My Werepanther System: Starting with Nine Lives
Chapter 52 DUNE DEAL

Chapter 52: 52 DUNE DEAL

Chow was imported and infused steaks with a veggie grain mix that Rex almost gagged at the smell of.

If he didn’t burn what felt like two-thousand calories during Sgt.Atheno’s class, he probably would’ve.

Either way, he made it through dinner in one piece. Which made sense. He’d been through worse than a few teenage and adult eyes and foul smelling veggies.

During that time, he spoke with Tyson, Syrus, Imani and Victor about just about everything from sponsorships, new weapon releases from well known arms brands and other topics he was too much of a homeless orphan to understand.

By the time they finished up eating and he’d made it back to his barracks and in the shower, he was excited— or at least looking forward to, the idea of going to bed.

Then it hit him.

All while he was in the twisting steamy flows of the shower. Under the searing hot water that was massaging his muscles thoroughly and slowly sending him to a place of pure tranquility.

He shut his eyes. Hot streams ran over his head and down his sore chest and back. He didn’t even know his back could get sore from planks.

He didn’t have much time to consider the hilarity of it as his world shifted.

Within his minds eye, he could suddenly see a jungle habitat. Lush lands with vibrant colors. A waterfall rumbled and sent smells of ocean waves through the woodland. It flowed into a deep lake spotted with algal blooms that glowed purple and green. The colors and aquatic plantlife were stuck in a cascading tidal flow from the waterfall, creating a sort of contained multi-colored chaos that was somehow serene.

On top of the waterfall, seated at a bordering stone, was Hassan. His beige and sand colored robes were stained with blood and ash. But he remained neutral— focused, in the face as he stood up from his prayers position and dusted off his massive hands.

He looked like some hulking jungle spectre.

Then he saw more jungle beings behind the waterfall.

Men and women. Old and young and healed and broken. Children too. Among them, he saw—

"Who’s Syphen?" Victor asked from beside him in the showers.

Rex was quickly taken out of his daydreams, "What did you say?"

"Who is Syphen? You said that— like it was a name." Victor explained as he stood above the clouds of steam beside him with a head full of sudsy white dreads from all the shampoo he’d used on his hair.

"He’s..... my cat." Rex managed.

"Man, I swear you get a new cat every year. Maybe you should specialize and join the K-9 unit guys." Victor said.

"Those are big ass Lion-dogs." Rex said.

"They still like bowls of milk..... and balls of yarn. " Victor shrugged.

"Why do you know that?" Rex asked.

"I’ve got a couple relative breeds back home. Not Cerberus-Shephard. We’ve got one called a Jubatus-Hound and another called a Canis Tigris."

Rex made a face as the feline words familiarized themselves in his head, "Cheetah-hound and Tiger-dog. That sounds like a weird animal comic."

Victor laughed.

"How come you never told me?" Rex asked.

"I don’t know...." Victor turned around and leaned backward, letting the shower water wash the shampoo out of his dreads, "I try not to constantly talk about all the crazy stuff I’ve got or I’m around back home. I used to hate kids who were always talking about what they had and who gave it. You know?"

Rex knew better than anyone. Victor knew he knew.

Victor went on, "I remember back when I lived in a mining village in New-Senegambia, I had to hear what the village-head’s son got from every successful mining sale. It used to drive me crazy. The ores got him anything and everything. All I got was scars."

"Yea.... but look at you now."

Victor laughed, "Yea. Now instead of mining ores, I’m mining monsters."

Rex wasn’t sure how to respond.

"You ever miss home?" He asked.

".....do you?" Rex side eyed him.

Victor stood in the water, "I miss parts. I miss the sun. I miss my brothers and sisters. I miss my biggest worry being cave-serpents and the occasional raiding group. I miss singing as I worked. Now I can’t sing. I can’t move without being told. And at the end of the month, we’re going to a different world full of different beasts."

"It gets worse." Rex thought.

Victor wrang out his hair and sighed, "Man.... I’m tripping. I know your situation. I guess you probably don’t feel.... homesick, huh?"

Rex shook his head, "No. I don’t. But with the way you’re talking, maybe that’s for the best."

Victor laughed everywhere but his eyes. "Yea...."

"Are you two going to kiss now?"

Rex and Victor looked to their right to find Koby Kobalt— the upperclassmen with a gift for ice, speaking to them. He was surrounded by ice made from the crystallized steam of the showers.

"Is that what you and your boys do after normal conversations?" Rex asked.

Koby grinned, "I’m starting to get you, Kalico. Hunter says you probably enjoy disrupting order and heirarchy. I don’t agree."

"That’s nice." Rex turned away from him and lathered his hands with his bar of soap. His nails darkened, showing him a future in their reflection. No violence.

Koby continued as his blue died fade dripped icy water, "With your new girlfriend and your rag-tag friend group... hah, you don’t choose not to follow order because you like disruption. You think you’re above it. You think you’re greater than you are. I wonder how such a thing could be possible for someone of such low class."

