had orgasmed twice that night - once for when Marv drained his balls of their seed and drank it all and the second time for when Marv mounted him.

The third scream of the morning pulled him back to reality and he hurriedly put on his work boots despite not being clothed in anything else. He brushed back his blonde hair, checking for any stains of cum in them and was relieved that he wouldn't have to explain where he got the hair gel. Marv wasn't so lucky. With his hairy physique, he bore more evidence of their passionate lovemaking from the previous night not counting his rock hard cock.

Marv just shrugged it off and followed Finn out of their hut naked, the two of them hurrying down the flight of stairs to the source of the screams. It came from the hut right next to them. It was one that had been given to Kevin for his brief stay. Echoing cries were erupting from the other huts. Panic began rising in Finn's chest as he scrambled into the building and pushed the door open.

Standing in front of him, looking at his pale hands, was a powerfully built human. He wasn't lean but his muscles were big enough to show past the thin layer of body fat. A cute rounded face was filled with panic as he regarded the back of his hands and began groping for his face. His rapid breaths began to rise into a high pitched whine as he ran his fingers through his short brown hair. A large white shirt hung onto his frame, looking three sizes too small. The fluorescent jacket gave away his identity.

"Kevin?" Finn ventured.

"What's happened to me!?" Kevin demanded, his eyes wide in panic. "Where are my horns!?" He ran his hands all over his chest and poked his big, strong pectorals. "Why is my skin so... soft?" Looking at his hands, he held them out in front of him. "And what are these things!?"

"Yer... fingers?" Marv said.

"No! These... shiny things on top of the ends of my fingers!" Kevin wiggled his fingers. "They feel hard. Are they claws?"

"Your fingernails..." Finn chuckled softly.

"This isn't funny!" shouted Kevin, leaping to his feet. His pants immediately dropped, revealing his still very impressive six inch flaccid cock. It had a surprisingly amount of girth even for a human and Finn found himself salivating a little at the thought of what it would look like erect. He judged maybe... eight, nine inches in full length? "And my dick! It shrunk!" Then Kevin's eyes widened in horror. "Oh god..."

He then began reaching behind him, reaching for his bare rump.

"Oh god!"

He then began spinning around in place, desperate to catch sight of his ass. He kept shouting, 'where is it?' over and over again.

"Where's what?" Finn asked.

"My tail! Where's my tail!?"

Trying desperately not to laugh, Finn pulled on his knowledge of his first transformation and the calm, guiding hand Gantry had given him. Thinking about Gantry killed his mirth. It actually helped him focus.

"Anyone that comes to Arcadia are turned back into humans, Kev," he said gently. "After about half a day. It looks like it's almost noon so you've been here for over twelve hours. You probably had a killer orgasm and then began to change back."

Kevin stopped spinning and regarded the two desperately. "Then why aren't either of you human!?"

Finn glanced over at Marv and blushed beneath his grey skin.

"It's 'cuz we fucked each other last night," Marv answered with a cheeky grin. "It ain't like in Hornton where ya just gotta hang 'round a Builder and ya turn back into a rhino. Up here, ya gotta take in suma this" - he groped his semi-hard cock - "ta change forms."

Kevin had stopped hyperventilating and slowly lowered himself back onto his bed. He grimaced at the touch of semi-dried cum that soaked his sheets. He seemed a little too deflated to do anything about the soiled sheets, however. "So... If I were to suck the dick of one of you guys..."

"Ya'd prolly change back into a Builder."

"Prolly?" Kevin repeated. Then he shook his head. "I mean, probably?"

Marv shrugged. "Honestly, I nevah had one of you guys turn inta a human since I've been here in Arcadia. I heard all the rumours an' stories but I kinda thought ya'd stay in yer rhino form for at least day or sumthin'."

Kevin regarded his pale, pink hands. "Different rules, I guess..." He set those hands on his knees and took a deep breath. He held it for a minute before letting it out very slowly. "Okay... Okay... I'm okay..."

Slowly he got back up from the bed and pulled his pants back up. Even with his impressive physique, he was still forced to tighten his belt just so that it would wrap around his form. As he was doing this, he noticed Finn and Marv's nudity and immediately turned away, blushing.

"You don't have to worry about your clothes, you know," Finn said. "The Collectors normally just go around nude."

"The human form is a beautiful thing, dude," Marv said with a grin. "Jus' like how rhinos are sexy as fuck."

Kevin gave them both a wry smile. "Thanks but this will still take some getting used to." He looked out the window. "We should check up on the others..."

It went without saying that the other refugees of Hornton had been thrown into a panic as well. Carver, in particular, had barricaded himself in his hut, unwilling to let anyone come in and see him. It took the massive form of Anodyne to cave down the door and drag him out. When he saw the other 'humans', he calmed down somewhat.

Like the other refugees, he was fit but much leaner with washboard abs that popped against his smooth, chocolate skin. His hair had lost its all-green colouration save for a few bright, green tips on his dark, spikey hair. He scratched at the light dusting of body hair over his chest as they sat down for breakfast and Lobo gave them a speech about the Collectors and what they had become.

Apparently, the seniors of the Collectors had stayed up all night consulting their records on how best to help the refugees feel more comfortable in Arcadia. But since all Beasts the people of Arcadia had ever brought back tended to be hostile, they were just as puzzled as anyone else. Before panic could set it, he quickly told them that Anodyne was going to take them to Glade, Gantry's former sanctuary. He would teach them about what it meant to be human and the transformations they would undertake.

"What about our home?" piped up a former rhino. "What about Hornton? Are we going to fight back against Hammerhorn?"

Lobo nodded gravely. "This morning, myself and two others went scouting into Hornton. Hammerhorn seems to be doing something on the other side of the river but he's also fortified Newhome. He hasn't approached any other settlement. I'm hoping you would all take today to get used to Arcadia before we bring you back to Hornton. We need to make contact with the other settlements and build a stronghold around the Return Gate."

A loud disproving grunt came from Carver. "So our home gets devastated but yours remains safe." His thick, vascular arms were crossed against his chest. Unlike the other former rhinos, he was completely naked with an impressive eight inch flaccid cock hanging between his legs.

"Don't think of Arcadia as the home of humans," Lobo said gently. "For so long we've stood beside you unwittingly. Your brothers in Hornton. We've lived there with you. You've opened your doors to us. So now, we're opening our doors to you." He spread his arms wide welcomingly. "Make this your sanctuary."

Carver huffed loudly but remained otherwise silent.

"Alright everyone, your assignments." He looked towards their resident chef, Cross. "Cross, whip up our guests a fine meal. You and your team will be on the evening shift." Turning towards Savage, he said, "Savage, you're on the afternoon shift. After Vein comes back with his team, it'll be your turn. Anodyne, you know what you have to do."

Finn tried not to look too nervous as he realised that it would soon be his turn to head through the Gate. Those same fears of his static form began to haunt him again. That train of thought triggered the realisation that it was almost noon and he was fairly sure that he had taken Marv's cock almost twelve hours ago. He could already see Marv's dick starting to rise and his boyfriend was clearly struggling to remain focused.

Someone gently tapped his shoulder and he was relieved to find Kevin giving him a knowing stare. As the crowd dispersed, Marv announced that he'd help out Cross with the food. Finn gave him a nod of acknowledgement and quickly left the Mess Hall with Kevin in tow. It was only when they were out of earshot range and back in Kevin's hut did either of them speak.

"So you still can't change back, huh?"

Finn shook his head sadly. "And I still haven't told anyone either. Not even Marv."

Kevin padded across the room, seating himself on the sticky bed again. "You really should tell them."

"What if they think I'm a freak!?" Finn exclaimed. Realising that he had almost screamed those words, he lowered his voice. "This has never happened before, Kevin. What if I'm stuck like this?"

"What's wrong with being a rhinoceros?"

Finn quickly waved his hands. "I didn't mean it like that. Remember, I'm a Collector. It's my job to constantly change forms and slip into the societies beyond the Gates. If I'm going to be a rhino forever, I can't do that."

A strange expression crossed Kevin's features, a little sad but also with a spark of admiration on his face. "You really care about Arcadia, huh?"

Finn moved across the room and sat himself down beside Kevin, causing the bed to groan softly. "Of course. I haven't been here long but it's my home, you know?"

Kevin nodded slowly, his eyes in the distance. "I know."

Silence fell upon them for a long moment. Finn couldn't explain how awkward_it felt to be beside a very human Kevin. It felt... _wrong that his friend was a human and he was the rhino. He sensed Kevin felt the same as he kept a good distance between them. There wasn't so much as tension in the air but more like unease. Finn couldn't stand it and reached over and pulled Kevin towards him. The Builder rested his head against Finn's shoulder, letting out a soft sigh.

"Hornton is my home..." Kevin admitted. "And it's at the mercy of that madman, Hammerhorn. I just wish there was something I could do..."

"There is," Finn said. "When you pass through a Gate and change into a different species, you get stronger. I mean, right now, I'm probably tougher than even the fittest human. Lobo said he stands way taller than any human now. Every Collector may look like a Builder or a Wrecker but they're stronger, faster and tougher than one. Maybe if you pass through the other Gates, you'll get more powerful as well. You might even be able to take on Hammerhorn."

Kevin let out a bitter laugh and gently stroked Finn's leg. "I appreciate that, Finn, I really do. But... I honestly don't think that'll happen. Just stepping out here onto Arcadia... It's just so much of a shock." He looked around, shaking his head in wonder. "I've never seen so much greenery before. Everything in Hornton is just steel, glass and concrete. This place is just... just weird. I never felt actual grass_beneath my feet before or wet soil. The water is so clear and the trees are so _big. And the air... it feels... fresher for some reason."

"That's because we don't have the Haze here," answered Finn with a gentle smile. "Arcadia preserves the human shape." He pulled Kevin into a gentle hug. "But you know what? Humanity isn't defined by what shape you take. And I'd make for a really bad human if I left you feeling like this."

Smiling softly, Kevin rested his head against Finn's collarbone. "What do you suggest?"

Judging by the position of the sun alone, Finn guessed he didn't have much time before the mid-morning group came back from their trip beyond the Gate into Camp Draco. It was also the middle of the morning so he guessed that most of the Arcadians back at the Collective were wide awake. Kevin would be expected at the Glade fairly soon.

Gesturing for Kevin for silence and secrecy, he headed out of the hut and followed the river upstream to the Collective. Kevin's mood improved as they headed through the forest. There was something infinitely calming about the lush, green forest and the way it blocked out the big eye that was SOL. Finn smiled when Kevin plucked a branch off a small shrub and gently stroke the leaves in wonder. He hadn't realised have very little foliage there was in Hornton. The park where the Return Gate was wild and lush enough but nothing as encompassing as the greenery of Arcadia.

Emerging from the forest, Kevin took in where the humans lived and gasped. Cultivators were hard at work at their farms and the Constructors were working to provide them with the tools that they needed. Kevin pointed at the pastures and asked what those 'black and white animals' were and Finn told him that they were called 'cows' and that was where beef came from. It was like walking a child through school.

He was careful to avoid the inhabitants of the Collective as he headed towards the edge of the lake, on a shore that wasn't occupied by the Cultivators.

"Why are they wetting their clothes?" Kevin asked, pointing at the men who were crouched over the lake shore. "And why are they swimming naked in the water? Why are there bubbles?"

"They're washing their clothes."

"Why do you need to wash your clothes?"

The contrasts of Builder/Wrecker life versus that of an Arcadian were really starting to become apparent. Finn had been told time and again that Builders and Wreckers always smelled the same but he never thought that extended to the fact that they lacked the need to maintain their personal hygiene. It was all taken care of them by the Haze.

"Because you get dirty throughout the day and your clothes get dirty as well," Finn explained. "Here in Arcadia, we don't have the Haze to take care of our every need and want." He reached out and gently fingered Kevin's cum-soaked fluorescent jacket. "I bet back in Hornton all this stuff would've come out, huh?"

Kevin regarded his clothing and nodded sadly. "None of us ever gave it any thought... We never asked why. We thought that was just how things were. We never asked where all our food came from, how there was always more building materials for us or why we always appeared the same every morning after we fucked one another..." Kevin ran a hand through his tasselled, brown hair. "And you guys have to think about all of that. You have to take care of yourselves... No wonder you had to go take supplies from us..."

A pang of guilt hit Finn. "Collectors should've talked to you guys first instead of just stealing from you. But I guess after three hundred and fifty years -"

"Three hundred and fifty!?" Kevin exclaimed, eyes wide in horror. "You've been at this for three and a half hundred years!?"

Finn shook his head and laughed softly. "No, no! Arcadia has stood for over three and a half hundred years. I've only been here for about a week." A thought crossed his mind. "Wait here, okay? There's someone I want you to meet."

Finn turned and quickly headed towards the Collective. A familiar face made him smile and he waved the human over. "Ken! Hey Ken!"

The stocky Cultivator with the permanent five o'clock shadow and beach blonde hair froze in place, his eyes wide in shock. He looked about to bolt but Finn quickly approached him and placed a friendly hand on his shoulder. Finn was puzzled at how Ken was quivering beneath his hand.

"It's me, man. Finn."

Ken didn't relax. "H - Hi, Finn. Y - You're looking good."

Giving Ken a puzzled stare, Finn said, "Ken, what's wrong? I know I look like a Beast but I'm still me, you know."

Ken slipped away from his grip. "I know but... It's just..." He swallowed loudly. "Don't worry, okay?" He managed a shaky smile. "Is there something you wanted? The Collectors need more food or some materials? I can ask Travis...?"

"No." He decided that having Kevin sitting beside the lake was a more pressing concern than finding out about Ken's mysterious reaction to him. "I was actually after Josh. Is he around?"

"In there..." Ken said, hiking a thumb towards the blocky structure of the Collective. "Is there anything else?"

"No..."

Without saying goodbye, Ken turned and bolted towards the fields. Finn couldn't help but feel a little hurt. Ken had been such a good friend... Shaking the thoughts free of his mind, he quickly headed up the steps of the Collective. He was surprised that the doors of the structure were big enough to fit his bulk without the need to duck or enter the building one shoulder at a time. There was still about two or three feet for him to slip through. Josh was sitting at his usual spot in front of the fireplace, even with the fire being out. He had a book in his hands and was reading it absently.

"Hey Josh."

The wheelchair bound man, glanced over his shoulder and his features brightened, his brilliant white teeth showing through his carefully trimmed reddish-brown beard. He brought his wheelchair around, using those big, meaty hands of his. "Finn! Hey! I heard you were making splashes in Hornton as much as you made waves here."

Josh held out his arms for a hug and Finn kindly obliged him. It was good to have a human who wasn't afraid to hug him. As Finn pulled away, he said, "You could say that. In fact, there is something I wanted to you come see related to that..."

"Okay. Sure. What is it?"

Finn helped Josh out of the Collective and towards the lake. All the while Josh asked about his adventures in Hornton. Finn gave him the abridged version from his first transformation, heading into what would be Newhome, the seize of the settlement by Hammerhorn and finding the Conglomerate report. He didn't get up to the part where Gantry had fallen to the Wreckers before they got to the lakeside where Kevin stood diligently.

There, Josh lifted his hand immediately for silence.

"You didn't," he said gravely as they approached Kevin. The human Builder gave them a faint smile.

"Erm..." Finn began.

"Finn, please tell me he isn't a Builder." Josh pointed at Kevin who looked hurt at the accusation.

"Josh, Hammerhorn attacked Newhome and took down the settlement. Lobo led us to rescue as many as we could. There's about six of them at camp right now."

Josh took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Alright. Alright. Lobo knows what he's doing, I suppose." He turned towards Kevin and gave him a faint smile. "I'm sorry. We're sort of... anti-Beast here in Arcadia. Even the Collectors are treated a little... separately because of that."

"I was wondering about that..." Kevin admitted. "Aren't you all one people? Why do the Collectors live so far away from the rest of you?"

"Because Collectors are infectious and..." Josh gave Finn an exasperated look. "... compelling, to say the least. Our history states that once before, a Collector was turning back into a human and ended up cumming on a few other humans. His cum turned them into Beasts but because they weren't mentally ready for the transformation, they went wild. They had to be let go back through the Gate." Josh cleared his throat and held out his hand. "I'm sorry, I should introduce myself. My name is Josh."

