Chapter Eleven: interaction.

(excited) "are we... is this...?"

"yep! this is the chapter where we actually interact!"

"yes, (BLEEP) yes!!"

-Alpha.

-Beta.

-Alpha.

-present day-

"i think i might've seen your successor." ian told Beta.
the wolf nodded "good, i've been looking ever since i found out i got reincarnated."
"how did you find out?" lightningblazer asked
"only one person could come up with the cypher gridnet, someone with my energy-signature-locked Data box. something only my energy can unlock, and only Dyson has my Data box.
"yeah, gridnet was developed by a child prodigy, Dyson's apprentice."
Beta growled "if not in one life, it's the next. i'm sick of being used by that (BLEEP) white haired, goddamn (BLEEP) son of a mother (BLEEP) evil little--"
"language!" lightningblazer interjected hurriedly.
"yes..." Beta grumbled "very, very strong language, starting with a 'C', and has four letters..." the wolf made it clear which word he meant, and angrilly punched himself in the thigh in an attempt to lose some of his rage from being dyson's tool.
lightningblazer put some distance between himself and the wolf.
"stop that. i'm beyond a mortally possble level of fury with Dyson, not you."
Ian chuckled "you sound like you need a vacation. try Mophics beach, entire beach set aside for earth morphics like you two."
Beta frowned "i'm not a morphic..."
"maybe," ian smirked "but nobody else knows that."
Beta groaned "fine... i guess it couldn't hurt."
lightningblazer raised his arm "they allow flying at this beach?"
"yes they d-"
"done! we're going tomorrow."
Beta rolled his eyes "crazy horse."

---

zenef sat on top of a skyscraper, while 999's specter appeared to be reading a book, a weird, ghostly book.
"how does that even work?"
'you mean reading?' the etherial wolf joked 'simple, look at words and understand their meaning'
"no! how are you reading?! you're a ghost!"
'ha, also simple,' he smirked 'it is a ghost book'
"troll. what's it about?"
'oddly enough, it seems to be about me.' he said confusedly 'something about a public holiday'
"oh, the festival of the wolf. it's a festival honoring the wolf who sacrificed himself to save two worlds... you- i mean... that was us?"
'yes, that it was. i died twice in that battle... may i ask something?'
"shoot."
'nine-ninety-nine was my serial number... but i would prefer a name, can you think of anything?'
"you're some kinda king, right?"
'i am an emperor.'
"well, that's a kind of leader... what's the wolf that leads the pack called?"
'that wolf is the Alpha male.'
"why not Alpha? it sounds cool, better than a number, right?"
'you realise it's a letter though, right?'
"who cares? i like it."
the spectral wolf chuckled 'i do, too. okay, from now on, i am Alpha.'
"okay Alpha, i need to sleep..." zenef yawned.
'sleep well.'

at the instance zenef fell asleep, Alpha regressed into his psyche, finding himself in the endless corridor in zenef's unconsiousness.
his own mind was a part of zenef's, and each of these doors lead to a different facet of the inner world of zenef's mind, and not all of the places beyond them were good things.
he found his red door, the part of the child's psyche that held his own consiousness.
but when he travelled through the door, he found not the facility like usual, but a dark room with two spotlights.
curious, Alpha stepped into one of them, and an older looking version of himself emerged in the other, however, this one lacked his vest and cape, and wore a dark cloak over his white clothing.
"what the? i'm pretty sure i look younger than that... but i do look mature..."
the other lupine chuckled "and i'm pretty sure i look more adult than that."
"who are you?"
"Beta, the DSBIWO of 999, now carrying his memories and mind from before the first death."
"i'm Alpha, 999's soul."
the two halves smirked at each other
"well, great minds think alike, esspecially when it's the exact same mind!"
Beta grinned "if you're the Alpha, and i'm the Beta, then the successor is the Omega."
"makes sense. i was the first, you're the second, he's the last."
"what is our name these days?"
"Zenef."
"odd name. sounds cool though."
"onto serious matters though, i only have access to half our abilities, specifically our spiritual powers, and i don't know why..."
"well, same here, i seem only to be able to use our physical powers... looks like our power is split between body and spirit."
"seems that way, Beta."
"also, it seems we aren't completely severed; how else could we be talking?"
"true." Alpha mused "must be due to us being the same person."
"logical." Beta nodded "hey, i'll be at Morphic beach tomorrow..."
"but we're not a morphic..."
"i know," he grinned "but no one else does."
Beta began to leave "and by the way, i'd prefer if our new self was smart."
Alpha left the room, and found zenef in his memories, trying to recall what his parents looked like.
"zenef."
the child turned "hm? oh, Alpha... what's up? why're you here?"
"i want to talk to you."
"we already talked, y'know, outside."
"no, i mean it in a different way," the wolf gestured for zenef to follow him "i need to show you something, too, i don't think you'll be dissapointed." he said with a smile.
zenef followed the wolf down miles and miles of corridor, before they came across a door covered in chains and locks, this confused zenef "what's this?"
Alpha slid open a slot on the door "look inside."
inside, zenef could see his canine form, bound and crucified with thick, heavy chains, but it's empty eyes were open, endlessly staring into space, and occasionally blinking.
"wow... what the...?" he asked in bewilderment "what is that?"
"it's you, the real you. the person you're meant to be."
"i don't understand..."
"okay, how about this; that guy in there is not 'Zenef', he's who you are supposed to be, and he has his own name, a name that gives him power, your true name, because he is your true self."
"so... he's my true name, is that right?"
the bound canine glanced depressively at them, and offered a weak nod.
"wow... what is my true name?"
"i don't know. that's why it's sealed up, you're supposed to learn it yourself, and when that happens, you become the real you... i think subjugating your shadow helps."
"i know these terms, i read a lot before mr. Dyson found me..."
"i know, remember, we're the same person."
Alpha's logic was very easy to understand, it was like he explained things exactly as they were.
"right... so, did you ever discover your true name?"
"no. but, each person has three names, i know my given name; the name i was given at birth, i have my taken names; 999 and Alpha, but i never discovered my true name, the word of power that identifies my true nature... i never learned it." the wolf answered depressively.
"oh..." zenef winced "sorry..."
"don't be," Alpha smiled "i conquered my shadow, at the time, that was enough for me."
the wolf turned and walked away "enjoy your dreaming, Zenef."