"Guess you should start researching." Rex cut off his water and left the shower.

Tyson was already asleep in his bunk above Rex’s own. Which Rex found hilarious since the other barracks members were playing a game of football with six rolled up socks. Sports became infinately more noisy when super powers were involved.

Rex didn’t mind. He lived in an orphanage for the first few years of his life. Then he lived on the sleepless streets of the blood-woods. And currently, he had to be awake for something.

Bed-time wouldn’t come until long after everyone else was asleep.

Rex waited for the next hour and a half awake and in thought. Mostly about nukes ashing entire hordes of wolfish monsters and half goblin children living happily in hybrid families.

There were times when he had to pinch himself to stop from falling asleep. But eventually, he was the only one awake.

He could tell by the sound of the barracks collective breaths.

"Thank Panther for my sensitive ears.... Literally." Rex thought as he soundlessly slipped out of his bunk and into his plainclothes. Simple city-made jeans and a sweater. He vividly remembered stealing them for his first day in Combat-School.

If he would’ve known he’d use them to venture through jungles and waterfall homes, he would’ve picked something else.

Maybe a track suit.

Either way, he was out of the barracks with no interruption this time.

Like an alley cat, he slipped and dashed around the mechanized hell that made up The Box’s interior until he found himself stepping outside and into the night.

He smelled her before she saw him as he stepped out onto the open ramp.

"Boo."

Imani made no moves but he could smell her quick release of adrenaline just on the surface of her dark skin.

"What are you doing here?" Rex asked.

"Waiting for you." Imani said. She was wearing a pair of black cargo pants and a breathable black zip up jungle-jacket.

"....?" Rex made a confused expression.

"Are you not going to visit your.... Well, you know." She referred to Syphen in hushed tones.

"I am."

"Well, I was there when you met him. Id like to provide my assistance again. Id also like to learn."

"Yea that’s what I’m worried about." Rex thought before quickly considering an easy halfway point to keep her from the tribe. It involved sand.

"Plus, my presence gives you an alibi." Imani said.

"True." Rex agreed. "Let’s get moving before someone wakes up."

Rex and Imani broke off into a sprint into the jungle.

She kept pace despite their shared exhaustion, but Rex wanted to go faster.

He turned to Imani, "Want to see something?"

"That depends—"

Before she could fully reply, Rex transformed into his Anhurian Werepanther form. Immediately, he grew up to nine feet tall and sprouted golden fur as his muscle and bone expanded. A dark mane of spotted fur along his back thickened and stood on end.

"Woah...."

Before Imani could fully stop, he picked her up and quickened their collective pace.

As they ran, he called to Hassan with a leonine roar.

The night was dense and loud. He wasn’t drawing any more attention to himself than what was already there.

He heard Hassan call back and the two echoed back and forth to reach a meeting location.

"This way, I can keep Imani occupied with Hassan and maybe a few sand constructs while I speak to Syphen and the others to see where we’re at in terms of allies. I still can’t be sure she’ll be on board with that move. I can’t be sure of anything but I need numbers. I’ve only known Imani three days. There’s no need to put her in everything. Even if she’s smart as hell. I can be smart too."

Suddenly he skidded to a stop in a small clearing.

The waxing moon stared down at them from a sky studded with white stars.

Imani— who once was on his back, let go of his dark mane and dropped down to the ground.

"Your physical evolution suddenly makes sense. If you were any smaller I imagine the calorie expidenture and physical strain of becoming a giant Lion-man would do more harm than good." Imani said.

"Yea.... Something like that." Rex said.

"So..... where is he." Imani said.

"He, is..... sleeping. For now, I’d like you to meet Hassan. He’s..... like a teacher." Rex managed.

From the shadows, golden eyes glimmered.

Hassan stepped into the clearing and gave a bow.

Imani studied him silently before turning to Rex.

"I assume the only way you could’ve come upon a five hundred year old individual is through this.... Totem. I have many questions."

Rex and Hassan both held open mouthes in shock.

"How the hell—... did you just shifter-date my teacher?" Rex asked.

Imani pointed at Hassan, "There’s a specific kind of calcification and thread deterioration on his clothing that’s almost identical to that of ancient Egyptian warriors and Pharaoh’s. I also see Persian and greater middle-eastern lettering on his tattoos.... Which are North African for the most part. Considering the cultural connection of your abilties, this makes sense."

Hassan smiled, "I like this woman!"

"Not too much, right?" Rex asked.

Hassan walked over, "Never, pride-lord. If she will be our Pride-queen, I will forever be pleased—"

"Aye man!! Don’t make it weird." Rex snarled.

Hassan let out a booming laugh, "Ohhhhhh I love this wild world and all its complexities. Please, young lady, ask your questions. I will answer what he permits."