Kevin smiled and shook his hand. "Kevin. You humans really are quite inventive. We saw rolling chairs like that all over Hornton. I guess instead of using your legs, you use your arms, huh? It must give your whole body a workout using your different limbs like that."

Finn winced but Josh just chuckled.

"Actually, I'm on this wheelchair because I lost the use of my legs. I was a Collector too but an incident beyond one of the Gates crippled me."

Kevin's eyes widened. "Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't know!"

"It's okay, it's okay," Josh responded, waving him down. "We may live on one planet but we live in different worlds, I guess." He set his hands back on his lap. "So what can I do for you, my friend?"

Kevin glanced towards Finn for guidance.

"I was actually hoping you could help Kevin adjust to being human for a bit," Finn said. "He transformed back overnight and he's having a bit of trouble getting used to the idea of Arcadia and being human. You know, tell him about Arcadia, about being a Collector. Our history and stuff."

"Do you have all day?" laughed Josh. "It's hard to cram three hundred years of history into one day, you know."

"Give him the abridged version. Anodyne is going to give him and the others a speech at the Glade shortly."

"The Glade?" Josh gave Finn a bright smile. "Gantry is finally letting more than three people into his 'private sanctum'?"

Finn froze. He hadn't realised Josh didn't know about Gantry. The events of the previous night hadn't sunk in completely yet and he had been too focused on the refugees to remember that he had lost a friend and a mentor. It struck him as odd that a ceremony hadn't been held quite yet. Perhaps the reason why Lobo and the others were 'scouting' around was because they were looking for Gantry. They did mention they were spying on Hammerhorn...

Josh caught his hesitation and his mirth began to fade. "Did... Did something happen?"

Finn wasn't sure what to say. He thought about the 'splashes' he had made and feared that Josh would turn on him, maybe blame him for the loss of Gantry just like blame had fallen on him for the Gates remaining open. Thankfully, Kevin was there.

"Gantry... was lost," Kevin said softly. "We don't know what happened but the Twins reported him missing and then just after that, the Wreckers attacked. We never got to see where he was... We just thought..."

Josh was silent for a very long moment. He just sat there, staring off into space. Though his eyes were directed at Kevin, he wasn't looking at the Builder; more like past him. He didn't look like he was breathing either and Finn had listen closely to hear the soft intakes of breath that Josh made.

An eternity passed before Josh spoke again. "He's not confirmed lost. Otherwise, Lobo would've brought his stone to the lake. Besides, people who have been thought lost have been brought back before, right?" He didn't smile but looked directly at Finn.

"That's right..." Finn murmured. For some reason, that felt like he was making a commitment. He was promising Josh to go find Gantry.

Josh began to wheel himself around. "How about you guys come to the forest's edge tonight, after sunset and dinner. I'm sure you've got a busy day of adjusting to do. I'll give you and your friends a history of Arcadia then."

Trying to brighten the mood, Finn said, "Why don't we come to the stage? Get the whole gang there?"

Josh hesitated. "I suppose that's fine..."

With those words, he began to wheel himself back towards the Collective.

Finn wasn't sure... but he could've sworn he saw a tear in the corner of the Archivist's eye.

******

349:10:26:11:55:01

"Come on!" Finn pleaded. "We have to go back and at least _try_to save Gantry."

Savage made a slicing gesture with his big hand. He strode towards the big Camp Draco Gate. From all appearances, it looked just like any other Gate except that it had the Gate to Hornton to its left and the Gate to another sector to its right, remaining closed. "That's what Lobo and his group have been trying all day. They've been making trips back into Hornton past their shifts looking for him. They haven't found any sign of him."

Finn stepped in front of Savage, still in his rhino form. Apparently, he had been Lobo and his team's source of seed but that would soon shift to someone else as Savage was going to take Finn and Skip into Camp Draco. "Then he might still be sane!"

"Finn." Skip gently gripped Finn's large hand. He was back to being human and the gentle touch of his smooth palms against Finn's rough hands somehow soothed Finn's heart. "You're special." Skip paused for emphasis. "Everyone is. But don't go getting it into your head that you're this 'saviour' that's come down to change the world. You've broken the rules and things certainly have changed since you came in but remember, Marv went through that Gate and rescued Lobo just like you. Lobo and the others are doing their part as well. We're a community here. We're not equal in all things but this is no one's fault nor is it anyone's responsibility to save Gantry."

"But -"

Skip let go of his hand and skipped towards the gateway to Camp Draco. "Besides, if we all go trying to save Gantry, no one will be around to feed everyone else." He spun around and grinned brightly at Finn. "And Camp Draco awaits! Don't you want to be a dragon?"

Finn did... but the question remained on whether or not he _could_be a dragon. In truth, part of the reason he pleaded to remain behind in Hornton was so that he could have an excuse to remain a rhino... but now there didn't seem like he had a choice.

He didn't feel ready yet and decided to stall. "Does this mean we won't be holding a ceremony for Gantry?"

Savage and Skip exchanged wary glances.

"If after tonight, Lobo and the others don't come back with anything," Savage said softly. "Then a ceremony will be held tomorrow morning. Lobo already told some of the big shots at the Collective. They know what's coming. They're just waiting for a good time to unveil it."

Savage suddenly shook his head. "Come on, let's get going and turn into fucking fire breathing lizards. Being in this shape reminds me of Gantry."

Again, there was that sharp pang in Finn that none of the Collectors seemed to be giving Gantry his due respect. A fellow warrior for humanity had just turned into a Beast and they were just moving on without even holding a ceremony for him. Then again, Lobo and his team were out there looking for him. Perhaps there was hope yet. Savage said that there was no sign of Gantry. Perhaps that just meant that he got lost in the battle and lost his Key. One could only hope.

Finn decided to push Gantry out of his mind for the moment. Camp Draco awaited and he had to keep his sanity or he would succumb to the Haze. He tried not to worry about his ailment but still shook slightly as he passed through the Gate beside Skip and Savage.

The air was once again heavy with the Haze. The scent lingering in the air had a hint of spice that left a faint burning sensation in Finn's nostrils. It still had the same musky, male scent about it but it also had a tinge of sulphur and, oddly enough, cherries. It brought to mind some sort of spiced cherry pie that made Finn's mouth water.

The land of Camp Draco was a stark contrast to the urban sprawl of Hornton. Lush, green forests similar to Arcadia spread out all around them but it appeared more like tropical rainforest than the Boreal type that consisted of evergreen and coniferous trees. The forest floor barely had any vegetation due to the low sunlight. Shrubs and big, leafy plants grew above the floor ensuring that any movement through the forest would include brushing away some form of branch or another. Vines curled around the trunks of the massive, trees and the chirp of various birds and animals called throughout the wild. Different coloured flowers blossomed all across the forest, some strange and exotic and other even of the carnivorous nature.

The Gate sat amongst the trees and not within a clearing. Strangely, the trees and plants seemed to avoid the Gate out of some reverence, providing a sort of orb of resistance around the Gate. The trees even visibly _curled_away from the Gate.

Savage clapped his hands together. "Okay, let's get this over with. Skip, you're human. Go for it."

Skip beamed brightly and turned towards them. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. It only took a moment before a soft moan came from him, his lips curling upwards into a pleasured smile. His body began to vibrate as he spread his hands towards his sides. Finn watched in anticipation as Skip's impressive nine inch cock rose up to full mast. The moment it was full of blood, the change began in earnest.

It started with Skip's fingers. Thick, white claws began to wiggled their way out from his fingertips. As they grew bigger, light, golden skin began to take on a strange quality and texture. His flesh began to show clear, divisions against them and started to harden. A soft moan came from Skip's lips as his fingers lengthened and his hands grew. They became big enough to crush a man's head easily with both hands. His palms maintained a creamy colour but took on a leathery texture. The rest of his hand began to turn a deep, green colour. As his flesh began to harden, his scales became more and more prominent. Thick veins rolled up his forearms as the muscles there began to grow. He opened and closed his hands, tensing the muscles momentarily and encouraging blood flow into his limbs. That only caused his forearms to bulge all the more, veins popping against his skin.

Scales soon scrambled up his meaty forearms and up his biceps where they slowed. Skip lifted his arms and flexed them with a grunt. Finn found his mouth grow dry as each muscle group surged outwards and stretched lengthwise to match the size of his forearms. One vein managed to survive being completely consumed by the armour-like, green scales, forming a sizeable line beneath the scales.

Skip lowered his arms and rolled his shoulders, every movement pushing the transformation up his upper body. The fit, narrow form began to widen, his chest and back rapidly growing into bodybuilder-like proportions. What surprised Finn was that Skip's body grew even wider than Savage's rhino shape. The reason soon became apparent as Skip doubled over as the scales spread down his back. Two, big lumps began to form just between his shoulder blades. The muscles there tightened, bracing themselves into a large, hilly mass. The lumps extended further and further, growing bone, muscle and flesh as they quickly rose up past Skip's head. Each growth cracked as clear divisions began to form along each length. A single claw erupted from what could be considered the wrist of the wing. From there, four other growths began to grow. As they did, they took with it a portion of the skin, forming a thick membrane that extended from the base of Skip's wing to the tip of the furthest finger.

A loud hiss erupted from Skip's lips and Finn's eyes were brought down to Skip's face. They young Collector shut his eyes briefly and when he opened them again, they were bright yellow and slitted. His features split into a grin but it was more out of the growing presence of his sharp fangs and his lengthening jaw than pleasure. He snapped his jaws a few them, loud cracking noises echoing in the forest. His canines became the sharpest and hung past his long, slim, lower jaw to give him a faint overbite. His nose seemed reluctant to change and were pulled with the reshaping of his features, becoming thin slits at the ends of his muzzle.

Skip let out another hiss as the scales quickly overtook his head, cutting his air from their roots and causing them to shower down onto his shoulder like a soft, black rain. With the newfound strength in his arms, Skip pushed off the ground spread his mighty wings. Finn staggered back at their sheer size. Skip's chest quickly became covered in the same creamy leather as his palms. His nipples vanished beneath the scales but that didn't mean his pectorals and abdominals were any less defined. In contrast against his bright, green scales, each mound of muscle was perfectly accentuated and statuesque.

The sound of rubber stretching was accompanied by the faint noise of metal gently tapping against metal. It came from Skip's legs as they blossomed into big, enormous machines of mobility that far outstripped his torso. Huge, tree-trunk light thighs flexed, veins popping up to supply the tensed muscles. His calves were simply enormous, nearly as big as his thighs. Curiously, his feet popped loudly and stretched in an odd fashion. His big toes migrated down towards his heels, growing sharp claws just like the other toes. Skip staggered forward a bit as his body readjusted to his new stance. He almost looked like he was going to lose his balance but then a new weight began growing out from just behind his rear. His long, flexible tail thrashed behind him, a fan-shaped tip slapping the ground gently.

Lastly, the change all focused in Skip's cock. All pubic hair fell away and was replaced by the same creamy leather that covered the softer parts of his body. His erect cock fused with his belly, connected by a thin membrane. It became more tubular in shape, losing any semblance of being human. The slit at the tip became a little more circular in nature. From its depths, a big, bright red cock began to emerge. The long, thick tube was pointed, like a thick, red tendril rising from the depths of Skip's body. The fleshy part of his sheath began to pull back to reveal the full length to reveal the full length of his massive eighteen inch cock. Precum quickly began dripping out of the tapering point, showering the ground with its musky fluids.

"Might want to... urf..." grunted Skip. "You know... Kinda hard not to blow right now..."

Savage gave Finn a look as if asking him if he wanted to go ahead.

Finn decided he had delayed this long enough. If he was going to have his secret revealed, it might as well be in the throes of lust. Trying not to look too reluctant, he stepped over to Skip and bent down to take the big dragon's cock into his muzzle. He knelt in front of Skip and gently took in the dragon's scent. It held the same spicy undertones of this location with the musk of male but had Skip's own lemony, zest scent that reminded him a little of lemon cream pies. He barely got to wonder where he had lemon cream pies before Skip seized the back of his head and plunged his cock down Finn's throat.

The member went down a little easier than a rhino dick mostly because it was more tapered. The narrow tip wormed its way down Finn's muzzle easily and though the girth eventually stuck itself into his muzzle, he felt the hot presence of the rod brushing against the back of his throat. Precum poured down into his stomach and with it, he prayed for the change. Slowly, he let lowered his mental defences, letting the Haze seep into him. Just like back in Hornton, he took big, deep breaths an just let the transformative effects of the infection in the air do its work.

A knot formed in his gut when he didn't feel anything happening. His heart began to pound in his chest and he found himself unable to enjoy the presence of Skip's cock in his muzzle. He still swallowed the thickening precum diligently but being unable to feel the warm, transformative effects of the change left him feeling both anxious and wary. His tail began to thrash behind him and he tried to will it to stop. But it just kept thrashing. It struck his calves lightly.

Thwack.

That was not a sound he was expecting.

His tail was thin, wiry and had a tuft in the end. It shouldn't have made such a loud sound. Curiosity overwhelmed lust and he turned slightly around, enough to glance over his shoulder at his tail. To his surprise, his tail had thickened. Right before his eyes, the blonde hairs at the tip of his tail began to drop off, leaving the elongated tip exposed. With each wag, the ropey appendage shortened and began to sink towards his rear. A faint tingle came from the tip and right before his eyes, the flesh began to darken. Black scales began grow against the leathery, grey scales.

Finn's heart stopped for a moment. He couldn't believe his eyes. He was changing! He was actually changing! What fears he had faded away in place of excitement. His shrinking tail was like a slowly burning, lit fuse. Its black tip came closer and closer to his rear, ready to bring upon the explosion of transformation he had feared would never come.

A loud groan came from Skip and the big dragon's hands seized the sides of Finn's head, bringing it back around and burying his muzzle deep into Skip's crotch. With his fears gone, Finn diligently lapped up the salty fluids his fellow Collector was giving him. The last few inches of his tail slipped into his rear and that tingling sensation flooded every inch of his body. He shivered as muscles readjusted themselves, reshaped and transformed.

The large muscles of the Builder form began to shrink, growing more compact but still powerfully strong. His biceps lost all traces of fat, causing the veins all over the mound to pop against his flesh. Black scales rolled up his back, spreading upwards along his spine first before quickly rolling over his broad, muscular back. They covered his arms quickly, easing that tingling sensation like a smooth balm. But even with their armour-like coating, his veins prevailed against his muscles.

When the scales reached his hands, a faint numbness caused him to flex them a little. His big hands shrunk a little but the white caps at the tips of his hands sharpened, fusing entirely with his fingertips to form sharp, deadly claws. A faint growl came from his throat, something a rhino could never have mustered. That same faint numbness wrapped around his chest as he felt his nipples vanishing into the black scales. He let out a faint murmur of disappointment at the loss of the sources of such amazing pleasure. He rubbed his clawed hands against them one last time but found something fuzzy in their place. To his surprise, thick, blonde hair began to spring from between his firm pectorals, spreading all over his upper torso to form a beautiful, golden blonde crest.

Finn didn't get time to marvel at the grown as to big hand seized his hips and lifted them up. He let out a confused grunt which was quickly replaced with a surprised yelp. A hot, throbbing cock pressed up against his ass, slipping between his butt cheeks. He never got to protest as Savage's thick dick pushed deep into him. The familiar presence of a dick up his ass made him moan. Though it wasn't Marv's, he knew this was just part of the process of being a Collector. He willingly let Savage into him and imagined some of the draconic essence slipping from Skip, flowing into him and then to Savage.

The three men quickly formed a rhythm. Skip thrust into Finn, Finn likewise pushed back onto Savage's cock. Savage would thrust and Finn would bury his changing muzzle into Skip's cock. With each thrust, Finn felt himself slipping further and further into the draconic mindset. The change slipped down his legs, giving them a little extra length to add to his height and at the same time, he could feel ears of military discipline slipping into his subconscious. Flashes of years standing at attention, trudging through thick mud and running obstacle courses flooded his mind. He rejected them all knowing full well that they were not his memories and just the attempt of the Haze to change him.

The Haze was persistent, though. As if sensing his resistance, it immediately began flooding his cock with immeasurable pleasure and tried to push the rhino out of him. Faint whispers hit his ears, telling him that he wasn't a rhino but was, and always were, a dragon. He quietly laughed at the attempt. He let the Haze pleasure him, causing the hairs around his cock to turn a stark, golden bold against his otherwise black scales. The hair around his plump balls thickened until it covered his sac completely and formed a thick bush around his crotch. The Haze pushed his erect cock closer and closer towards his belly, fusing it there with the same thin membrane that Skip now possessed. The sensation of his cock growing erect once more made him shudder and moan. Feeling his slick, engorged member slipping out of his sheath was an alien feeling and the Haze attempted to ease him into it, telling him that it was natural and that was just how it had always been.

