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Abzu rises from its — no, rather, I emerge from my cocoon no differently then any of my other organisms. The thin membrane ruptures, spilling the liquid within — mostly saline water — to be re-absorbed by the ever present Creep. I unfold myself from the fetal position, rising to my feet, pieces of torn and rapidly degrading cocoon sloughing off of my blue skin.

Spoiler: AbzuI step out of the cocoons remnants and stretch my new body. Legs, arms… two pairs of strong manipulator tentacles unfold from my back and spread behind me in crude approximation of wings, joined by the slightly thinner pair of sensory tentacles.

I pose, and examine myself. The skin is similar in color to the armor of my organisms armor, though much softer, this is not meant to be a combat organism after all. Well… not in this for anyways. Dundee's power is still buried within the body, but I will need to send it into another evolution process to actually set it as anything else then the basic worm.

My eyes rise from examining myself and look down at Emily. She's… I've seen her from all different points of view before. From a Ratlings eyes, she's a towering giant. Even to the Zerglings, she's nearly twice their height. Mutalisks are bigger, but everyone looks like dolls from their lofty heights, whether airborne or perching on the heights of broken buildings. Only the Roaches and Face are frequently around her and roughly the same size, with the first meeting her perfectly eye to eye, with the other being just over a head taller then her.

Then there's of course my real body, my overmind form, to which she is increasingly tiny as it grows, but I find that hardly counts when I can't see from its perspective, only touch and taste.

Now, looking through Abzu's eyes, I have to look down at the preteen girl, the top of her head only barely reaching the lowest of my ribs. She looks up at me, her pretty blue eyes wide open, her pink lips parted, a pink blush growing across her cheeks as I stand before her completely nude.

I sway my tentacles gently in an unfelt breeze, and pulse bioluminescence patterns in sync to my heartbeat. "So? What do you think, a suitable form for my role as Abzu, biotinker and ruler of Canberra?"

"Mhmm." She nods and hums in agreement. Her eyes trace the movement of my tentacles with a light blush. Has our contact in my Overmind body given the girl a fetish? Then her eyes trace down across my pure white chest and abs, the heat of her blush — color and temperature both — rising as her eyes drop until her eyes lock on to my crotch.

"Umm.. Alexei…? Why are you… uh… there's nothing there?" Her blush kicks up a notch, likely from her own words then anything she's seeing. Or not seeing. I glance down my body, true to her words, there's a definite bulge there, but nothing else.

I can't help but grin at her surprise — and I think I detect a hint of… yep, that's definitely disappointment in her smell. "Hmm… hard to represent myself and to the public if I have a giant dick just… swinging around in front of everyone." Though the idea of doing exactly that with any government representatives is certainly tempting, despite indubitably being less then helpful. "Clothes would ruin the aesthetic."

"B-but… um… uh…" Her eyes skip back to my tentacles. "I…" Red spreads further across her face, and down into her shirt.

Ah its so cute, I have no idea how she manages to balance being intimate with my Overmind body, and still so embarrassed to actually say the words. It's a fair complaint though, we have held off on any penetration so far, on her — extremely shy — request to have her first 'real' time be with a humanoid form.

I don't respond verbally. I flex a muscle I've never had before, and instantly feel the effect as blood vessels in the concealed shaft are pressurized, pushing my purple dick out of the concealed fold, and quickly rising to full size. Because erection on demand is so much more efficient then the natural system.

It's not... grotesquely over sized, in fact the proportions are quite reasonable, modest even… for my slightly over two meter tall body. A king does have to look down on his subjects after all, and Emily did request that Abzu be tall.

Regardless, considering her own still growing size, it must look like quite an intimidating monster cock.

"Eeep!" Emily lets out a squeak, and her hands rise — seemingly of their own will — to cover her mouth. She doesn't cover her bright blue eyes though, those remain quite firmly locked on the sight before her. "Oh…" She breathes out after a moment. She tries to be subtle about the way she rubs her thighs together, but I can smell the sweetness of her arousal anyways. That, and a healthy amount of nervousness and fear. Which… fair. If I were to shove it into her at full size, there'd probably be damage. Fortunately I'm not constrained by the simple binary choice of erection or no-erection.