---

meanwhile, in an unknown location, somewhere deep in the strells...
sitting in his darkened loungeroom, Patrick khyber looked back through a photo album, stopping at an image framed by gold glitter.
the photograph showed Kevin, Oriado, Carl, officer Ronaldo, and benson crowded together around a cake, and in front of the cake stood Collin, Syrus, Himself, Lily, and a brown wolf, who looked a bit embarrased as he was hugged by the white wolf; collin, but nonetheless happy.
the image was captioned "Kevin's Eighteenth"
patrick sighed, the brown wolf in this picture, he had seen him as a close friend near the end of his life, having been partially responsible for his birth by bringing his father to Xlen and giving him Gliloutation, he felt a familial bond with him, but he was dead.
he recalled that collin had taken it the worst, having felt closest to the wolf out of all of them, collin had once told patrick that he saw the brown wolf like a brother... he'd been devastated when he learned that he had not survived the attack on Project Legion five years ago.
patrick himself harboured a bit of anger at the wolf, why hadn't he saved himself? all he'd have had to do would have been to slow time and jump into the portal, but he'd stayed, and died, along with all the others of the Legion of 1000 soldiers. but why he had, patrick had no idea.
a sound reached his canine ears, and he looked to the source, discovering a drowsy Malcom at his footpaws.
he smiled kindly "what's wrong Son, can't sleep?"
he shook his head groggily "no..." he yawned
"okay," patrick sighed "come on," he mumbled as he delicately picked up his son, putting him down in his lap "comfortable?"
"i guess..." malcom yawned, then looked up at the album, having just noticed it "oh... photo album..."
"yes, yes it is."
malcom looked over the huge pages, interested
"are these all from when you were younger?"
patrick snorted "of course, i'll always be older than i am in a photo, silly."
it was malcom's turn to laugh now "okay, i get it, but that's not what i meant, dad!"
partick gently rubbed a finger down his feline son's back "these are from five years ago, when i was 29."
malcom noticed the framed photo, keenly picking out the little black feline on the table "hey... is that..."
"hm?"
malcom pointed at it "is that you there? the little black cat, i mean."
patrick chuckled "yes, that's me."
"jeez... i knew you were part giant, part normal... but i didn't know you were part cat..." malcom said in surprise "i thought the morphing came from mother being a cat..."
patrick's ears folded "no... bethany, your mother, she was canine, the feline characteristics come from me."
his loving wife, Bethany Trilog, had been taken from him four years ago by sickness, leaving him to raise felicia and malcom on his own.
he missed her.
"dad? are you okay?"
patrick looked down to his son, who was looking back with a concerned expression.
"i... i'm fine... i just..."
malcom lay himself against his father's midsection "you miss mother, don't you?"
patrick bit back a sob "yes..."
he felt malcom attempt a hug "you don't have to talk about her... if you don't want to..."
patrick cupped his paw around his son, hugging him to his body gently "it's okay... and thank you... there are a lot of painful memories, but they're only painful because i loved her so much..." he said sadly, before giving a slight squeeze "she loved you, she loved you so much..."
a curiousity burned in malcom's eyes, but he seemed to be witholding his question.
patrick understood, and looked up as he spoke "she died giving birth to your sister, she was sick, and couldn't handle it, she died only a few minutes after seeing felicia... she was very sad, knowing that she'd never get to see you two grow up."
malcom squirmed beneath his paw, drawing patrick's attention back to his son
"am i holding you too tight?"
"no... just," the little feline mumbled "well, it scares me when you're sad..."
patrick sighed "malcom..." he cupped his paw, allowing malcom to sit down on his palm, then raised it to his eye level "thank you for your concern, and i'm sorry for scaring you." he said with a kind smile.
malcom gave him a forced smile, until he nosed at malcom's face, drawing a giggle from his son.
"cheer up, all is fine."
"okay!" malcom laughed while he struggled playfully against his father's muzzle "okay! you've made your point! stop it dad, stop it!"
patrick chuckled, and lifted his nose from his son "the bonus of being your father... i know where all the ticklish spots are!" he remarked with a wide, canine grin.
that won a smirk from his son "you're such a bully, dad."
"maybe," he replied with a hint of a taunt "but at least i care about you, right?"
malcom gestured him closer and hugged his muzzle "yeah... you're right..."
patrick lifted him from his face, and gently hugged him to his chest "that's what a family is for," he said softly "for both parent and child to take care of each other, and to care about one another."