Again, he chuckled mentally at the attempt. The other Collectors had been right. It was easier to resist the Haze when in the form of another Beast. The Haze was not smart enough to realise that he had been human previously. He just had to cling onto the that fact and even as the changes flooded his head, coming dangerously close to his brain, he remained untouched by the brainwashing. His felt his jaw pop as the black scales spread all over his muzzle. The feeling of manliness over possessing big horn faded as the growths began to seep into his muzzle like the scales were greedily consuming them. He wondered absently if his hair would fall out like Skip's but then he felt Savage's hands stroke the thick, golden mane he possessed. A faint tugging pulled at his ears, changing their tube-like shape into big, pointed discs that were held in place by strong scales.

Finn closed his eyes as he felt the Haze start to pull back. A loud shout erupted from behind him and his eyes snapped immediately open as hot seed poured into his rear. That triggered a flood of cum from his own dick and his eyelids fluttered from the explosive orgasm. A second blast of hot seed shot directly down his throat. Instincts took over and he lapped up the brew without hesitation, enjoying the warmth of the fluids as it slipped down his throat and into his belly.

The three men bucked into one another as they reached the end of their respective transformations. Even then, they continued to orgasm for a good five minutes, spilling seed into one another. Finn couldn't take any more of Skip's potent cum after the third shot and had to pull his muzzle away. He got a face full of dragon seed for that. Freed from his obligation to Skip, Savage immediately gripped Finns shoulder and pulled him up straight. Finn was surprised to find himself a little taller than his commanding officer but he wasn't so tall that Savage couldn't sink his fangs into his shoulder. That caused Finn to send out another eruption of cum that splattered all over Skip. The green scaled dragon collided with the other two Collectors, sending all three of them to the ground. Finn's cock pressed up against Skip's, squeezing yet another load from them both.

All three men shuddered as their bodies were reduced to twitching masses of muscles and scales. They each let out a low hum, growl or grunt as their orgasms came to an end.

Finn sighed in contentment... and closed his eyes.

******

349:10:26:12:20:11

Anodyne had been a Collector for longer than anyone else in Arcadia. He and Ruin were the last of the previous batch, the last two before a disaster had struck the Collectors in a previous mission in Barkingham that led to their numbers being greatly reduced. It was through that mission that they had instated the 'Rule of Three'; basically the idea that Collector groups ventured out only in groups of three. That way, if a group of Collectors were to fall, it wouldn't reduce their numbers as much as it did when only he and Ruin were left.

But now, it seemed that the Rule of Three may need to be revised.

They had lost Gantry but had gained six rhinos from Hornton. He had to admit, that was a more than fair trade off. It was cruel and perhaps heartless of him but he followed logic and kept his cool. Gantry was their expert in Hornton and now Arcadia had been granted six experts. Better, each of the men that stood in front of him were capable people. Yes, their talents would need honing but he had no doubt they would benefit Arcadia as a whole.

They stood in Gantry's Glade. Anodyne figured that they would smell Gantry's presence in the tranquil clearing and it would help calm them. Transforming into humans had left them a little panicked but after some good food and Lobo's words, they were starting to come to terms with their predicament. The offer of strength beyond that of a Builder for traversing the other Gates and changing into other species tempted a few of them. Anodyne could see the desire for revenge, adventure or just to return home in their eyes.

Two he could not read, however. Kevin and Carver. Kevin looked conflicted but Anodyne could not tell over what. Carver's expression was surprisingly unemotional for a Wrecker. They were usually very passionate. Perhaps being a human had tempered that somewhat.

"So to summarise," Anodyne said coolly, "Without a Key, you can never return to Arcadia."

"Is there ever a Return Gate to Hornton?"

Anodyne lifted his gaze towards Carver who was regarding him expressionlessly. "Pardon?"

"There are eleven Gates in every section, right?"

"Ten," Anodyne corrected.

"No. There's eleven. Ten Gates you use and then one Return Gate. It's the same here in Arcadia, isn't it? There are eleven Gates. The only thing is, it's only from Arcadia that you can pass into other areas and back because of your Keys. Did you ever check to see if there were any Keys from Hornton?"

That was a surprisingly insightful question. "Unfortunately, no. Our Keys come from SOL. Whenever a new guy comes in, they always appear with a Key somewhere in the supplies they come with. Unless you guys have SOL delivering supplies to you...?"

Carver made a face like he was trying to jog his memory. "I can't say I have... But it's hard to remember anything fast a few weeks ago. When I joined Hammerhorn, everything became about him. I wanted to please him. Do everything he told me to do without question. Everything I did, I did for him. I was free to be who I wanted... but I_wanted_ to be there for him." He shook his head mournfully. "I wish I could've fought it..."

"You can," Anodyne encouraged. "With proper training. Lobo managed to resist him for hours and return to us unscathed. With time, I am sure you would be able to not only resist his power but also stand up against him."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Carver demanded. "Let's get started."

Holding up a big hand, Anodyne said, "Now hold up there. If you want to fight like a Collector, you've got to go through the rigours of a Collector."

"Collectors are spies and thieves."

The former Wrecker was clearly trying to antagonise him but Anodyne refused to rise to the bait. "Why yes, yes we are. It is how we survived. So do you want to learn how to use different bodies to your advantage or would you rather go charging against Hammerhorn as a weak, squishy human that you are now?"

Carver gave him a sinister grin. "So you admit that humans are weak?"

Anodyne tapped the side of his head. "In all but up here." He began pacing along the line of former rhinos, his big hands wrapped behind his back. "Take this as fact. You were dumb animals. You just did what you were programmed_to do. You built. You wrecked. Humans had to figure all that out by ourselves. We needed to learn how to plant seeds, cultivate the ground, breed livestock, cut wood, smelt metal and traverse the world outside Arcadia _on our own. We don't have the Haze to provide us with supplies or to give us any sort of direction. We get supplies from SOL, a man-made facility, once a month but that's it. We have to adapt to every area. We have to learn to survive. And that is exactly what you need to do."

He looked from face to face. "The world is open to you now. There isn't just Hornton or Newhome anymore. There will be plenty for you to learn. Take it to heart. Remember it. Use it to forge your own identity but always remember who you are. Don't slip into the manic sense of individuality like any other Wrecker." He shot a pointed stare at Carver. "Or slip into complacency and routine like a Builder."

Gesturing to be followed, he headed back towards the Collector camp while speaking over his shoulder. "It's something I observed amongst the Wreckers and Builders. Even with the changes to the Builders after Hammerhorn's attack, the Builders found an activity to latch on but just did it ceaselessly until they dropped from exhaustion. Wreckers, on the other hand, are constantly struggling against others to assert themselves in a dogged fight for survival. Well, today I'm going to teach you something that will change your life forever."

He approached a big, broad hut right on the riverbanks. Unlike the other huts, it had a set of double doors. As he pushed it open, his students, as he liked to call them, let out an 'ooh' of awe. Beyond were several large sun chairs vaguely arranged in a semicircle. Part of the floor had been cut in a semicircle to allow some of the rushing waters of the river to flood in to form a sort of spa pool. Anodyne pulled on a cord right next to the door. A hidden mechanism began to wind and the former rhinos gawked as the roof began to fold into itself. A big gap appeared in the circular ceiling, allowing for the sun to shine through and hit the sun chairs perfectly.

"Today, you get to learn how to do fuck all," Anodyne announced proudly. He headed to one of the sun chairs and slipped into one easily, arms behind his head. "Come on kids, sit down. Jump in the pool if you want."

"What for?" Kevin asked, looking puzzled. "What does this achieve?"

"Absolutely nothing." Anodyne was grinning. "It's not always about working or surviving you know. You've got to take the time to unwind. Sometimes, your greatest bursts of inspiration comes from when everything is quiet, your muscles have relaxed and you lust let your mind drift." He hiked his thumb over to the corner of the hut where a bar stocked with various types of liquors and alcohol had been stocked from all his trips as a Collector. "If you feel like having a drink, go ahead and have some."

One of the Collectors shrugged and headed over to the bar while the others looked a little lost. Carver sighed and stepped into the pool. The other followed his lead save for Kevin who sat down in a sun chair beside Anodyne. The big rhino Collector tried not to grin too broadly when the Collector at the bar did a spit take after downing some very strong alcohol.

"What is this stuff!?"

A glance over his shoulder revealed the poor guy had chosen some very strong whiskey. "Alcohol. Do you like it?"

The Collector smacked his lips a couple of times and then shook his head. "No... it sucks."

At last, some degree of individuality. But he needed to make sure that the others didn't just take his word for it. "Come on, give it another try. Or at least pour some for the others to try."

"But it's terrible! My throat is burning."

Anodyne smirked and got up. At the bar, he picked up a few shot glasses and put them on a tray. After selecting a few assorted bottles of different types and brands of alcohol, he poured some into the glasses. He then took it back towards the pool and set it down for the former rhinos to have a taste. "Here, try these."

He had organised it in such a way that no one would have the same drink and they each had at least two drinks each. Opinions quickly formed. Carver was clearly a light weight. He only had a shot of vodka and some light, watermelon-flavoured drink with no alcohol content whatsoever and he was staring straight ahead with eyes so wide he was likely hallucinating. Another guy had the same drink as the first rhino and clearly loved it. He didn't like the second drink however but he asked for more of the first. Kevin refused the alcohol entirely.

Anodyne wondered if he could tempt the Builder into having a cocktail... or even a mocktail. Deciding to go with that idea, he returned to the bar. The sound of grinding ice was not something he liked listening to so he hit 'play' on the large battery-powered speaker system had had installed in his private sun room. Music from a bygone age played in the air. Again, opinions seemed to form. Though the former rhinos all looked like they were bobbing their heads in tune with the music, a few were showing strained smiles to show that they were just doing it to fit in with the majority or trying to please their 'teacher'.

Perfect.

Individuality was forming. They were forming their identities. Their likes and dislikes were being sculpted and that was - in his opinion - the most important part of being a Collector. No matter how good it felt to just give in, no matter how good that blowjob or fuck was, as long as you remembered what what you loved and what you hated, you would never slip into being a Beast. Perhaps that was Gantry's failing. He focused just on being human and Arcadia. But to Anodyne, you could be four-armed, three-headed demon from hell but could still be more human than some of the most soft-skinned, flat-faced, ripped guys back at the Collective.

He smiled as he added the finishing touches to his mocktails, carrying the two margarita glasses over to the sun chairs where Kevin lounged, still looking rather tense. He set the drink right on the armrest of the former Builder's chair while taking a sip of his own. Kevin eyes that strange mound of sweet smelling, smoothed, white ice with a drizzle of something blue on it and a strange, white, fleshy fruit embedded into the side of the glass. There was also a mint leaf and a tiny paper umbrella sitting on it.

"What's this?" he asked.

"Lychee and mint mocktail," answered Anodyne with a grin. "I call my Artic Mojito. On the account that it's mostly shaved ice infused with lychee juice, blue mint concentrate and it kind of looks like an icy mountain. And it has no alcohol."

Kevin regarded the drink suspiciously but gently tipped the straw towards his mouth. He took a sip and his eyes instantly widened. "Mmmmm! That's good! How'd you learn how to make this?"

Anodyne hiked a thumb over his shoulder at the bar. "I found this bartending course book in one of my trips past the Gates. As the dedicated physician of the Collectors, I work with alcohol a lot. I was naturally curious about how people could drink it instead of just use it to clean wounds. I've been practicing ever since."

"Do you get some of the other Collectors in here?"

"Only those I trust and those I think need a second to relax." That was restricted to mostly Lobo and Ruin. Lobo because he tended to stress a lot and Ruin because they were good friends.

Kevin was silent for a moment, regarding the mocktail in his hands. "What is your role here exactly?"

"Come again?"

"Lobo is the leader. Savage is sort of his counterpart but also his greatest supporter. Vein and Vale are like the troublemakers while Skip is this ray of sunshine that helps brighten the world. Every one of the Collectors has this... role to them. But you... You're like their..."

"Father?" prompted Anodyne with a smirk.

"I suppose so," mumbled Kevin. "I've heard that you sometimes oppose Lobo when it seems logical. You follow what makes sense. It doesn't matter if it's in line with tradition and routine or not. If it's sensible, that's where you throw your dice at."

Anodyne rested one arm behind his head as he sipped at his drink, held by the other. "I don't like to be pigeonholed into a 'role'."

Kevin's eyes widened and he immediately began to wave his hands. "Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't mean -"

"But you're right. I look after the rest of the Collectors in a way beyond just their physical health. They're soldiers and more than once, I've had to remind them that when this is all over, they will need to find something to do apart from being a Collector."

Inclining his head to the side, Kevin said, "You think this Apocalypse will be over?"

"The Apocalypse is over, my friend. We're just in the aftermath. But I get what you mean. One day, this insanity will be over. There will be a semblance of peace. We won't always be struggling to survive and people will grow fat, lazy and content with their lot in life. It's why I encourage my fellow Collectors to relax a little. I don't want to come out of this mess with my friends struggling to adjust to the world where they are no longer needed."

A thoughtful noise came from the former Builder. "I guess that's never occurred to me before. It has always been about building." He laughed softly and maybe even a little bitterly. "Even when Newhome was built, I was constantly thinking about how to improve it. Others found new focus in their games but me..."

"I'm not saying that's a bad thing," Anodyne said sagely. "But you've got to do something else than just build. You're not just a Builder you know. Just as I'm just not a Collector." He lifted his glass, a slight toast towards Kevin. "We're both human. We all are. Just different levels of it."

Kevin gave him a smile and picked up his own glass.

They tapped their glasses against one another, letting out a soft, clink.

"Hey! Dude!" Carver shouted, swaying in the pool and with a big, goofy grin on his face. "What's with this shitty music! I don't wanna hear some dude weeping about his lost love! Put up something lively!"

Anodyne chuckled softly and got up from his chair.

"Alright, hotshot. What do you feel like listening to?"

******

349:10:26:12:35:04

Camp Draco itself was certainly very impressive. A large chain fence has been set up around the broad perimeter with sandbags arranged close to each one. Pits had been dug behind each small barricade for soldiers to duck behind while large, wooden watchtowers stood at regular intervals around the camp. An enormous airfield stretched at the far side of the camp with what looked like an impressive array of fighter jets and a cargo plane ready for lift off. A well-used road led away from the camp, no doubt down to the shore where the docks stood. Dotting the area were various military facilities from warehouses, barracks and training yards.

Though Finn had never been in one such facility, he dug into the memoires and thoughts that the Haze implanted into his mind that came with the body. He knew military protocol instantly and as he approached the gates dressed in thin green fatigues and heavy boots, he saluted just like every other recruit in the Dragon Brigade.

Savage, a towering nine-foot behemoth with a stunning three pairs of broad, feathery wings sprouting from his back all of varying colours saluted at the solider manning the gates.

"Captain Savage!" shouted the soldier. "Glad to have you back, sir!" The dragon, a copper-scaled reptile with a tail and wings - so that made him a corporal.

"At ease, soldier," rumbled Savage, dismissing the salute. "Open the gates. Corporal Skip and our new recruit are eager to get to work."

"Sir, yes sir!"

The metal gates rolled aside, allowing for the trio to step inside. The shouts of sergeant and rattle of gunfire echoed in the camp. From the corner of his eye, Finn could dozens of soldiers being trained to fight in some battle that he doubted would ever come. All of the physiques of the dragons were very impressive. Though some would say there were a little smaller than the rhinos of Hornton, the fact that none of them had a trace of body fat and they were all trained killers made him admire them all the more. He had to admit, there was something sexy about the differently coloured, shirtless bodies of the recruits marching in the hot jungle sun that stirred his groin.

"Okay," Savage whispered softly as they continued to march. "I've got to report to the other officers. You two stay out of trouble. Skip, you know what to do. Send Finn to kitchen duty so he can sneak in and grab as many supplies as he can. Finn, don't get greedy. These guys are tough and strict. They count everything. Got that?"

"Sir, yes sir," Finn answered.