I step forward, and one of my tentacles wraps around Emily's waist, lifting her off the ground and depositing her in my speckled blue arms. "Relax Emily, we'll take it slow as usual when the time comes, alright? There's stuff I need to take care of first. I wasn't expecting to go comatose after poking Howitzers source of power like that."

Tentacles have certainly grown on me over the past few weeks, but there is really nothing quite like holding a pretty girl in your bare arms. She's warm and soft against my skin, and wearing entirely too much clothes in my opinion.

Unfortunately I don't have the leisure of time to really try the body out in the way I — and by the way she's running her hands over Abzu's form, Emily too — really want, because there is still a situation ongoing down at the antarctic hive, and then I have to go to Hewsons meeting of the Enclaves. Oh, and my North American Mutalisk is hiding in a cloud over Boston till I have time to pay attention to it.

At least I don't have to worry about the South American hive, it's doing perfectly fine, minor territory dispute with a tribe of new world monkeys barely required my attention. Teeth and claws simply cannot compete with Zergling carapace, and even the Ratlings proved more then combat capable against the angry but small locals.

Of the eight dogs, three don't even stir when my Ratlings drag couple of frozen fish and half a penguin towards them. The windblown snow is already starting to settle on their cooling bodies, as it's collecting on the sled and it's occupants. The remaining five, including the leader cautiously approach and then dig in with the ferocity of… well, starving dogs. Any attempt to check on the sled still receives a growled warning from the leader. That's fine. I have little interest in frozen human corpses.

My Mutalisk has flown back along the winding tracks of the sled, and when those were lost in the snow, in the general direction, until eventually I see thin pillars of smoke getting blown around by the steady biting wind.

What I find is a small community on a large island well to the south, connected to the mainland by unstable looking sheets of ice. It's got all the trappings of civilization, from a small pier jutting out into the ice-laden waters, to an airstrip complete with two planes disassembled for repairs, and a small helicopter.

Not a lot of people about, a small party of what seem to be fisherman out by the shore, pulling in nets with stiff fingers. I don't envy them, I've been there, and I can only imagine how much worse doing the job in damned Antarctica must be.

It takes me an embarrassingly long moment to notice that a man holding a sharp pike-like implement standing not far from them is watching the fisherman, not — as I had initially assumed — on the lookout for other dangers. Is there even anything that would attack humans here? Sure my organisms have had to deal with hostile wildlife while hunting, but that was more often then not a case of self defense. For the wildlife, that is.

In fact, now that I am looking for it, I spot a few more armed men patrolling the small community, the few other people hurrying around keep their heads low. Hmm, all men too, not a women to be seen so far. Granted, with how bundled up everyone is, I might have missed some. I'm starting to have a bad feeling that life in the community has not been pleasant for the locals, and not just because of the extreme environment.

With Leviathan, there would be no ships so… I double check my Mutalisks optical camouflage is properly reflecting the blue sky and swirling snow, and gently bring it closer to the airfield.

Two planes, but not being repaired. Rather, the one looks like it made a forced landing after a large shard of ice embedded itself in the right engine, and another shredded the left wing. The second has frozen blood stains around the open door, and what I can see of the inside shows somebody smashed the cockpit controls.

So… destroyed and violently disabled planes, armed guards, the population fearful of notice… Some asshole decided to make the place into his own personal fief didn't he? Or she, but the lack of any women to be seen makes me think that's not the case. Probably a cape too, because everything seems to come back to heroes and villains on Earth Bet.

Not my problem at the moment, I've got enough going on elsewhere, and this little community will keep on ice for now. Either they have not noticed two of there own are missing, or they have given them up for dead. Not unreasonably, and not inaccurate either.

I recall the Mutalisk, and check on the dogs. I don't know if they are going to make it, even fed, they are week, exhausted, suffering. A mercy killing might be a kindness, especially with their master dead. On the other hand… This continent is a rather perfect testing ground.