---

bailey ran through a desolate street, following a trail of destruction and death, panicking.
"this can't be real, this can't be real!" he cried out in horror as each impression in the road further and further resembled a pawprint.
he looked up, seeing the towering, vermillion-furred behemoth cruelly swat at a skyscraper, and stomp on a building, laughing all the while.
"no! no! stop, please!!" bailey begged it once he reached it's massive paw, only to have it sneer distainfully down at him, and put it's middle finger up at him as it kicked away a whole block of houses.
"stop it! please stop this!!"
finally, it crouched and bellowed at him, its monstrous canine muzzle wide enough to swallow him whole in a single, horrific snap.
"you can't do this to us! what did we ever do to deserve this?!"
the red creature snarled, bellowed something incomprehensible, dangling a handpaw over his head.
bailey screamed as the massive paw descended...

Bailey woke with a start, sitting up and panting quickly.
Master? came Collin's concerned voice, as did a tentative lick to his cheek.
are you okay?
"just--" bailey struggled to speak as he hyperventilated "nightmare."
here, collin said as he snuggled up with him hold me, see if that helps.
he squeezed his pet wolf tightly, his prescence helping to calm him down.
collin whimpered that- that hurts...
bailey sobbed "i'm sorry..."
no, it's- ugh... it's okay... do what you- agh... need to...
bailey lessened his grip as much as he could "i'm sorry... i don't want to hurt you..."
please, it's fine... i'm here for you when you need me, Master, that's what a pet is for, to provide companionship and protect you, and i would say easily that you are my best friend, Master, i would do anything for you... within reason.
bailey chuckled "you can't say, 'cause you can't talk, col."
the white wolf licked at his face true, but i don't need to, not with you at least.
bailey pressed his face into the soft white fur on collin's back "you're the best, col."
no, that'd be you, Master.

"well..."

they turned their attention to the doorway, where the black-and-white wolf stood, leaning on the doorframe.
M-Master Oriado...
"dad?"
oriado strode into the room, and ruffled the fur on their heads "you're a natural at this."
well, i have been with him ever since he was born.
oriado snorted "true... okay, sleep well you two."
oriado once again walked out of the room, and bailey lay back to sleep.
i'll be right here beside you if you need me.
"thanks, col..."

---

the next day...

Radin's year level and the two lower ones stood outside, next to a bus, and the teacher was taking back permission slips for an excursion before each student boarded.
"okay, group eight: Radin Revino-Blenin, Felicia Khyber, and Malcom Khyber?"
radin raised his paw "over here, miss!"
she nodded "you'll group up with group nine: Ciril and Virlan Palmer, and Bailerich Ghast. now, onto the bus."
the group of friends boarded, sitting next to eachother and across from eachother.
Virlan poked out of Ciril's breast pocket, and Malcom did the same in radin's.
radin sat next to felicia, and Ciril sat next to Bailey.
"this is cool!" Ciril said excitedly "a field trip to the beach!"
Virlan sighed "it's just to the safety marker, we're not allowed on the actual beach."
Felicia nodded "only... um... what're they called? those people from earth that look like...?"
"Morphics" Malcom answered "genetically morphed people."
"yeah, them, only they're allowed on the beach."
the teacher from radin's class walked up to them "hey, would you mind if somebody joined your group?"
bailey looked at her, confused "why?"
"he enrolled this morning, and he never got introduced to the class, would you mind? i'm putting him in your group because i think he'd relate to radin, who's also new."
the snow leopard nodded "sure, who is he?"
she passed him the student, and they all looked at him in shock at who stood in radin's palm.
"i'm Zenef," the little canine in black with white streaked fur said politely "Zenef Fiest."

(Next Chapter: learning the Story of Bedlam's cove)