Savage gave him a sly smile and the gold-scaled dragon turned and headed off into one of the bigger buildings in the camp. Skip gestured towards another structure and led the way.

"The cook's name is Mower," explained the Collector. "He's a good guy. Likes his food. But he'll be tough as nails when he has to be. I'll just tell him that the Captain assigned you to kitchen duty not out of punishment but just because he needed you to do something for the rest of the day. Get a lay of the kitchen. Don't take anything unless it's a target of opportunity. Mower usually lets you take a few snacks if you do a good enough job."

"What're you going to do?"

Skip winced. "I'm probably going to have to report for drills. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to crawl underneath a barbed wire fence with wings like these." Skip ruffled his wings, sparking a bit of jealousy in Finn.

He wanted wings like that.

They headed to the kitchen. The smell of burning rubber was in the air almost making Finn choke. Even Skip looked sick.

"It's almost lunch time..." Skip rumbled, heading towards the kitchen itself.

Everything was made of stainless steel and meticulously cleaned. There was a pot of something grey and gave off that horrific smell that bubbled over the stove. Beside it was what looked like some sort of bean stew made of black beans that Finn had never seen before. Away from the kitchen, facing the mess hall was a typical serving counter where heated pots could be set with a sneeze guard to prevent people from spitting in the gruel.

The hulking frame of the cook emerged from the store room opposite to the entrance. Like every dragon, he was lean and muscular but he had his own unique flare just like many of the officers. His wings looked pathetically small on his body, little more than the size of his forearms and positioned so far up his back that they poked adorably past his shoulders. Interestingly, he had a second pair of arms and a second pair of pectorals just underneath his first set. Both were huge and just as big as his massive upper pair. The scales on his body were a soft red, almost pinkish-really and he had a crown of horn jutting out from the back of his head.

"Hey, Corporal," greeted Mower. He nodded towards Finn. "Recruit."

"Sir!" Finn exclaimed immediately and saluting. Skip smiled at the gesture and mirrored it, almost lazily.

"What can I do for both of you?" Mower asked, plucking to sets of ladles and stirring the large pots of food.

"Captain Savage has asked Recruit Renegade here to assist you with kitchen duty today," Skip said, gesturing at Finn.

"Oh, what did you do to suffer this fate?" laughed Mower, tasting his gruel. He made a face. "Needs more meat."

"Nothing, actually," Skip responded. "Renegade actually showed exceptional intuition and initiative out in the field during our training exercise and the Captain thought it would be best if he had some time off. As you know, the Captain isn't one to just give people breaks so he thought some lighter duties would suit him." He elbowed Finn lightly. "Plus his cooking out in the field was terrible."

Mower threw his head back and let out a short laugh. "Alright then. Lunch will be in half an hour anyway. I could use the extra pair of hands to help serve."

Finn decided to bit back a comment about already having an extra pair of hands and just remained silent. Skip left him in the care of Mower. The chef - clearly of captain rank - instructed him to start by grabbing some steaks from the storage room. Finn did so diligently, surprised at the vast stock that rested in the walk-in pantry and the attached refrigerator. He guessed that the Haze maintained the supplies just as easily as it had done in Hornton.

Unfortunately, he couldn't find anything thawed so he went into the freezer and plucked a few cold, lean steaks. He brought them back to the kitchen and set them on the chopping board.

"Sorry I couldn't find anything thawed..."

Mower laughed and headed over to the chopping board. "You're fairly green, aren't you?" He winked at Finn. "Watch and learn, my friend." He took a deep breath and suddenly exhaled, blowing flames out of his puckered lips. Finn leapt back in surprise as a precise torrent of flames gently thawed the steaks where they lay. It was so precise that it didn't even char the chopping board beneath it.

When Mower was done with one side, he flipped the steak onto the other side and again blew some flames onto it. When the steaks were sufficiently thawed, he plucked a knife and sliced through them easily.

"See how I'm using my entire arm with the slicing motion?" Mower said. "Some guys just like chopping things up and down." He made a chopping gesture with the knife. "Does you no good. Knives like this cut. They don't chop. Smooth, easy slices give you precise control over where you cut. Makes for perfect, symmetrical slices." He set down the knife and held up two pieces of beef that he had sliced. They were identical in shape and size. "See?"

"That's amazing," Finn said, without any sign of patronising the chef.

"Flattery won't get you promoted, recruit," laughed Mower. "Only results will. Now come on. Show me what you've got."

Finn took the knife, finding it surprisingly heavy despite his enhanced muscles and strength. It made him realise that everything in Camp Draco was... _large_for a human. He was at least eight feet tall and didn't have to duck under the doorframes to pass through. Stealing a glance around him, he realised everything was proportionate to his current size. For an average human however, they would be incredibly big. He wondered if they had been constructed like this... or if they were made.

He began following Mower's instructions. At first, he had a bit of difficulty as he got used to the weight of the knife. Mower had to tell him not to keep his hands so close to the blade though when holding down the meat.

"You're covered in scales but you're not immortal," Mower said. "Hold down the meat tenderly. Don't squeeze it down or you'll push out the juices. Just enough so that you're holding it in place."

Finn diligently followed the instructions and sliced up the meat in good, sizeable chunks. Mower took the pieces and threw them in the grey stew but he surprisingly left a few behind - at least two kilos worth - which he delicately seasoned with salt and pepper.

"Grab my some potatoes from the pantry, would you?" Mower asked. "The Commander likes his mash nice and hot."

The Commander. The undisputed leader of Camp Draco. Finn realised he was making the Commander's meal. Remembering Savage's beautiful wings, Skip's strong ones and Mower's fire breath instantly instilling some ambition into his system. He wanted to perform his best and maybe - just maybe - get a promotion. With an eagerness in his step, he hurried into the pantry and looked for the potatoes.

"Let's see..." he murmured to himself. "Chives... green onions... peas... ah. Potatoes. Here we go." He lifted his head. "Sir, how many potatoes do you need?"

"Ten would do, recruit," Mower shouted back.

The Commander must really have quite the appetite.

Finn plucked the potatoes, counting them off and then carrying them in his arms back towards the kitchen. Mower had him wash and peel them which he did so diligently while Mower began preparing the meals for the rest of the brigade. Once he was done, Mower began boiling the potatoes. He was asked to get some string beans as well for the Commander's meal as well as some carrots. It seemed that the Commander was in for some steak, steamed vegetables and mashed potatoes. Just thinking about it made Finn's mouth water.

But as Mower began mashing the potatoes, just smashing them together, he couldn't help but feel that the mash needed something... more.

"Umm... sir, if you don't mind me saying..." he began. "How about adding some milk, butter and cream into the mash to give it a smoother consistency? Also some flavour?"

Mower gave him a puzzled stare. One of his hands rubbed his chin thoughtfully while another two stirred the pot of beans and the grey gruel. "Huh... I had never thought of doing that. I'm sure the Commander would appreciate some extra flavour." Mower shrugged absently. "Sure, why not? Let's try something new. Grab me the ingredients from the pantry."

Finn did so diligently but he paused when he saw the chives and peas. With a grin, he plucked them as well, suggesting that they toss some in with the mash.

"Now you're just pushing it, recruit," laughed Mower.

"Come on, sir," Finn pleaded. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?"

The chef rolled his eyes, a fatherly smile on his face. "Well, you're just a recruit. Not like you can get demoted any more. Hell, the Commander wouldn't dare demote me either. I'm the only one that can cook in this fucking place." He grinned and stepped aside from the stove. "Okay, come on. Cook up your meal."

Feeling empowered, Finn began chopping up the fresh chives and tossing it in with the smoothened mashed potatoes. He boiled up some peas and stirred them in with the mash to add a bit of texture. The meal still felt a little... bland however. The mash outshone the steak which should be the star. An idea sprang to mind as he quickly went back into the pantry, Mower watching with his arms crossed and a smile on his face. Finn emerged a moment later with some mustard, garlic and more butter. He quickly mixed the ingredients, adding a few mustard seeds for extra flavour. Once he was done, he added a spoonful of it on top of the steak.

Just in time as well.

The other men of the camp began filtering in to the mess hall.

Mower set the Commander's meal onto a silver platter and added a cloche on top for presentation.

"Why don't you take this up to the Commander?" Mower suggested with a smile. "You know where it is, right?"

Finn admitted that he didn't and Mower gave it to him with a pat on the back and a soft, 'good luck'. That same eagerness in his step took him about halfway to the Commander's office which was located at the far end of the camp. As soon as the small, dark green cabin came into view, Finn began to wonder if he had just made a terrible mistake. He had just been in Camp Draco for less than an hour and already he was going to meet the Commander. Lobo had told him the dragons here trained constantly for war, they went through a certain routine... Was he making splashes again? Was his actions somehow going to spiral out of control and eventually lead to another Collector being lost?

He gulped loudly, slowing his approach to the Commander's cabin.

He froze right at the doorstep.

"Oh crap..." he whispered to himself. "What have I done...? Shit... shit..." He wondered if it would be too late to hurry back to the kitchen and cook up the meal that the Commander was expecting and get it to the leader before -

The door sprang open.

Finn wasn't sure what he was expecting. In the back of his mind, he expected to see some creature made of living fire with eyes that burned like coals and wings made of the hottest fires of Hell. But instead, the Commander was a rather handsome looking man, dressed in the same military fatigues as everyone else in the Camp. He was a little larger than the others, standing at over ten feet tall. His scales were a bright, shiny blue with his lower jaw coloured a sunny yellow and that yellow running down to his chest and to the tip of his tail. A pair of golden horns jutted straight from the back of his head, rising beyond a long mane of spikey red hair that turned blonde near the roots, giving the appearance of fire.

The Commander's soft, blue eyes met Finn's. "I thought I heard someone out here," he rumbled. "I suppose that's mine?"

Finn glanced at the dish. He wasn't sure what to do so he fell down on one knee and lifted the plate up above him like he was offering the meal to a god.

Only silence met him... then a burst of laughter. "Recruit, what do you think you're doing?"

"Erm..." Finn began. "Offering you lunch?"

"A sense of humour, I see. How refreshing. Well, come in."

Finn realised he had stopped breathing and took his first lungful. That brought the Commander's heavenly scent into his nostrils. Like the other dragons aroma, it was spicy but strangely, it also had a hint of strawberries. The rather feminine scent was surprising but complimented the spice well. He could almost taste the sweetness of the strawberries mixed with faint saltiness and spice of the chilli and it made his mouth water.

He followed the Commander into his cabin stiffly. Another surprise met him upon entering the plush cabin. The walls were lined with old books and he could smell the mildew on them. The floor had several rather elaborate rugs strewn about. It was mostly dark save for the few windows that allowed light into the broad living area. There were two chairs in the corner with a liquor cabinet sitting between them and a small table. A single boot sat on the table. On the opposite side was a corner desk facing the door and a high-backed leather chair fit for the bulk of the Commander. At the far end of the room, entirely opposite to the entrance was a door no doubt leading to the Commander's quarters.

The Commander sat down behind his desk, clearing it of papers for Finn to set the meal down. Finn removed the cloche and stood back a few steps, hands clasped behind his back and heels snapped together.

A strange look crossed the Commander's features.

Finn began to panic. The leader of Camp Draco didn't like his meal. Routine had been broken. He had overstepped his boundaries and brought too much change too soon. What was the Commander going to do to him? Send him to latrine duty? Throw him onto a pointless patrol? 'Discipline' him?

"What is this?" asked the blue-scaled dragon.

Finn struggled for words.

"Recruit, I asked you a question," came the stern command.

"It's... Uh..." Finn coughed, steeling himself. "It's steak medium rare with garlic mustard butter. A side of mashed potatoes with peas and chives and steamed, seasoned carrots and green beans." Then he added, "Sir."

"This isn't what Mower usually comes up with."

"He was feeling... adventurous, sir."

The Commander picked up the cutlery. "I see."

Then he began biting into the food. His expression revealed nothing as he continued to eat. The fact that he didn't stop gave Finn some relief. The Commander then looked up at Finn with his eyebrows raised. "You may go, recruit."

Somewhat relieved, Finn saluted and shouted, "Sir, yes sir!". He spun on his heel, cloche in hand and marched towards the door. As he did so, the book sitting on the coffee table caught his attention, particularly its title.

"Arcadia..."

"You know of it?"

Finn froze. "Erm... Not so much, sir. Just know it by name."

"Really?" the Commander said, through a mouthful of steak. "What do you know of it?"

Finn turned back around, trying to be as stiff and military-like in possible. "Just the name, sir."

The Commander's piercing eyes seemed to burn right into his soul. "Arcadia was a supposed region in Greece. Supposedly part of the administrative region of Peloponnese found in the eastern part of the peninsula of the same name. Supposedly, it was the home of the god Pan and takes its name from the mythological character Arcas. In ancient mythology, it was celebrated as an unspoiled, harmonious wilderness." The Commander swallowed his mouthful and tapped the table with one claw. "Do you know the story of Arcas?"

"I admit, I do not, sir."

Narrowing his eyes, the Commander said, "According to the myth, the Greek God Zeus had some carnal relationships with the nymph Callisto. They birthed a son, Arcas. Hera, Zeus' wife, grew jealous and turned Callisto into a bear and would've done the same to Arcas if Zeus hadn't hidden him in a location that would become Arcadia. Arcas lived in Arcadia safely until one day, King Lycaon, his grandfather, put him on a burning altar as a sacrifice to the gods. Arcas then challenged Zeus, forcing the god to leave him unharmed. Angered, Zeus saved Arcas but turned Lycaon into the first werewolf. There's more to the legend but I find that part the most fascinating."

The Commander shrugged and returned to his meal. "This meal was very inspired, by the way. Were you the one who cooked it?"

Having just dodged a bullet - in his opinion - Finn didn't want to make any more waves. "No, sir. As I said, Captain Mower just wanted to try something new."

"Give the Captain my regards."

"Sir, yes sir."

Finn tried not to look like he was in a hurry to leave and winced when the door slammed shut behind him. He breathed a sigh of relief and began making his way back to the mess hall. With each step, however, he thought back to the legend of Arcadia... and the number of transformations within the legend...

******

349:10:26:13:48:50

"Recruit!"

Finn went rigid as he stood up. One of the activities the recruits like to use for training was to just chop at a log. Several of the long, wooden behemoths were hauled into camp and sat in front of a line of recruits with wooden axes. Then, the drill sergeant would blow his whistle and they would all swing. They had to all keep in time with the blows, only striking when the sergeant blew his whistle.

"Renegade!"

There, he turned as the drill sergeant beckoned him to stand in front of him. Finn hurried over and saluted immediately upon reaching the big, burly dragon.

"The Commander wants to see you."

There, Finn's heart sunk. He had hoped he had gotten away from any possible punishments. Just another hour or so and Savage would pluck him away from training 'conveniently' and take him past the Gate back to Arcadia. They'd go back home and not come back until the following day. But now...

"Yes sir," he said softly.

He almost wished he had a tail to drag behind him as he hurried back across the camp to the Commander's cabin. The trek was painfully slow and he almost wished Savage or Skip would catch up with him and somehow bail him how. But he found himself standing in front of the cabin doors all too soon.

He only knocked twice before the door sprang open and the Commander's blue eyes were staring straight at him.

"Recruit," the big dragon said. "Come in."

Why couldn't he just yell at him there and then? Why did he have to play to quietly angry Commander? Finn had braced himself for the brutality of military life. He had heard the stories from Lobo and the others about how any form of disobedience would be met with hundreds of push-ups, extra obstacle course runs or late night training sessions. But not this...

Finn followed the Commander inside his cabin and shut the door behind him. The blue dragon sat down at his corner couch and gestured for Finn to have a seat as well.

"I'd rather stand, sir..." admitted Finn.

"Sit down, recruit," the Commander said. "That's an order."

Seeing no other alternative, Finn sat down. It put him closer to the Commander, within striking distance and he tried not to let his claws dig into the leather of the comfortable couch.

"Can I get you a drink, recruit?" the Commander asked, seemingly pleasant. "Scotch?"

"I can't drink, sir."

"Of course." Still, the Command poured himself a glass of the amber liquid with some blocks of ice in the glass. He took a sip from it and let out a soft, content sigh. The silence was unbearable otherwise and Finn was constantly on edge.

Then...

"Why did you lie to me, Recruit?"