Parliament House on Capital Hill where the meeting is to be held is looking… eh about the same. Some repairs here and there, but there's only so much material and skilled labor available, not to mention building a brand new wall or setting a new window frame is just not high on anyones list of priorities.

Hewson meets me outside, a bunch of the Watson Enclave by his side, including Marcus, Benjamin, and Sienna. I give them a nod of greeting, before I remember that Abzu shouldn't have met them yet. Well it should just come off as a nod of respect to the armed men.

"John Hewson," I greet the enclave leader. "I am Abzu." I extend a hand down to him. I think he's a bit taken aback when I speak, and hesitates for a moment before shaking my hand. I think it's the clawed fingertips… or maybe the webbing between my digits?

"Ah, Mister Abzu, nice to meet you in person, you're a lot less… er…"

"Human? Yes, I've noticed that. The blue skin and standing ahead taller then most people gives it away." I try to smile, but I think I might have shown a bit too much of my teeth, because he takes a — admittedly — short and aborted step backwards. I make a note to smile less until people are more used to me. Or when I want to unnerve them. "Sorry, sorry, I've heard the term… Case fifty-something?"

He looks blank, but Benjamin speaks up. "Oh, I've heard of that, I think that's one of the PRT classifications over in the states, right?"

Does Australia, or the rest of the world use different classifications? I'm pretty sure the Stanger, Master, Blaster, and so on categories are used, Emily mentioned them at one point. "I suppose?" I shrug in response. "You would be…"

"Oh of course," Hewson has regained his initiative. "Allow me to introduce Benjamin, Sienna, and Marcus." He gestures to each on in turn. "They were involved with you forces in the attack on the Independent Nation of Canberra."

I nod, and offer a hand in greeting to each one. "Yes, the names are familiar to me, Face was quite pleased with your co-operation during that fight. Especially yourself, Benjamin. That was quick thinking with the Master, I'm impressed."

The man shrugs. "It's unfortunately not the first time I've been in a similar situation. Sure, it only was the one other case, but it's still surprising that it's happened twice."

I almost give him a grin, before quickly converting to an affirmative nod. "Some day I'll have to ask about your life story. You wouldn't be interested in switching over to working for me instead, would you? I offer excellent medical and possibly a Brute power equivalent."

"Oy, no poaching my men!" Hewson grunts, but he seems amused rather then actually annoyed.

Benjamin chuckles. "Nah, I've done the henching thing enough already. I think settling down and working for and with my fellow normals sounds good."

I make the same offer to Marcus and Sienna, but they both choose to remain with Hewson for now. Shame, I'm starting to see the benefit of Cerebrates. And Kerrigan. Mmm… Emily as the Queen of Blades…? Hot. Er minus the spiky hair, I like her hair the way it is.

"Abzu, may I introduce you to my fellow enclave leaders, mostly by popular choice of their followers." We've set up in one of the speaking halls in Parliament. There's myself, Hewson, three representatives of the major Enclaves, and about two dozen others, representing mostly smaller individual groups that have been popping up from the ruins now that the raiders aren't hunting for them. I'm impressed that Hewson managed to get the word out to so many, even if that has it's own consequences.

They each introduce themselves, a bunch of names that… I try to remember who each one is. Lucas Morrison is a short, muscular man with distinct aboriginal features. Mark Reed is rather aptly named, he's tall and stick thin. He has a sour scent of disease about him. Nicole Wells is unassuming and mousy. Father Evans — who apparently leads a small collection of his flock out of the St. Brigid's Catholic Church — is old and doesn't like me. I blame the blue skin and obvious non-human look. What is the stance of the Vatican on capes, especially changers or Case fifty-three's, I wonder? It could be my nudity too though, even if there's nothing taboo visible, people can be weird about stuff like that.