Finn froze. How had the Commander learned about Arcadia? Did someone blab? Were the Collectors just within Camp Draco at his convenience? Had he unwittingly started the turn of events that would bring all of the militaristic Camp Draco to war with Arcadia.

"I don't know..." he murmured softly. "I... just didn't want to make any big waves."

The Commander gave him a puzzled stare. "You didn't want to make any big waves. But you wanted to make waves nonetheless."

Finn peeked up at the Commander from his ducked head. "Just enough to get me a tail and wings..."

The big, blue dragon was silent. He watched his scotch ruefully. Then, he set the mug down and regarded Finn from across the table. "I've promoted men all over the camp, Recruit. Ambition is a powerful thing. Everyone always wants more. It's... rather refreshing to have someone have an upper limit. Though I very much doubt that your limits will remain once you get a taste." He leaned back in his chair and peered across the room to the door to his room. "I have met many men who said the same as you. I want horns. I want wings. I want a tail. They say that is all they want but after they get promoted, they always want more."

His blue eyes switched back to Finn, freezing the young Collector where he sat. "But at least you're honest... when asked. Mower was laughed when he told me that you had created the meal for him. He asked me, respectfully of course, to go easy on you, but I will not reward deception. I can, however, reward ingenuity." The Commander shamelessly rubbed his crotch but there was a look on his face that belied the growing lump in his pants. "Come over here, son. I'm promoting you to Private. You'll have your tail."

A wave of relief washed over Finn. It had been his meal that the Commander was referring to, not his knowledge of Arcadia. He leapt up eagerly and had turned his body halfway towards the Commander, ready to accept the dragon's gift when...

... He stopped.

"Sir, my I speak freely?"

The Commander stopped his self-stimulation. His eyes looked tired but he nodded nonetheless.

"If you know what this will do to your men, why do you do it?" Finn asked. "I mean, you said it yourself. People will want more. I can see that it disappoints you but you still do it. Why?"

This surprised the dragon and it clearly showed on his features. "Because it is my duty. I cannot let personal feelings get in the way of my job. If a man shows the qualities required to be promoted, then I will promote them. Knowing that their ambitions will grow is beside the point. Ambition is good. It fuels their growth and they will become better for it."

"But you wish some people would just be content with their lot in life, right?" Finn quickly remembered who he was referring to and added, "Sir."

The Commander sighed heavily and removed his big hand from his crotch. He picked up his glass of scotch and downed the rest of the amber fluids. He winced as he set the glass back down. "Everyone gets promoted, son. Everyone but me. I'm as high as it gets. They have goals. They have something to aspire to. I don't. I can show all the qualities needed of a Commander of Camp Draco but what will I do beyond that? What can I do to be promoted to the next rank? Somehow stop the raids on our convoys from those rhinos?" He snorted softly. "Maybe they're just trying to survive out here like us. They never kill any of my men. Just take some of our supplies. They're even goddamn polite about it. Always leaving marks for our other troops to find the injured individuals. I can put a stop to them. But where's the guarantee that will get me _my_promotion?"

He swirled his glass of scotch thoughtfully. "You all have guidelines you can follow to get promoted. I don't."

Finn opened his muzzle to make a reply but then shut it immediately. He didn't realise that the Commander's life was so... lonely. Being at the top - literally at the top - of the food chain meant that he had nowhere else to go. Everyone was changing beneath him. They probably even had goals to topple him. But where could he go? What did he have to aspire to?

"But enough of my rambling," muttered the Commander, reaching for his pants once more. "You'll get your tail. But you'll need to earn your wings. Now if you don't mind, I'm busy and -"

"Sir," Finn said, holding up his hands. "If it's all the same with you, I'd like to decline this promotion."

The Commander's eyebrows rose. "What?"

Finn sat back down in the leather chair, smiling gently at the Commander. "I know you're just doing your job and all but I like to think that we're more than just our jobs. How about I take a raincheck on that promotion? Why don't we just sit here and talk for a bit?"

He got a frown from the authoritative reptile. "You're presuming a lot, soldier."

That only made his smile grow wider. "I figure that you've got everyone in camp vying for your attention and wanting to be your friend just so they can get that promotion. I bet none of them have ever really sat down and talked to you. The moment they get their wings, they're out the door and you never hear from them again until they want their horns or fire breath. Am I wrong?"

The Commander suddenly stood up. For a second, Finn thought the dragon would head to the door and demand he got out. Instead, another glass of scotch was poured. He sat back down a moment later and Finn took that as an acknowledgement. The Commander set down the bottle right next to Finn.

"So..." Finn began, suddenly lost for words. "My name is Renegade."

"Uh-huh," the Commander responded. He took another sip from his scotch.

They were off to a really poor start and Finn had already run out of topics to talk about. He didn't want to keep pushing the Commander on his loneliness anymore. It felt like a sensitive subject.

"My real name is Finn."

The Commander choked slightly on his scotch. He coughed a couple of times, beating his chest to get all the liquid out. "R - Really? Huh..."

"Yeah..." Finn responded with a faint smile. "Uh... my commanding officer gave me the name 'Renegade' because... well, I tend to go off the books a little."

"I can tell," the Commander responded, leaning back in his seat. "Not necessarily a bad thing. That steak and mash was great. The vegetables could've used something else though. They were a little bland in comparison."

That brought a smile to his face. Now he was talking with the Commander. "Really? What would you suggest?"

"I don't know. You're the chef. I just lead this Camp and promote people."

And there, Finn was starting to see what was wrong with Camp Draco and indeed the Commander. He searched for another topic of discussion. Then he remembered just how talkative the Commander was when he spoke of Arcadia. "You like ancient Greek mythology."

There was a strange movement across the Commander's lips, like he was rolling something in his cheeks. "I like the stories. The tales of ancient heroes and their achievements getting recognised by the gods have always struck a chord with me. I'm especially fascinated by the trials of Heracles. After labouring and enduring great trials, he was eventually recognised for his achievements and branded a hero."

"You don't see yourself as a hero?"

"Heroes make things happen. Heroes stand up against insurmountable odds. They save people. They defeat villains. They prevent disasters. All we're doing here is preparing for something that may never come." The Commander glanced out the window at where a group of recruits were marching by. "What are we doing here? Why are we here?"

"Why not send your troops out exploring?" Finn ventured.

"We're on an island, soldier," the Commander said. "A big, tropical island. No other landmass is visible beyond the horizon and with no clear destination in any direction, none of us are prepared to venture forth for an expedition." He shook his head miserably. "No, we're stuck here. Training every day."

Finn had a vision of Arcadia but one that didn't have the benefit of the Gates. At least the Arcadians had contact with the outside world. They were given directions by the Director and constantly reminded of their purpose. Here... the poor dragons were lost. Or rather, the Commander was lost. He gave everyone else purpose. But he... He was without a goal.

"Sir," he began softly, "what is it that you want of your troops?"

The Commander regarded his empty glass for a long moment. "There was a time when I would have told you that I wanted their loyalty and perfection. But that seems so long ago. Now, I'm not so sure."

The subject was starting to get very depressing and Finn had run out of things to talk about. Desperate to keep the conversation going, Finn just acted.

And his action... was to seized the bottle of scotch and throw it to the ground.

It shattered immediately, causing the Commander to leap off his seat with a cry.

"That was a bottle of my favourite scotch!? What the hell did you do that for!?"

Finn could only offer a helpless shrug.

The Commander growled and shook his head. "For fuck's sake... Clean this up, soldier!"

Finn was halfway off his seat when... a thought hit him. The Commander expected loyalty and perfection from his soldiers. And he had gotten that even if it was only because the promise of promotion kept the soldiers in line. But what if he met a soldier that didn't want a promotion and was insubordinate and rude?

His brain told him it was a terrible idea.

But his gut told him it was the right thing to do.

"No."

The Commander's eyes bulged. "What!?"

Finn sat back down in the couch, crossing his arms and setting one leg over the other. "No." He resisted the urge to add 'sir' to the end of the sentence.

A plume of smoke began to billow out of the Commander's nostrils and his wings spread threateningly, making him look bigger. "Soldier, I gave you an order!"

"And that's all you've ever done," answered Finn. "You got your other dragons to bend over backwards and blow you off because you could order them around and give them what they wanted. Well, there's nothing of yours that _I_want so that means I can do whatever _I_want. You have no power over me."

The Commander lunged and Finn immediately shut his eyes. He could _feel_the big dragon's claws just inches from his throat... He wondered if the healing abilities of the Haze could close up a ruptured jugular before he bled out.

Soft laughter echoed in his ears. "You sly son of a bitch..."

Finn opened one eye... and then the other. The Commander was standing straight again, one hand over his eyes and his lips split into a grin.

"It has been such a long time since I've felt passionate about anything!" The Commander slumped back down in his seat, a big grin on his face. "Look at me! My hands are shaking! My heart is beating so fast I feel like it's going to burst out of my chest! Fuck! Even sex doesn't make me feel like this!" He threw his head back, making sure his horns didn't puncture the headrest of his couch. "Fuck!" he cried again, joyfully.

Offering a shaky grin, Finn said, "Feeling better now, sir?"

"Fuck yes!" laughed the Commander. He gave Finn a big grin. "Solider... No. Finn. Thank you. You made me remember what it feels like to be passionate about my job." He sighed softly and leaned back in his chair. "But I think it's best if you leave now. Before I decide to tear your fucking throat out."

Finn didn't want to push his luck... sort of.

"I'm not leaving until I get your real name."

The Commander's eyes snapped open and he gave Finn an angry stare. "You're really pushing it, soldier."

"Just the way you like it," countered Finn with a smirk.

That only made the Commander smile all the more.

"Cody. My name is Cody."

******

349:10:26:20:01:43

It was one of the few times that Collector and Arcadian gathered and it was never a good sign. Human and Beast stood at the shore of the great lake of Arcadia, torches lit and head bowed low in silent prayer to whatever god was listening. Even the refugees from Hornton were gathered at the edge of the lake, watching solemnly as Lobo, still in rhino form, gripped Gantry's rock in his big hands.

"Gantry was a good man," the leader of the Collectors said. "He has been with the Collectors for a long time. He's always produced results. He never once slipped from his path and duty as a Collector." A soft chuckle left him. "I like to think that he gave Hammerhorn or whoever has him now a hell of a fight before he gave in."

Finn cast his gaze around the congregation as a few chuckles and solemn nods were made. He caught Ken's gaze but the blonde Cultivator immediately tore his gaze away and focused on the ceremony. Close to him, Kevin and the other refugees stood a good distance away from the rest of Arcadians. He sensed the distinct lack of trust there and by now, news of their arrival would've spread to the Collective.

Just by the large gap between the Collectors and the rest of the Arcadians, he knew the decision had caused quite a divide.

"I knew Gantry when he first joined up," Savage said, still in dragon form. He took the rock from Lobo's hand and threw it into the air, catching it casually but with a fond look on his face. "You know that he is the only one of the Collectors that really had a steady? I'm sure you've all heard." He grinned and a few smiles were returned. "It was him and Rock. The two stubborn bastards would never let anyone else fuck them. They were damn good at just letting the Haze change them too. Didn't need to fuck or be fucked so long as they had one another. Shit he had a fine ass..."

Lobo coughed, bringing Savage's casual eulogy to a halt.

Finn was tempted to rush back into Hornton himself and look for Gantry but if Lobo and his team has tried and found nothing... He shuffled towards Kevin who was staring forlornly at the ceremony as another Collector took up position to share his fond memories of Gantry.

"You're heading back to Hornton tomorrow, right?" he asked softly.

Kevin nodded slowly. "Anodyne said we're ready."

"Do me a favour. Keep an eye out for Gantry."

"You don't think he's gone full Wrecker?"

Finn searched his emotions but eventually shook his head. "They couldn't find a Wrecker with his description and they couldn't find any of his equipment or his key. I still think he's out there. He might just be stuck or something. I'm not saying go out of your way to save him just... You know."

Kevin gave him a firm nod. Then a soft smile. "You look good as a dragon. You look sexy in military clothing."

Finn wasn't sure why but he didn't feel like taking off his military clothes even after returning from his patrol into Camp Draco. It felt comfortable and loose. Plus it reminded him of his discussion with Commander Cody. Even the people at the top of the food chain needed a goal. And looking at Arcadia, he felt that they had been languishing at the top for too long. Now they had some purpose.

"So it's with these words," Anodyne said solemnly, "that we say goodbye to Gantry." He held up the rock in his hand. The name on it was 'Paul'. "May you find happiness wherever you are, my friend."

The big rhino turned and threw the rock into the lake. It made a big splash, sending ripples all across the lake's surface. Eventually, those ripples faded and once again, the lake's surface was still.

A wake party was held shortly afterwards but Finn didn't feel like partaking in the feast. He plucked a few chicken wings from the plate, ate them and then headed back to the Collector Camp. His steps automatically took him towards his hut. His first step up the stairwell, however, gave him pause.

"We need purpose..." he murmured softly. "We can't just survive day by day... We need a goal. We can't be like Camp Draco, preparing and surviving day by day."

But what could he do?

What was their purpose?

He glanced up at the sky for inspiration. Seeing the stars twinkle there brought a spark of inspiration.

"That's it!"

With a big grin on his face, he hurried back to towards the Meeting Hall. The Camp Draco map had been pushed to the centre of the table now that it was the primary open Gate and the Hornton map was settled next to it. There wasn't much room for him to work but there was a wall in the back that he could use.

He grabbed some charcoal and paper from one of the tables and began to write.

Once he was done, he grinned broadly at his handiwork. His heart was pounding hard in his chest as he plan began solidifying in his head. Shoving the piece of paper in his pants, he turned and hurried back to the Collective.

Fifteen minutes later, he carefully avoided the big table where Collector, Cultivator, Constructor and refugee mingled in memory of Gantry. None of them saw him as he snuck around the back of the Collective to the storage area. There, the boxes marked with the various branches of the Nexus Conglomerate were stacked neatly. Some still had some equipment in them but he plucked one that was empty and carried it under his arm.

"What are you doing?"

Finn let out a yelp and dropped the large, metal crate. He danced away from the falling box to avoid it smashing into his toes. In front of him, Josh sat in his wheelchair. His eyes were red and puffy.

"Josh...? Have you been crying?"

"Yes," answered the wheelchair bound former Collector. His eyes narrowed however. "What are you doing with that empty crate?"

Finn thought fast. "We were out of chairs what with the new refugees and all. I figured I'd snatch one of these and use it as a chair."

Josh sat back in his chair. "I don't believe you."

"Josh... come on. Would I lie? Why would I lie?"

The red head shook his head sadly. "Because when I was a Collector, I did stupid things just like you believing in my own path. It's what got me crippled." He rubbed his legs thoughtfully. "Gantry always tried to stop me from doing anything crazy. I never listened." A soft, sad chuckle left his lips. "It was my idea to train in the art of letting the Haze infect us instead of fucking each other silly. I never wanted anyone else in me but him."

Finn's eyes widened and he almost wished he had the crate back in his hands so he could drop in shock. "Y - You're Rock? You were Gantry's boyfriend?"

Josh nodded sadly. "I was. And now he's gone..." The man took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "So Finn, from one guy who's been stupid and reckless to another, don't do whatever you think you're doing. You're only going get people hurt."

Shocked by the revelation, Finn was unsure what to do. Did Josh blame him for what happened to Gantry? If he hadn't pushed the Builders to break their routine and just followed what Gantry had said, would they still Gantry still be there with them? "What... exactly happened? You said there was a logging accident at Burheim...?" He ended up using the dropped crate as a seat knowing he was in for an enrapturing tale.

"Burheim is... complicated," Josh answered. "It's filled with bears. Big, muscly, manly bears who just tear down the forest around them. They don't even use the wood for anything. They just log for no reason. The forest always regrows because... Well..." Josh sighed heavily. "There's a weird 'curse' with the bears. If they chop too much wood they... transform. Again."

"Huh?"

"They become these hulking, fifteen foot tall monsters with no inhibitions and go around 'reseeding' the ground. They cum everywhere and where their cum falls, new trees grow overnight. Sometimes, these 'mega bears' even tear down the bear settlements so the forest can reclaim the land the bears have torn down. It's a brutal cycle you know. The bears are compelled to cut down trees. But if they cut down too much, they go wild and hurt their fellow bears. They eventually turn back but the damage is done."

Finn began putting the pieces of the puzzle together. "It wasn't just because you lost the use of your legs... was it? You went mega bear?"