Morrison seems an alright sort, but I'm not sure how well his people will do. He seems to have an aversion to technology, from what I've seen of the Hackett Enclave and his escorts. Or on second thought, they might do pretty well. Hmm I could probably design some pretty awesome mounts for them to replace vehicles… ah but I don't want to be in control of a nunch of beasts of burden all the time. Maybe independent creatures? I haven't got horse Essence yet, but maybe…

I force myself back into the present and focusing on Abzu. I can tinker… at some point. When I have time. Right now I don't. I like and I mostly trust Hewson at this point, but even with his best efforts there's no way one of the invited attendees hasn't already sold out for dubious rewards from the official government. Even if by some miracle nobody did, I have to expect the information leaked one way or another, considering Thinkers and Tinkers are a thing, and the ever-present danger of Strangers.

That's why most of the hallways and rooms surrounding this one are packed tight with combat organisms smuggled in through underground tunnels. I'm not going to lose this body before I can properly use it!

Might as wells tart then. "Greetings, I'm glad those of you that are here could make it. As Leader Hewson has said, I'm Abzu, the creator and leader of the forces that wiped out the raiders, and expanding through the ruins."

"What is your intent, demon?" Well gee, the Father doesn't feel any need to hold back, does he. I blink a couple times — doing so sideways with translucent lids probably doesn't help his thoughts on me.

"Well… I'm taking the city of course, it's mine by conquest." I look to the other attendants, they seem to be letting the Father have his say first. "There is however a place for you within my city. In fact, I have and will continue to be a force benign to it and it's people. With my rise, I wiped out the raiders that were intent on subjugating you all."

There's a few nods, hard to argue with the fact we are sitting in what was once the raiders base. Other's seem to be on the fence, or more in favor of the Fathers stance, even if less vocal. "Just so you can replace them. You want to rule over these ruins and enslave us no less then the raiders!"

"I… really don't? Humans are smart and clever, but week, prone to flights of irrationality," I wave in his direction at that, "and hard to replace with speed. My own organisms are strong, obedient, and can be replaced in days at worst."

"Yes, I think we've all seen them, the hoards of them. Every basement and tunnel seems to have more of them asleep, waiting. Are we to be but feed for you armies then? I will not allow my flock to be harvested as… cattle!"

Where the fuck is he coming up with… oh whatever. Why is this guy even here? Oh right, his flock is just barely smaller then the Lyneham or Watson Enclaves, and probably could be considered an Enclave of it's own. He had people nodding when he brought up the sheer number of my organisms hibernating thorough the city, even if he exaggerated a bit. Less so when he proposed humans being cattle… but the room does smell of fear, it seems to be something that has occurred to people as a possible end result too.

"No, I have no reason to… I just said humans are slow and difficult to replace, they'd make horrible cattle! I get more then enough from the soil and sunlight! Or the damned kangaroos that seem to be maintaining a healthy population no matter how many I hunt!" My tentacles wave in the air and glow brighter as I let my frustration build.

"Ahem…" Reed coughs to get attention and speaks up in his thin voice. "Let's not throw around… accusation quite yet, hmm? We are… all in quarantine together, there's no… need to tear into each other like… hounds after a scrap of hide. Not… without reason."

I shoot the ill man a smile — lips closed. "Thank you Morison."

The Father is less pleased, but he steps down, though begrudgingly.

"To assure everyone, no I have no intention using you or your people as feedstock. My organisms are perfectly capable of sustaining their own ecosystem. More even, some of the pods growing on my creations are edible by humans." I present six different fleshy bulbs to them. "Each are edible, and some are quite tasty."

I notice Morrison nodding his head at my words. "You're already aware?"

"Saw the 'roos eating some, figured it was worth a try. Came here to ask permission to harvest them, we're getting tired of canned food and 'roo meat." That gets a good amount of support from everyone. Of course supplying food is the way to go, should have just started there. Well, everyone except Father Evans, he's apparently unmoved.

"Granted, while I had originally created them for other purposes," no need to bring up Emily right now, "as long as they are harvested in reasonable numbers, I have no issue with you doing so. Ah, the blue ones are filled with clean water too, since Hewson has mentioned that's becoming an issue?"

Nods all around.

"Excellent. Now, on to the future, and the outside world. I've heard a government cape by the name of… Transit, was nosing around the Enclaves? I'm confident that I can match whatever offers he's making on his bosses behalf, and unlike them I intend to deliver."

"We have been offered communications to our families outside, and priority when the process to clear people for leaving containment begins." Wells speaks for the first time since introducing herself. "I could talk to my children…"

Hewson scoffs. "Will still grow up with their mother being just a voice on the phone at best, a line of text on a screen more likely. And everything you say checked, analyzed, and possibly censored, so not even real time. As for priority… I doubt they'll ever get around to that. They'll finish the dome and that will be that. Just our bones in the dark, forgotten."

He's not wrong, but no need to be so grim. "Fortunately my forces have already put a stop to the dome construction. We won't be losing sunlight any time soon."

"They'll find… a solution eventually." Reed says. "Tinker something up, build… the dome elsewhere, or who… knows. Shunt us all… into another world… maybe."

I grin, and this time I do show my sharp teeth. "If they have time. They don't. Wells, I can't offer you communication with your children. But I can guarantee the quarantine will not hold. Trust in me, and I will make sure you can hug your children again. You've all seen the number of my organisms in hibernation around the city. I have not been mass producing them out of boredom! Very soon, my forces will wash over the perimeter like an unending wave of carapace and claw!"

Silence… ah perhaps I got a bit too into it. Father Evans is the first to speak. "You intend war, to conquer our Nation? Can you not see, if he offers us safety, it's only so he can bide his time till the entirety of Australia is under his sway! Then we'll all be consumed by his forces, your children included Nicole!"

I really want to kill this man. Maybe nobody will notice if I accidentally strangle him? I focus onto a Zergling in South America and tear into a jaguar, blood and flesh flying as my scythes rend into it, it's yowls of pain lost in the dense jungle, before suddenly going quite. I refocus back on Abzu.

"Father Evans… with all due respect… shut up already with your bullshit. From creep, through it's larger growths, and my organisms, I command the entire ecosystem! I have no need to harvest innocent humans, and quite the opposite I can easily provide for them in ways that no industrial farm can! I can create the very garden of Eden you have lost!"

"And man was banished from the garden by God, you are not He, no matter how many you might deceive! Only God has the right to command as you claim to!"

I open my mouth to reply, when there's a bright flash of light, and suddenly there's a dozen capes in the room with us. Simultaneously, I become aware of fights breaking out all along the quarantine zone perimeter, as more capes cross the line and attack my forces.

Looks like the powers that rule outside have decided to make their move. I recognize three of those in the room, the survivors from the previous incursion. The Tinker Quantum is already leveling her fancy pistol at me, even as I backpedal away from her and her team. I feel a sting on my shoulder as her shot tags me, just before the wall behind my collapses and my organisms wash forward, obscuring me from the heroes sight.

I hastily withdraw through the cover of my forces, I have no desire to let that insane doctor play poke and cut at Abzu.

The other walls of the room give way, as more of my forces pour into the room, intent on killing the heroes. Saving the Enclave leaders too, I suppose.

The battle of Parliament — I guess the second battle of Parliament, now? — is short and brutal. The heroes were expecting to ambush a diplomatic event, not to be themselves ambushed when they popped in. My organisms swarm them faster and in greater number then their Brutes and other defensive capes can handle. The sandstorm cape — Darude I think it was, — has a storm of sand swirling about him, and grinding away at my organisms, but his allies pressing in around him create weak-points in the storm. Another cape drags an organism to the ground with a localized spot of gravity, but clears the air of Darude's sand for a moment, which other organisms use to close into melee. Three of the invaders die to scythe claws before the Zerglings are dealt with.

Casualties are not entirely one sided, blasts of various types rend my Zerglings, as does the driving force of the sand, and the place is too enclosed for Roaches to reinforce. THe bodies are not merely my organisms or Heroes either, Wells takes an errant blast of electricity to the head, killing her instantly, and I spot a few of the independent representatives collapsed under the feet of the combating forces.

Father Evans unfortunately is not among them, he's as safe as possible in the midst of the hero formation.