Josh nodded gravely. "I was in a stupid competition with Gantry. I told him I could chop down more wood than he could without going mega bear. I tempted fate once too often and I turned. I _barely_managed to keep a hold of myself but the other bears attacked me to drive me away. They pinned me down and chopped at my legs. I barely got away and by the time I turned back, the damage to my legs was too much to be healed within the day. The combination of my recklessness _and_the loss of my legs meant I wasn't fit to be a Collector."

He fixed Finn with a stern gaze. "Take it from me, Finn, don't go making any more waves than you already have. Let Arcadia recover from what's happened before you go stirring the pot again. We need time to heal."

Finn seriously considered the words... And then stood up. He plucked the crate from where it sat. "I know what I'm doing, Josh."

"Finn..." Josh pleaded.

"Please. Trust me. Just like you trusted me before."

******

349:10:27:12:01:09

Six big rhinos sat around in a circle, panting heavily in a lake of cum. Their cries of orgasm had echoed all over the abandoned factory lot. The Gate from Arcadia hummed quietly behind them, the only sound apart from their breathing and the gentle drip-drip-drip of cum rolling off their bodies. Their bodies quivered as the pleasure of afterglow began to settle in. Even in their exhausted states, rock hard cocks continued to pump cum out of their heavy balls, pushing out what they had been previously so that they could evolve and fully transform into what they were now.

Anodyne regarded their powerful forms with some fascination and, at the same time, wariness. He knew that when a Collector returned to human form, their human shapes changed. Marv and Finn obtained different coloured hair. He remembered having found his muscle structure having become much bigger when he had returned.

It seemed that this rule also applied to the rhinos of Hornton.

Each of them were much leaner than their former selves. Builders who had shown bulk with a mix of muscle and mass looked so much more vascular and sinewy. Their abdominals were perfectly defined and the V shape of their torsos were so much crisper. Carver, as the only Wrecker there, looked like his body was barely contained by his leathery flesh. Added to their physique was a _third_horn jutting in between their first two. It looked like each of them had a toothy saw attached to their faces.

Perhaps because their 'base form' was that of a rhino and they had been left uncleansed by SOL, being rhinos was where the extra attributes were added. The transformation made Anodyne wonder what other changes they would undertake should they transform into a dragon or one of the other species beyond the Gates.

But that was a thought for another day. He headed over to them, his heavy work boots letting out loud squishes as he stepped on the thick pool of cum. With the tip of his right boot, he gently nudged the heavy-lidded form of Carver.

"Fuck that was intense..." muttered the rhino.

"The first time always is," agreed Anodyne. "It doesn't get any less..." He cast his gaze around at the large pool of cum. "...messy. But you learn to control yourself. Aim your cock down so you don't end up soiling your clothes. Bite back your cries of ecstasy so you don't draw attention to yourself. Snap yourself out of the sleepiness of afterglow." He nodded at Carver. "Come on. Get up. You all screamed pretty loudly."

Carver grumbled softly but slowly got to his feet. The other rhinos followed suit. They were all still hard. It seemed the Haze was determined to reclaim them. Every few seconds, one of them would groan, close their eyes and shoot another load across the small group.

"Circle up," Anodyne commanded, dropping his pants and underwear to reveal his big, fat, seventeen inch rhino cock.

"I... I don't think I can..." muttered Kevin. His eyes were glazed over and he was still panting heavily. His hands were twitching, fighting against his will to grip his cock.

"Circle up," insisted Anodyne. He spread his arms and the two closest rhinos came up to him. He wrapped his arms around their broad shoulder just as they did the same with him. Slowly, the lumbering rhinos formed a circle. Even Kevin linked up to form a circle.

He leaned his head in and the others followed suit, their muzzles just inches from one another. The scent of the men around him, the sex that had just transpired seeped into his mind. His cock quickly began to rise and he let out a soft groan. Around him, his students did the same. They struggled to reach for their cocks but each of them had a hand linked up with another rhino across a comrade's back. They refused to let one another go. Even if should one of them give in to the Beast, their fellows refused to let go of their hands, preventing them from reaching the epicentre of their desire - their throbbing dicks.

"Who are we?" demanded Anodyne loudly.

Those around him rumbled. Someone vaguely muttered 'Team Vanguard'.

"Who are we!?" Anodyne barked louder.

"Team Vanguard!" shouted the rest of the team. Their cocks throbbed, precum pouring out of the tips and cascading down onto the cum soaked floor. Each of them were struggling against their base instincts but the purpose of the circle was to keep one another from falling to the Beast.

"What is our mission!?" he shouted.

"Preserve humanity!" Carver shouted. His eyes were clear and though his cock let out a burst of pre, it was quickly softening. Anodyne was impressed with the rhino's progress.

"I can't hear you!" Anodyne shouted.

"Preserve humanity!" exclaimed the rest of the group.

"How will we do that!?"

"By standing strong!"

"We stand together!" Anodyne shouted.

"We stand as one!" echoed the others, their voices rising and their dicks softening. The reminder of their mission, their purpose and their humanity quelled the Beast within them. Even Kevin was looking more clear-headed.

"We are Beasts!" Anodyne concluded.

"But we protect humanity!"

Grinning, Anodyne said, "On three. One... two... three!"

As one, all seven rhinos shouted, "Team Vanguard!"

With that, all the men unlinked their arms. No one was tempted to reach for their semi-hard cocks. All the blood was pumping into their hearts, into their brains. They were a team. A single unit. One that looked after each other and never left a man behind. That made Anodyne proud.

"Get dressed," Anodyne commanded. "We have a settlement to meet."

The rhinos each went to the storage box beside the Gate where some Builder clothes rested. Carver was a little hesitant to conform with what everyone else was wearing so he ended up tearing off the legs of his denim pants to give him a pair of provocative, cut off shorts. Anodyne rolled his eyes at Carver but the former Wrecker just gave him a 'come get me' look which he refused to rise to.

When everyone was sufficiently clothed, Anodyne led them through the streets of Hornton, staying perfectly clear of what was once Newhome. They headed instead in the opposite direction towards a Builder settlement they were hoping to 'enlighten'. It was a long trek, taking the better portion of an hour but when they got there...

Anodyne froze...

He hadn't been there when Newhome was taken but he guessed that he was seeing a dark shadow of what it had been when Hammerhorn had ravaged it. The walls of the settlement were completely destroyed. Not even a single block remained standing. No semblance of housing stood save perhaps for the large skyscraper where the settlement had been built around. Anything that the Builders constructed was ruined. Anything from the bygone age of man was relatively untouched. The only remnants that even vaguely hinted that this had been a Builder settlement was the variety of torn clothing lying in pools of cum that littered the area.

No traces of fire or a true struggle littered the area. The walls looked to have just collapsed, allowing the Wreckers in. A large 'river' of white cum with pieces of clothing lay drying in the middle of the large square facility. It looked and it even seemed like the Builders had been corralled into a line where they were transformed one by one by the Wreckers just judging by the way the clothes were scattered against the pool of white fluids.

Their own kind of ritualistic execution...

"Oh no..." Kevin whispered.

"Stay alert," Anodyne warned, slowly venturing into the ruins. "Some Wreckers might still be around."

He didn't get to take a few steps past the crumbling wall when a cry erupted from somewhere in the skyscraper. Patient and logical as he always was, he waited for a follow up cry. Carver was more impulsive, however, and bolted ahead with Kevin right behind him. Anodyne told the rest of his team to stay close and hurried after them.

The skyscraper looked to have been a multi-storey shopping mall with a large, central open area where escalators and elevators took shoppers from one floor to the other. Shops that once hawked their wares lined the walls, each of varying shapes and sizes. All of them had their roller shutters down but in various levels of closure. Some were completely closed, other caved in no doubt by some Beast. None of the stores had been unscathed by the Apocalypse.

Another cry erupted from what appeared to be a toy store. Carver led the way straight into the shop. The moment the big rhino stormed through, a big, grew mass seized him around the waist and slammed him into the nearby wall. Kevin let out a shout of warning too late and he too was quickly yanked off his feet by a Wrecker waiting in ambush.

They were using tactics which was definitely new to Anodyne. Still, it was seven against two. He charged in after his two teammates, the rest of Team Vanguard right behind him.

"You son-of-a-bitch!" Carver shouted as the big Wrecker hungrily pawed at his shorts. Carver kneed the naked rhino's gut then slammed their foreheads together. The Wrecker staggered back, clutching his forehead with a groan. Carver dipped his head and charged, slamming straight into the opposing rhino. He was careful not to gore the guy, wrapping his arms around his opponent and carrying him straight through three shelves of toys before coming to a stop.

On the opposite side, Kevin let out a pained and fearful cry as the Wrecker threw off his pants. Hammerhorn's lackey grinned evilly, licking his lips as he angled his hard cock towards Kevin's exposed hole. It took two members of Team Vanguard to yank the rhino off Kevin and throw the Beast back. Kevin fell to his knees, holding himself and shivering, eyes wide in horror and sobbing quietly.

The cry came again from somewhere within the store. Anodyne but as he drew closer, he realised it sounded... artificial. As he wandered between the shelves, he found the source of the cry. A large, novelty baby doll likely made as a display and not to be sold. As it gave another wail, Anodyne kicked it to the ground.

"They're getting smarter..." he mumbled softly.

"They were lying in wait," grunted Carver, stomping over to him. His knuckles were covered in blood and there was some red goo around his horns. "It's like they knew we were coming."

Anodyne had to agree. He didn't want to consider how Hammerhorn's troops could've known they were coming and set up a trap for them, crude as it was.

"What do you want to do with those two assholes?" Carver grunted, hiking a thumb at the two unconscious Wreckers.

"We can't risk bringing them to Arcadia. Leave them. We're done here."

******

349:10:27:13:05:27

"Have you eaten, Finn?" Cody asked, munching on his meal. "These beans are amazing, by the way. What did you do with them?"

"Cooked them in some garlic butter," answered Finn with a dismissive wave. "I toasted them lightly so that they have that smoky flavour." He didn't dare mentioned that he had asked Cross for the best way to cook the meal and the steaks. Something that Cody clearly appreciated. "Anyway sir, I wanted to ask you something."

"And what is that?" asked the blue dragon, giving him a faint smile. "You haven't had lunch yet, have you? Here, have a bite." He cut off a piece of the meat, speared it on his fork and held it out for Finn

Feeling a little impatient, Finn bit into the meat and chewed on it. "I wanted to ask you about what, if anything, you knew about the Nexus Conglomerate."

Cody lifted his eyebrows. "Where did you hear that name?"

Finn had prepared his story the entire night. "On one of the patrols I was on with Captain Savage I sort of wandered off by myself and saw a piece of metal that had the name etched on it. It looked fairly high tech but it was old. I didn't give it much thought but I just wanted to ask you if you knew anything about it."

The Commander set down his cutlery and stared at his half-finished food thoughtfully. He began eating again a minute later. "NexArm built Camp Draco. It's a branch of the Conglomerate_geared towards supplying military forces and the like. In truth, I was actually a _NexArm employee before I became the Commander."

Finn's heart leapt to his throat. "You were?"

"Sort of," said Cody with a shrug. "When the infection spread across this camp and everyone began turning into dragons, there was no order, no true ranking. There was a loose hierarchy but no one was at the top. NexArm has a lab underneath this camp that's been locked to us ever since they left. I was taken from the surface and trained in the lab to be the Commander."

"Trained...?" Finn asked.

Cody sliced another piece of meat and coated it with some mashed potatoes. He held it out for Finn to have and Finn gobbled it up, eager for Cody to continue. "Look at me, Finn. Apart from the fact that I'm bigger than anyone else, I look like a Warrant Officer. I don't really have any specialised mutations like extra wings, extra arms or the like. Apart from the fact that I can promote other people, I'm just another dragon."

He shrugged as he continued to eat. "NexArm did something to my genes to make me the Commander. They gave me a directive. Prepare Camp Draco for war. Lead them. And I've been doing that ever since." Again, he held out another piece of beef for Finn. "I never thought of doing anything else. Until now, that is."

Finn's bit into the beef and chewed it slowly. It sounded like Cody had been developed a lot like Hammerhorn but instead of breaking free of the Conglomerate, he chose to remain loyal to his task. "What do you mean, sir?"

"Nothing," Cody responded, shaking his head. "It's nothing. Why are you so curious about the Conglomerate anyway?"

Now it was time to play his hand.

"Well sir, have you ever wondered what that big thing in front of the sun was?"

Cody frowned. "I thought the sun always looked like that..."

"See, I don't think so." Finn got up from his chair in front of Cody's office desk and went over to his many books. "You're well-read, sir. Did you ever see any mention of the sun looking like that in your books?" He began leafing through some of the pages. "Do some of these have pictures of the sun? Does it look like that?"

"I can't say that I've ever seen or read any reference to it..." He felt Cody behind him and the big, blue dragon gently gripped his wrist, stopping him from picking up another book. "Why this sudden interest, Finn? What brought this on?"

Time for the second volley.

Finn reached into the pocket of his combat fatigues and pulled out a sheet of paper he had been working on the previous night. "There were some words on the container that I found. I scribbled down as much as I could understand but most of it was faded." He held it out for Cody to take. "It talks about a facility in somewhere called 'Hornton' where there are apparently 'rhino' men. There were two projects undertaken by a _Nexus Conglomerate_branch that apparently made this 'super rhino'."

Cody blinked at the transcript. "Finn... This..." He held out the sheet, waving it slightly. "Do you have any idea what this means?"

Now came the part he dreaded. "That we found the enemy we're preparing against?"

The Commander looked startled for a second and then shook his head. "No. God no. This means we might have an idea of where those rhinos that come in to raid our supply convoys between the camp and the docks might be coming from. We could actually talk to them."

Finn breathed a sigh of relief. He feared that revealing the location - or at least the name - of the place where the rhinos came from might spark Cody's desire for war. The Collectors attacking Camp Draco as rhinos no doubt had been causing the Camp some aggravation.

"War should be our last resort, Finn," Cody said. "They've been attacking us constantly for years and we always thought that they were stuck here just like us. But if they're coming from somewhere else and have some way of getting to and from the island... We might be able to get off this island!"

Cody took the page back to his desk, mulling over it. "Damn... It doesn't have directions, though. If only we knew in which direction it was..." His eyes lifted to meet Finn's. "Do you remember where the container was? Maybe we can trace?"

Finn beamed. "I think I can do that."

Cody returned the grin but that quickly faded. "Wait... We can't just send the whole camp on a wild goose chase. We need to do this alone. Just you and me. I don't want to start something out of nothing. Meet me here tonight. After lights out."

There, Finn's plan began to crumble.

He had hoped he'd be able to lead Cody to the crate he had planted near the Return Gate within the hour. He had hoped that he could confess the truth about his origins privately in front of the Return Gate and tell Cody what he knew. He had taken a spare Key and wanted to take Cody through the Gate to Arcadia. Diplomatic relations could be formed. The militaristic training of the dragons could be used to supplement the rhinos of Hornton. With their training and the rhino's ability to build things quickly, they could push back Hammerhorn and maybe find Gantry. It would both give Camp Draco a goal and push him a step closer to his goal of discovering more about the Apocalypse and the Conglomerate's role in it.

But if he had do it after hours...

"Why can't we do it now?"

Cody shook his head and sat back down in his seat. "No one else knows about the Conglomerate. As far as the rest of the Camp is concerned, they're just following orders. My orders. They've spent so long doing the same thing over and over again that I they're more concerned with competing against one another than any true foe. If things go south, I don't want to risk any of my men."

"But if you get lost..."

"I know." Cody wrung his hands together nervously. "They'll probably just devolve back into infighting but there are enough high ranking officers to reign the troops in. I don't know what it means if no one can get promoted but I have to do this. The Conglomerate put me here. I need to know why."

There was a burning passion in Cody's eyes that both inspired Finn and struck him with some fear. He thought back to Josh's warning the previous night and wondered if he was risking too much again.

"Are you with me, Finn?" the Commander asked.

Finn nodded, giving Cody a nervous smile. "Yes sir."

Cody looked about to say something else but then he sat back down in his seat, regarding the hastily scribble paraphrasing of the report Finn had discovered in Hornton. "This could change everything, Finn," he murmured softly. "This could finally give us purpose."

"I'm glad, sir. I'll... uh... I'll just return to my duties. I'll see you tonight."

The Commander gave him a smile. "Yeah. Looking forward to it."

Finn left the cabin as calmly as he possibly could and strode away from the building slowly. It was only five minutes after he had pulled away from the Commander did he break into a run and bolted straight towards the firing range. Savage was there testing out a rifle with Skip, shooting blanks at a few targets. He called out their names and, seeing his panicked expression, the two quickly tore away from the group of other dragons and pulled him aside.

"Renegade, what's wrong?" Savage asked.

There were only three words he could say to express the situation.

"I fucked up."

******

349:10:27:15:46:01

For the second time in less than two weeks, the Collectors were split down the middle and it was because of Finn's actions. On the one side, Lobo was torn at his latest recruit. The dragons didn't know about the Gates. None of their patrols ever took them anywhere close to them and each one was hidden so well in the forests that none of the aerial patrols picked them up. Making the dragons aware of them jeopardised any future incursions into Camp Draco especially if they found the Return Gate.

"They could guard them day and night! We'll never get a chance to go in or out!" Savage shouted. "For fuck's sake, Renegade! They have guns!"

"How could we explain to anyone of them if we emerged from one of the Gates and went through one?" added Cross. "My man, I get that you are trying to help but think!"

"And going straight to the Commander!?" Lobo shouted, throwing his big hands into the air. "You have any idea how long we've been raiding their convoys? I don't think they'll be as accommodating as the Builders!" A soft cough came from somewhere in the back. "And Wreckers. Sorry, Carver."

Anodyne glanced around the room. Those who supported Lobo in his rightful fury were standing to the right. Amongst them were Savage, Cross, Ruin, Skip and Crash. Supporting Finn and standing off to the left were Marv and Vein. Though Vale stood next to his 'brother', it was just support by association. There was a look in Marv's eyes that hinted that he truly didn't agree with Finn's actions either but still stood by his lover because it was what he was expected to do. Kevin stood beside Finn but he didn't know much about being a Collector either so his support was worth half a vote at the very least. The other refugees stood around Anodyne who sat in his big cushion in the middle of the debate.

"But the Commander isn't like Hammerhorn," pleaded Finn. "I know he's a good guy. He doesn't want war."

"He's just feeding bullshit down to an impressionable recruit," barked Savage. "I do it all the time with the men under my command in there. Recruits don't need to know what the top brass are thinking. They just need to follow orders."

"But -"

"You're assuming a lot again, Renagade," Lobo said, forcing calm into his voice. "You've been in Camp Draco less than two days and you're already trying to change things. We're still reeling from what happened in Hornton. Hell, these guys just got back home!" He gestured at the refugees, each of them back to being rhinos. "Tell them what happened."

Kevin shuffled from one foot to the other and kept his head ducked. He let out a soft choking noise. Carver groaned loudly and stormed forward.

"Hammerhorn's troops took another settlement," he announced. "Small one but his troops are getting stronger. From what we saw, he's got a strong lieutenant that's leading them. A Wrecker named Bulldozer. Builders are strained on every angle. If it isn't the normal roving bands of Wreckers that Hammerhorn has left, it's his main army that's now at _least_sixty rhinos strong. And it's growing bigger. Any Wrecker that stumbles onto their camp is pulled in. They've even got 'recruitment gangs' going around forcing any stray Wrecker onto their knees and then fucking them until they submit. It's like they're a whole different breed of Wrecker."

Anodyne was impressed with Carver's forwardness and a little disappointed at Kevin's hesitation. He kept his opinions to himself, however, turning his attention back to the debate.

"We're trying to support the Builders," Lobo said severely. "We can't be fighting on two fronts at the same time."

"We don't have to fight Cody!" Finn pleaded. "I'm sure he's willing to cooperate and negotiate."

"Cody?"

Anodyne hid a wince as Finn shuffled back away from Lobo.

"Um... that's... the Commander's name..."

Lobo gave a soft 'ah' and his expression turned to one of pity. An exchange of glances amongst Finn's opposition confirmed that each of them knew - or rather suspected - the reason for Finn's insistence on forging this alliance.

"Finn," Savage said, using Renegade's real name. That only guaranteed what he said next was as a friend and not just as a colleague. "You're letting your feelings towards the Commander get in the way of your thinking."

"My personal...?" Finn began. "I don't -"

Savage he'd up his hand, indicating that he wasn't finished. "Look. I know how it feels, buddy. I really do. There's this guy in the Badlands. Hot as fuck and a killer in the sack. Taught me everything I know about the Badlands and a real hardass. I love him. I really do. I guess I got a thing for bad boys." A rueful smile crossed Savage's features briefly before it quickly faded. "If I didn't put Arcadia before my feelings, I would've brought him in here already."

"But I'm not -"

"We all have people out there that we really care about, little buddy," Cross said solemnly. "There's a chef in Burheim. Knows how to make the best_pancakes I've ever tasted. I keep trying to get the secret from him. Hell, I'm pretty sure he sprays some of his cum in the batter to make it taste better. We constantly compete on who is the better chef. Sometimes he wins. Other times, he lets _me win. I love him like a brother and I'd love to tell him everything but I can't. Because of Arcadia."

Anodyne closed his eyes. The guilt trip was just continuing and it was frustrating him.

"In Bucking Cove, I've got a whole crew of men that I love like my family," Lobo said sadly. "Our ship, the Seaward Cutter, is our home. I've spent a crazy amount of time with those men. Our captain is a hardass but he takes care of us and he's fair. You can't help but admire a man like that. Seeing how hard it is for him, I've been tempted to bring him back to Arcadia as well and let him live an easier life but I can't. We shouldn't jeopardise Arcadia."

"But what about Hornton!?" demanded Finn. "We saved them! We told them everything! We brought them here! How is that any different?"

"It's different because things there were changing and spiralling out of control," Lobo answered calmly. "We couldn't stop Hammerhorn and we couldn't let these innocent people fall to him. We had to save them. That's what decent people do."

"Decent people don't lie to the people they love either!"

This time, Anodyne winced loudly.

"So you do love the Commander."

Finn's eyes boggled. "What!? No! I was referring to you guys! You talked about all these guys that you treat as your family but -"

Lobo cut him off. "Finn. I know. I know what you're going through. But you can't. You just can't. For once, just please follow orders. You can't meet the Commander tonight. Is that understood?"

Finn visibly deflated, ducking his head sadly. He murmured a soft acknowledgement but that was it.

"Good," Lobo said. "Everyone going into Camp Draco should be on high alert. Don't try anything risky. Let's limit our raids on the convoy to targets of opportunity. Don't tempt fate. Make it look like an accident. Set up a road block or have the infiltration team purposefully sabotage one of the trucks. Everyone else, let's get those other Hornton settlements banded together. We need to protect the Return Gate."

The meeting began to disperse but Anodyne remained, quietly watching the directions that each of the Collectors were going. Lobo and his group were heading towards the Gates, no doubt to plan for a way to keep Finn from sneaking past them. Finn shuffled back to his hut, Marv right behind him. Carver huffed loudly and headed for the Glade.

He had a lot of work to do.

First up was Lobo and his group.

He made to follow them but was suddenly stopped by a green, clawed hand on his chest. Skip stepped in front of him, his bright smile and shining eyes looking up at him.

"You're going to try and convince Lobo to let Renegade go, aren't you?"

Was he that obvious? "I've met the Commander. He's a decent sort. I think things will turn out much worse if Renegade stands him up compared to if he revealed everything to the Commander."

Skip lowered his hand and used it to rub his draconic muzzle thoughtfully. "I guess if we tell the Commander everything, there is a chance he might end up allying with us. If Renegade doesn't go and we all suddenly boycott Camp Draco, the Commander might take it as the 'rhinos' having kidnapped him. He might even end up becoming fully aggressive towards us." Skip's eyes darted back towards Anodyne. "I guess it's a choice of 'maybe we make an enemy' or we 'surely _will_make an enemy'."

"I err on the side of logic. Logically speaking, Renegade needs to meet the Commander but guard his words carefully."

A soft smile touched Skip's lips. The slim dragon turned towards the group around Lobo as they headed towards the Gates. "Lobo is just thinking about Arcadia. He's right that we're spread too thin having to help Hornton, supply Arcadia and now potentially have to forge diplomatic relationships with Camp Draco."

Anodyne set his hand firmly on Skip's shoulder. "Either get out of my way or I'll break your tail right here, right now, Skip."

"Whoa! I'm not against you!" Skip laughed brightly. "I agree with you. I want Renegade to go to the Commander." His cheery smile took a rather sinister edge. "Lobo is probably going to set up guards all around the Gates overnight just to make sure Renegade doesn't sneak past. If, however, Renegade happens to come onto the shift I'm on, I just might accidentally trip, bang my head against the Gate and fall unconscious for a few hours."

Anodyne narrowed his eyes at Skip. He had never truly trusted Skip. No one could be that cheery all the time. Now he was getting a taste of why that was. That smile was a façade that hid a cunning mind. "And what exactly do you gain out of this?"

Skip took a few steps back, pulling away from Anodyne's grip. "Hey, I want what you want - the betterment of Arcadia. Not just its survival. It's future. I think Renegade is pushing us in the right direction. Can't make progress without risks, right?"

"Right..."

"Great. Then we're agreed. I'll tell you what time my shift is afterwards."

With that, Skip turned and skipped over to where Lobo and the others had disappeared. Anodyne watched him go, making a mental note to keep an eye on him.

Now he had to take care of Kevin and Carver. There was a shift in power amongst the refugees and he needed to address if Team Vanguard was going to remain standing. He turned and hurried over to the Glade. As he followed the trail, he could detect the scent of frustration in the air. It was strong and Carver's scent mingled with it. Another scent hung in the air but it was one on the opposite side of the spectrum; it was one filled with shame and submission. Kevin's scent.

When he reached the Glade, even the sweet aroma of the flowers could not hide the two conflicting odours. The six other members of Team Vanguard sat in a circle but most of them favoured sitting beside Kevin. Carver was the farthest removed from them. Perhaps it was the endless frustration and rage that was bubbling beneath his apparently calm exterior. The members of Team Vanguard were like brothers; all from the same place, all running from Hammerhorn's oppression and all changed through the power of Arcadia. They could read each other fairly easily though Anodyne doubted they truly knew what Carver was fuming about.

This was going to be tougher. Certainly tougher than his encounter with Skip. However, he had to do it before things got out of hand. He strode into the Glade and placed a hand on Carver's shoulder.

"Can I speak with you privately?"

Carver's scent loosened up, the frustration ebbing to be replaced by submission. It was clear who he saw as the true alpha of Team Vanguard. His ears even folded back in a sign of respect. He nodded quietly and stood up from the circle, following Anodyne to the edge of the Glade and out of earshot range.

Anodyne chose his words carefully and leaned against a nearby tree calmly. "Kevin is leader."

"No he isn't!" snapped Carver sharply but still softly so only Anodyne could hear. "Did you see him out there!? He practically lifted his tail and offered it to that fucking Wrecker! I was exactly in the same position as him and I managed to fight the bastard off. Kevin needed two others of our mates to fight them off."

A curious choice of words... 'mates'. Anodyne wondered if that was 'mates' defined as a sign of camaraderie or a more bestial definition of partnership. "There's no weakness in asking for help."

"He didn't even fight back!" snarled Carver. "All the others follow him. What kind of example is he setting if he can't fight back against _one_Wrecker!?"

Carver's frustration was understandable. Anodyne had felt rather disappointed at Kevin's performance on the field as well. More and more, he felt that the former Builder was falling into a spiral of depression that he would not recover from. But Kevin was not a fast-paced mover and shaker like Carver. He took things slowly, absorbed facts at a leisurely pace and acted only when he was completely sure of what he wanted. Every other time, however, he followed someone else's lead.

A plan quickly formulated in Anodyne's mind.

"You think you would make a better leader than him?"

"He isn't a leader," Carver rumbled in frustration. "The only reason the others follow him is because he's a Builder and they trust him because he's had more interaction with Arcadia than anyone else. If they followed me -"

"They'd be carved into machines of vengeance as they are driven by your passion to see Hammerhorn brought down," interrupted Anodyne. "Tell me something, Carver, what are you going to do after you beat Hammerhorn?"

Carver's eyes boggled and his mouth hung open in surprise. "I... uh..."

"This is exactly what I was trying to instil in all of you when I took you to my sunroom," Anodyne said. "There is the now then there is the tomorrow. When this is all over, when Arcadia is stable, when Hornton is saved, what are you going to do?" He pushed off the tree and jabbed a finger against Carver's chest. "If you let your one goal consume you, when that goal is met, you will have nothing."

"But -"

Anodyne made a slicing gesture, cutting him off. "Everyone has their reasons for becoming a Collector. Everyone has their purpose in life. I'm not saying your mission to get back at Hammerhorn is stupid but I'm telling you_that _cannot be your purpose." He placed a hand on Carver's shoulder. "Trust me on this. I've seen it happen so many times before. People let their goals become their purpose and when that goal is met, they end up lost and just live each day like it was the last. They just put one foot in front of the other without caring where they go. "

"That sounds exactly like Kevin," grumbled Carver. "He has no idea where he's going."

There, Anodyne smirked. "You're wrong there. He knows where he wants to go. The problem is that he's not sure if he wants to go there."

He pulled his hand away from Carver and left the Glade and the rhino to think about what he had said. With luck, that would help the former Wrecker on a better path than just vengeance.

He would have to talk to Kevin later but time was running out and he wanted to catch up with Renegade and Rush before his fears came true.

******

---

349:10:27:15:55:08

Finn was already feeling like such a fool when he stumbled into the hut he and Marv shared. The sheets had remained relatively clean this time around since Finn was now in his draconic form and Marv remained a rhino. It felt like he was going into withdrawal being so separate from Marv. It wasn't the sex. It was just the species difference felt so... vast. That they were on different teams, played different roles and were on different shifts seemed to only widen the gap.

Before that gap could be closed by their nightly rituals of making mad love but now...

He decided to dismiss the stupid notion that Marv hadn't vocally supported him at the meeting because of this divide but when he slumped into the sheets...

"Do you love 'im?"

Finn sat up immediately and gave the handsome rhino a startled stare. "Who? Cody? Of course not! Why would you say that?"

Marv looked doubtful of even himself and shuffled uncomfortably from one foot to the other. "Well jus'... I dun think ya've ever actually told me ya love me."

Suddenly feeling defensive, Finn countered by saying, "Well, neither have you."

"Okay. Well, I love ya Finn." Marv looked straight at Finn. "Yer turn."

Finn opened his muzzle to say those three magical words but suddenly felt a lump in his throat.

"I knew it!" Marv exclaimed. He didn't seem angry though... more heartbroken. His expression was so pained that all Finn wanted to do was to get up and hug him but even that didn't feel appropriate. "You do love him!"

"No I don't! It's just -" Finn stopped himself before he could finish his sentence. But by the way Marv was looking at him and for all the support the big farmer had provided him, he deserved to know the truth. "Just... I don't love... you..."

Those words might as well have been a physical blow. Marv clutched his chest and staggered back against the doorframe. A crestfallen look was planted on his features.

"Marv, think about it," Finn said, rising off the bed. "We've know each other, what? Two weeks? There's a lot I still don't know about you. I can't rightly say I love you if I don't know you."

Shaking his head, Marv said, "I've known ya fer exactly th' same 'mount o' time an' I know I love ya."

"You've got the advantage of having known me while I was still finding my feet in Arcadia," countered Finn. "You've been year for years. There's still a lot I've got to learn about you! But that doesn't mean we can't try, right? I don't love you right now but I'm sure we can get there."

That crestfallen expression became pained and conflicted. "See Finn... I dun think we can."

"Why not?"

Marv crossed his arms, looking like he was hugging himself more than appearing defensive. "Cuz... Ya gone an' went ahead an' did this thing with the Commander without tellin' me... I thought we were in this together, ya know? I told ya I'd follow ya wherever ya went but I can't do that if yer not tellin' me where yer goin'..."

Again, that gap between them was becoming very evident. Even after his talk with Josh, he hadn't even _thought_about Marv. Perhaps that was a sign...

"Marv, I just thought that this was what would be best for Arcadia..."

"I get that..." Marv answered, leaning against the doorframe lightly. "But I'm part o' Arcadia too, ya know. I wus just hopin' I'd be big enough to be in on yer schemes..."