Hmm… Quantum is doing her thing and sending more of my organisms away too.

My Scoruge Crawler, up till now burried in a pile fo rubble outside — in case of aerial or drone assault — uncurls and surges towards the walls of parliament. It's… not a fast movement, but fortunately this one was pretty close to begin with. Like a battering ram, it slams into the walls and carries through, brushing concrete and brick aside like so much gravel. Once inside, it twists towards the stairwell, once again smashing through the fire door without difficulty. Its long, centipede like body has no problem controting through the narrow area up to the second floor. The door there opens just as I reach it, and a very surprised Morrison leaps over the Scourge Crawlers head, only to slide down it's back and out down below. Huh.

When my Scourge Crawler pokes it's large, armored head into the remains of the chamber where the fight is taking place, it's size and appearance instantly draw the heroes attention.

"Look at that one, it's got to be important!" One of the new heroes shouts out.

"Quantum, can you tag it?"

"Easy! Shouldn't we be focused on withdrawing though? Taking out the Tinker failed already!" Her pistol releases the usual bolt, impacting the Scourge Crawler on it's face.

"Twenty seconds before I can pull us out of here Quantum! That's what time you've got!" A man that I assume must be Transit, by the descriptions I've heard, calls out. "We can't wait a moment longer, don't miss the ride, it's a long walk!"

"Fleetfoot, you know what to do!" Quantum tosses her sword, the blade dyed purple with my organisms blood to another cape. He grabs it and literally parkours over my attacking organisms, using the sword to parry any that leap at him and deflect them back to the ground — or capture the ones that had already been marked by Quantums pistol.

I give him token resistance, I don't want him to decide it's too risky and give up after all. Soon enough, he lands on a Zergling with both feet, driving it down to the ground in front off the Scourge Crawler. The sword comes down, and with a flash, the Scourge Crawler is gone.

Fleetfoot has no chance to celebrate his success, or return to the other heroes however, as the Zergling he landed on twists under him and sinks it's jaws into his leg, the snap and crunch of bone unheard amongst the sounds of combat. He tries to free himself from the Zerglings jaw by kicking it in the face with his other leg, but it holds tight and a moment later another Zergling grabs onto his arm. Scythe claws swing, and Fleetfoots screams go silent forever.

The heroes disappear in a flash, removed from danger by Transit, leaving half their number behind as mauled and torn corpses.

Doctor Aldridge stumbles when the room shakes, throwing his latest subject off the operating table and onto the ground. Well never mind that, he had finished with it anyways, and it was about to expire from its injuries even with the impressive recovery demonstrated.

He leaves it for somebody else to clean up, and storms out of the lab, shouting angrily. "What the hells was that? Heads are going to roll if some idiot…" His rant dies on his lips as he beholds the large — new — organism crawling out of the shattered remnants of a containment cell. It's not the only one though. Other cylinders are cracked open, and the samples are battering their way out of them. His eyes trail up to the ceiling, where the system designed to deliver tinker-made suppression agents is spewing fire in all directions, minor secondary explosions going off as small flying creatures target the connections to other, yet secured containment cells.

Of course some brain dead tinker would forget to mention that their purpose-designed mixture of knock-out agents is highly flammable and explosive! Aldridge sighs and turns towards the elevators just as one of the scythe wielding specimens leaps at him. His arm comes up, and a matching scythe pulls out of his own fore-arm, parrying the strike. His other arm deploys it's own scythe, and rips into the specimens armor.

He wastes no time finishing it off, and hurries to the elevator. His scythes fold back into his arms, but he frowns at the messy hole left behind. Something to work on but for now… He pauses by a decapitated corpse — some lesser doctor who's name he never bothered to remember — and grabs it's fore-arms. With a twist, the skin, tendons, and muscle comes off in one interconnected piece that he places into the gaping wound. By the time he reaches the elevator and steps inside, the new skin has seamlessly melded in, leaving no sign of injury.

Doctor Aldridge flexes his fingers, testing everything is hooked up right, and presses the button for the ground floor.