For some reason, the word 'schemes' just struck a chord with Finn. It cast his actions in a negative light when all he was trying to do was push Arcadia forward, make it a better place.

"Look," he said firmly, "I get that we've been doing the same thing for years now. I get that I may have moved a little too fast with Camp Draco but don't you think that says something about how we're basically living a stagnant life? We're just letting the days go by, waiting for the next guy to come along and doing the same things over and over again! We aren't making progress! We aren't making new discoveries, we aren't inventing new things and we aren't meeting new people!

"All I'm trying to do is make sure that Arcadia makes progress."

"An' that's cool," agreed Marv. "But... I jus' thought I'd be part o' it..."

"Who says you aren't?" Finn said, spreading his arms. He took a step towards the rhino but Marv tightened his arms around his chest. "I know what Lobo said but I can't let Cody down. This is our chance to make real contact with the dragons! They're trained! They could even help us fight Hammerhorn!"

A look of contemplation crossed Marv's features but it quickly passed. He shook his head sadly and gave Finn a forlorn look. "I'm sorry, Finn. I get what yer tryin' to do but... Ya can't say ya love me an' say ya wanna try and make things better between us... but ya still went ahead and did these things without tellin' me. I bet right now, yer main priority is getting ta the Commander on time. It ain't 'bout us."

The horrible thing was... he was right.

Even as they stood there, his mind was preoccupied with how he was going to get back to Camp Draco. He felt bad for it but it was all he could think of. The Commander was waiting for him. The sun was rapidly setting and if he didn't show up, the next step to Arcadia's growth could be lost.

Marv stood in his way.

"I'm sorry, Marv," he murmured softly. "But what is one relationship compared to the rest of the world?"

Marv squeezed his eyes shut. It looked like he was about to cry but he instead pushed away from the doorframe. "Ya talk 'bout not carin' what shape we take 'cuz we're all human inside. But ya ain't gunna stay human fer long if all ya do is spend yer humanity fer the sake o' others." He opened his eyes, giving Finn an almost... apologetic stare. "I'll be waitin' here fer ya when ya realise that, Finn. I ain't gunna follow ya everywhere no more. But I'm gunna be waitin'."

With those words, Marv turned and left the hut. Somehow, they stung more than if he had shouted, thrown a tantrum and hit Finn. Guilt wracked Finn's body and weighed down on his shoulders to the point where he actually fell to the ground on his rear. Every muscle of his body was completely paralysed. All he could do was stare straight at the closed door, Marv's words echoing constantly in his mind.

Some part of him berated him for not crying. He had just lost a man who had loved him. Why wasn't he crying? Could he truly call himself human if he couldn't muster a single tear for the end of a meaningful if one-sided relationship?

The door creaked open.

Finn's heart didn't even leap at the faint hope that Marv had come back. It only spiralled further into depression knowing he felt nothing.

It wasn't Marv, though. It was Anodyne.

"I'm too late then," murmured the older Collector. "Marv broke up with you."

Finn turned to the big rhino. "You knew...?"

Anodyne shuffled over to the grounded dragon and sat down beside him. "Lobo wasn't lying when he said that everyone has a crush on a Beast beyond the Gates. You see it in their eyes. Whenever they wander back through that Gate, they practically leap towards their lover's arms. But the exception was Gantry and Rock. They found each other. But that relationship didn't last either."

The big rhino paused and gently wrapped an arm around Finn's shoulders. "The unfortunate truth is that we as Collectors are mated to one another, to the entire brotherhood. You can't fuck someone or suck off guy's dick without at _least_feeling something for them. Do that enough times and it either becomes routine or you start to develop feelings. That's how it was with Gantry and Rock. They fucked each other so much that they decided to take things to the next level. For everyone else, we've become desensitised to one another's company. It still feels good but it becomes more like it's part of our job than having some meaning behind it."

"Is that why you guys find someone beyond the Gates?"

Anodyne chuckled. "It is. You want what you can't or don't have, right? Well, to us, the taste of each other's dicks has gotten pretty normal. The dick of some fine piece of ass out there, a forbidden fruit... well..." He shamelessly licked his lips and Finn could smell the rhino's arousal starting to permeate his hut. "Anyway, I knew from looking at you and Marv that your relationship would've eventually gone down the same path as the rest of us. Sex with him would've become routine."

"He gave me a sexy massage..." Finn murmured softly, a faint protest.

"And that would've been something spicy for now but let it happen often enough and eventually, it loses its flavour and you get used to it. It's not a matter of you not trying." Anodyne hugged him lightly. "Part of me wished you guys could make it work but the fact is that Marv is in love with you and you... well, I can tell you're in love with your job. Or you haven't found that special someone yet."

Finn laughed softly and gave Anodyne a faint smile. "Whose you're special someone then?"

The rhino snickered. "This little choir boy in Blessed Mountain. Cute as a button. Chaste as fuck. What I wouldn't give to pop his cherry. Urf!" Anodyne shook his head. "I don't know. It's just the way he looks at me like I'm the world to him. It makes me feel wanted. But it kills me every day that I have to lie to him because of who and what I am. It's why I don't act upon it. But I'm hoping one day, that will change."

Brow furrowed, Finn picked up the hint. "You... you want me to do what I did to Hornton to Blessed Mountain... don't you? You want me to do whatever I can so that you can tell that choir boy everything."

"If I were being purely selfish, yes," Anodyne said with an honest smile. "But there's more to it than that." He nodded out the window. "I don't know if you noticed but the refugees from Hornton had an extra horn."

Finn had been too focused on being confronted for his actions that he didn't really pay that much attention to how Kevin or Carver looked.

"When they changed, they didn't just go back to being Builders or Wreckers. They become something more." Anodyne tapped his nose. "The same thing happens with us. If and when we turn back into a human, our appearances change. We become superhuman, if you want to call it that. Call me crazy but the fact that this happens to the rhinos as well makes me believe that Arcadia was built for more than just to preserve the human race."

Intrigued, Finn inclined his head to the side. "What do you mean?"

"Think about it. The rhinos start to change when they step here into Arcadia. As far as we know, there is no way to pass from one sector to another without_coming through Arcadia. What if Arcadia, what if _humanity, is like a stepping stone to the next stage of evolution for all these species? What if it's our role to guide these poor souls to the right path?" Anodyne waved a hand around the hut. "We have all this knowledge. We have all the access. And yet we hoard it to ourselves and even steal from others to keep ourselves fed and strong while the other species languish in their perpetual hells not knowing any better. Given that knowledge, who are the true beasts?

The argument surprised Finn. He had formed an opinion of Anodyne that the older Collector was rather conservative. But this speech... it was compelling and made sense. "Aren't you risking a lot on this? On me?"

"My loyalty is to logic and reason," Anodyne answered. "There are always risks in everything we do but when the gain outweigh the risks and there is more harm done in not taking the risks... Well, logically speaking, we take hold our breaths, brace ourselves and take the plunge. That is why..." He got up and offered his hand towards Finn. "Skip is going to 'volunteer' to watch the Gate for you tonight. He'll get back to me on the exact time but you can use that to slip into Camp Draco and meet with the Commander. I'll run interference for you."

Finn glanced up at the big rhino, first shocked... but then relieved that he still had allies. He took Anodyne's hand and let himself get hauled to his feet.

"Thank you."

******

349:10:27:16:41:54

Camp Draco's one and only chef was quietly preparing for the evening meal when he suddenly set the spatula he had in one hand down. A knowing smile crossed his features as he closed his eyes and breathed in the scent that had suddenly entered his kitchen. It was the scent of another Angelus.

"You know, I was wondering if you'd ever reveal yourself to me."

"I've always been preoccupied with my job keeping Arcadia stable," answered Skip. "I suppose you don't need my ID and serial number, do you?"

Mower picked up his spatula and spun it in his hand absently. "No need. I've known you were the Arcadian Angelus the first time you were thrown in her to help peel potatoes for insubordination." He eyed the green scaled dragon with a smile. "To what do I owe this honour?"

Skip's features were grave. "One of our members actually discovered the location of the NexArm lab here. Did you know where it was?"

That was a surprise. "No. I've been searching for it all these years but I never could find it. Where is it?"

"Right beneath this base apparently. The Commander apparently knows where it is."

"Project Cavedog?" Mower said. "I suppose he would've had to come out of the lab but he still remembers where it is? Interesting..." He rubbed his chin absently with one hand while the others picked up various kitchen utensils and twirled them absently. He began using his three free hands to juggle them around. "I don't suppose you have an exact location, do you?"

"Sadly, no." Skip shook his head. "That guy I told you about is going to meet the Commander shortly. I'm going to make his passage as smooth as possible but if we're going to find the lab and the Beacon for Camp Draco, we need to make sure this meeting goes without a hitch."

Mower nodded. "Agreed. I can get the guards at the gates drunk enough that they won't notice another soldier passing through the gates late at night. I don't think it'd be wise to procure a vehicle though. Too noisy."

"Agreed." Skip straightened and turned towards the door. "Do what you can. I'll be sending Renegade in through the Gate in about an hour." He reached the door but stopped just short of opening it. "And word of warning, the rhinos of Hornton have found the opened Gate from Hornton. They're making scouting trips into the forest and will be setting up a base shortly. You guys may need to finally put all your training to good use."

Snorting loudly, Mower stopped his juggling and set down the utensils expertly. "We'll be ready. It's what we've been trained for. Why do you think Camp Draco was set to open right after Hornton?"

******

349:10:27:18:40:05

The sun had long set and most of Camp Draco had fallen asleep. A few guards patrolled the grounds and some watchtowers were up but their attention was geared towards the area outside the fence. Most of them didn't notice Finn's dark form slipping between the buildings of the camp and heading straight towards the Commander's cabin. His black scales really helped with keeping him camouflaged.

He reached Cody's cabin with ease and he quietly knocked on the door. His heart was racing, faster than it had ever raced before. Perhaps it was the constant presence of armed, fire breathing dragons around him or the fact that he was mostly alone in this venture but he was both scared and excited at the same time.

It was time to push Arcadia towards peace.

The door opened and the scent of roses wafted through to his nostrils. Standing before him... was Cody in a velvety, crimson bathrobe and a broad smile on his lips.

"Finn," Cody cooed. "Come in."

Finn looked past the Commander. Candles had been lit and decorated the entire cabin. Cody had pushed his desk to the centre of the room where two seats had been set like a dining table. Two silver cloches sat on the table, roses sitting in a vase between them. A bottle of wine sat between two long candlesticks while a trail of rose petals led from the doorframe, to the dining table and finally into the room beyond the office.

His mind froze up and he had no control over his body.

Almost robotically, he stepped into the cabin, awestruck at the beauty, scent and romantic atmosphere that now embraced him like a warm hug. Cody slipped in behind him, his big hands gently caressing Finn's shoulders.

"Why don't you slip into something more comfortable?"

Finn knocked himself out of his revere. He couldn't believe it but his heart was racing for an entirely different reason. Everything around him was just so... breathtaking and beautiful. He knew it was for him and it just started a spark inside his chest that he never felt before. It hurt because he knew it was something he was missing with his relationship with Marv _and_he was still hiding his role as a Collector.

"Um... Cody, wait..." he began.

Cody wrapped his arms around his waist and gently nuzzled his neck. "Sssssh... I know. I know I said we'd check out your crate but... Well, I just wanted to night for you and me." His nuzzling stopped and now he was just leaning against Finn tenderly. "You gave me purpose again, Finn. You were the light in the darkness of monotony and routine. I lived the same day over and over again until you came into my life. I don't know what I'm feeling but you make me feel special. And I want you to know that you're special to me too."

Cody suddenly pulled away and stepped in front of Finn, holding up his hands. "Now I know what this looks like." A soft blush touched his cheeks, somehow shining through his azure scales to give it a purplish hue. "I guess I crammed my day full of romance novels and this disaster is sort of what came out of it..." He let out a nervous laugh as he gestured at the cabin. "If it's not to your liking and you'd rather we go out and fire some guns or drink some beer on the roof or hell, if you'd just rather go out and check out your crate -"

Finn hand up a hand, pressing it against Cody's lips. "I love it."

And he honestly did...

... but he couldn't proceed. Something was nagging at him, there was a burden weighing down his heart. If he didn't let go of that weight, whatever came next would become meaningless.

"But there's something I've got to tell you first."

Cody wrapped his hands around Finn's. "What is it?"

"It's... about me..."

******

Director's Report

The Dragon Brigade

******

When one looks at the shape that the people of Camp Draco took at first glance, one has to wonder what insanity could've possibly taken the Haze to change the militaristic hotheads within the camp and give them the ability to breathe fire especially since they are situated in the middle of a dense forest. Were the camp's individuals less disciplined or even one stray fireball and suddenly, the entire camp would be surrounded in a ring of flames that would spread for miles and with no clear way of stopping the firestorm. Then again, perhaps that was the whole point of Camp Draco and the transformations that Haze brought. The inhabitants must control their bestial urges lest they put themselves in jeopardy. They must overcome their superficial racial differences such as scale colour, number of horns, size of their wings or number of genitals to work as a community or they would all die.

Going back, reports of the initial transformations of Camp Draco were actually delayed in comparison to the rest of the world. We have readings that the Haze dropped onto Camp Draco at about the same time as the other locations but didn't activate until refugees from other areas started filtering into the Camp between six months to a year into the Apocalypse. By this time, most other sectors were already overrun and the last few pockets of humanity were lured to Camp Draco thanks to military patrols and broadcasts of a 'safe zone'.

A clear intelligence was shown in the Haze as it chose to activate its transformation once all survivors had been drawn into the Camp within miles and once everyone within its confines had been thoroughly infected. Needless to say, the transformation was simultaneous for all people involved. The men became the first generation of officers. Even those that were not of military background were instantly 'promoted' in the sense of these magnificent creatures. Male children obtained the bodies of twenty-one year olds and transformed into the first recruits.

Women and female children suffered a... unique fate. In other regions, women and girls underwent their own unique transformations generally leading to their elimination as a gender. Some areas, it was subtle. Pride City had all forms of female clothing and identity wiped out. No more high heels, skirts or any form of underwear. Females were forced to wear male clothing. As their identity became warped into that of a male, their bodies shortly followed. In Barkingham, females were thrown into 'correctional facilities' and emerges as males. In Hornton, females caught by Wreckers were viciously raped and transformed into male Wreckers. Those who did not fall prey were lured subconsciously by the Haze into Builder settlements where they engaged in passionate lovemaking with the Builder. After a few times, the females experienced such a powerful orgasm that they literally exploded with semen, their entire forms transforming into seminal fluids.

In Camp Draco, females were ritualistically ejaculated upon by the men until the seed that encased them began to harden and reshape into a vague, egg shape. They emerged weeks later as new recruits, male of course.

This unique transformation clearly shows the Haze's favouritism towards the male gender. While I personally would not complain, it still brings into question how the Haze intends to keep the population of its Beasts stable. They are granted some degree of immortality and the brainwashing that befalls them keeps their society in a sort of suspended state but even the hardiest of Beast will eventually die be it by accident or intention. This mortality rate is felt the greatest in Orcum County, the Badlands and Bucking Cove. Accidents happen and numbers do dwindle slowly.

But I suppose for the Dragon Brigade of Camp Draco, as the inhabitants have come to know themselves, is removed from this fact. They are constantly preparing for some battle. Constantly training and honing their skills. Curiously, their skill level seems to be tied to their rank within this pseudo-military forming a sort of... conundrum. You cannot rise in rank unless you are skilled enough but you cannot be skilled enough until you are promoted. Further, due to the highly competitive nature of these promotions, the dragons constantly vie for the few positions open and sometimes even go to great lengths to sabotage one another's efforts.

Is this the Haze's attempt to supress growth? Once a dragon becomes skilled, they are promoted and a new bar is set for them to achieve their goal. But then they become the target of scorn from others who want to bring him down so that they too may rise. Long term surveillance reveals that the numbers of military officers to recruits always remains consistent no matter what.

In order to break the Haze's hold on these people, we must disrupt this orderly pattern, this 'by-the-numbers' series of promotions that does not really reward merit or skill but availability.

We have two options in this case.

The Dragon Brigade is constantly preparing for a battle. What better place to prove one's skill and mettle than in a battle?

Or, the dragons base their promotion system on numbers. What if we compel them to base it on something else?

Say... love?