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Chapter Six - Beginning Field Research

The Starpoint Research Facility, once known as the Starpoint Military Operations Center, continued to bustle with activity despite the lockdown of its central hub located deep in the mountains. It had only been a few days since the severely damaged rail car had pulled into the rail station and unloaded its only cargo, a draconic sabrewolf, but from the second he had set foot on the base a tenseness filled the air despite such an innocuous person. This creature was more than met the eye, though, and all personnel were warned to actively stay away from him and remain in their quarters until he had been moved inside the base. Even after the glowing green-eyed creature had made his way past the steel blast doors that closed behind him, the quarantine remained until a group of people in full hazmat gear came out and set fire to the area before scrubbing it completely clean.

Of course no one inside the base knew of such drastic procedures; they were already undergoing their own as they had to wait in the mess hall once more while they tested the filtration system to make sure that all of the Bal'Kar spores were effectively neutralized. Despite Serathin's promise to not flood the entire base with the transformative substances their kind leaked constantly, they wanted to make sure that failsafes were in place to prevent accidental exposure. Even when everyone was allowed to go back to their business the wing that contained the creature was expressly off-limits, save for the head of the project Dr. August Winters or any of the lead staff. Of course despite that there were those that wanted to see the monster that now dwelled on the other side of a few layers of metal and rock.

One of those curious few was a research technician named Newlyn, the snow leopard's tail twitching in anticipation as they all watched around the console that was about to display the live feed of the new camera system they installed in the Bal'Kar chamber. The old system had fried out shortly after the Bal'Kar had decided to expand the catacombs that ran concurrent to the actual facility. These new systems were wireless, top of the line and able to penetrate even the highly protective metal and stone that separated the two. Even though they shouldn't have been able to see the footage, one of their tech guys had installed a back door so they could see what the cameras saw.

"Are we going to see this thing or what?" one of the researchers, a falcon that had was one of the biological technicians for the site, said as he tapped his foot impatiently. If we aren't at our posts when they get done running the final tests then we can all kiss our jobs goodbye."

"You know that I can't tap into the network while they're running those tests," the arctic wolf replied in slight agitation as he typed commands into the computer. "Once the firewall goes down for the final diagnostic I can worm my way in, but it's only going to be for a little bit. You can leave now if you want, but you may never get another chance to see what Dr. Winters and the others are hiding from us."

There was a murmur of disapproval from the gathered group of scientists as no one wanted to leave, not just yet at the very least. The possibility of seeing the creature far outweighed the potential tongue lashing that they might get from their supervisors. Everyone began to lean forward as the screen that had just been lines of code turned into an actual picture. At first the screen shifted from blackness and static, then once the picture began to clear everyone let out a gasp as they saw what was being displayed.

The catacombs that all of them had walked through at one point or another had been radically altered, the greyish brown stone that had made up the walls was now a pitch black. That altered rock was illuminated from the glowing green light that came from the pools of liquid that had looked like they had eaten away the floor like acid. Those that were in the know quickly explained to others that what they were seeing was pits filled with bio-extract, liquid that were excreted by the Bal'Kar for egg hatcheries that were also highly transformative. As Newlyn and the others watched the camera feeds continue to scan the area they still continued to look for the creature within.

It didn't take long for them to find it, a fresh round of gasps running through the crowd as something began to emerge from one of the largest bio-extract pools. The green slime cascaded off the shiny black tentacles that framed the head of the monstrous creature as it surfaced. A pair of saber teeth were the only things that remained constant from the draconic sabrewolf that everyone had seen enter into the facility before he disappeared into the catacombs that had been created to contain him. Several people looked away as more tentacles emerged from the pool, following the body out of the thick liquid as more of the hulking body was exposed.

"I'm out," the falcon said as he and several others quickly walked off. "I can't believe they're housing that nightmare fuel in the same country as us." There was a murmur of agreement but it was mostly among those that were walking away, those that had continued to watch merely voiced a half-hearted agreement while their eyes remained glued to the screen. Those that remained only were allowed to watch for another minute or two before the feed suddenly cut out, looking at one another as the screen turned to black.

The others merely nodded and looked at one another before they dispersed, leaving only Newlyn and the arctic wolf there before the snow leopard decided that it was time for him to leave as well. "Thanks for the show, Arlo," Newlyn said with a sheepish grin as he patted the lupine on the shoulder. "Do you... think that you'll ever be able to get back into the system again?"

"I'll make sure to let you know," Arlo replied with a wink. "Until then you should probably get back to your station, I wouldn't want you to lose any privileges because you were hanging around here."

Newlyn nodded and began to walk away, though something caused him to look back at the lupine. His eyebrows were raised slightly when he saw the arctic wolf adjust the bulge that was in his pants. Though he was very curious on what that entailed he could see that Arlo was looking around nervously, almost catching the gaze of the snow leopard before Newlyn turned around. Whether or not the technician caught him Newlyn didn't know, he didn't turn around for a second and walked back to his station. It appeared that he got off completely free, though, as he returned to his own lab station and got back to work before his supervisor got there. Even so, the image of that creature continued to play into his mind, seeing that Bal'Kar every time he closed his eyes every time he tried to focus...

Eventually the snow leopard managed to go back to his daily routine assisting the other researchers with their examinations, though his curiosity about the strange creature remained even as he continued to work. Unfortunately even access to the materials that came from the creature were highly regulated, those that were in charge of the experimentation of the bio-extract and other such samples were kept in extremely segregated labs with class five level pathogen protocols in place. It appeared that Newlyn was not going to have a chance again to see the creature... at least until he heard about the new job detail that was being assigned.

It seemed simple enough; the lower level lab technicians were going to be in charge of collecting hourly extract samples, and in order to minimize the potential of continuous exposure they had everyone on a rotation schedule. Newlyn saw his name appear more than once during that day, with his first time being right after lunch. The snow leopard found himself actually anxious to do it and found himself hardly eating anything as he watched the clock tick down. When his time finally came he went straight from the lunchroom to the containment area where all the protective gear was washed and sanitized.

"Ah, you're here a little early," the dragon replied as he looked down at his tablet. "That's good, since this is your first time we're going to have to go over all the PPE that you're going to need in order to enter the Bal'Kar chamber. I know that you have experience in most of this, it's just the heavier stuff that we're going to need to go over before you're allowed to enter."

The 'heavier stuff' turned out to be an independent air tank and full hazmat suit that went on top of the containment suit that he already wore. Though the double layer seemed redundant the dragon specified that it was required for any exposure in the cavern that the Bal'Kar was in. It took nearly ten minutes for Newlyn to get suited up, which made him felt like he was in wrapped up in a sleeping bag as well as ten layers of tin foil while the dragon left the room after he handed him the collection container. Once he was alone Newlyn heard the sound of air being pumped into the room, likely filled with decontamination agents that was also pressurized.

After a few seconds the door on the other side of the room opened and Newlyn found himself looking down a long hallway. It was a bit confusing, but when he started moving down it towards the door on the other end he saw that it was actually structured more like an observation deck. The snow leopard found others in suits like the one he was dressed in milling about, getting readings or looking out the thick security glass towards the cavern below. Though he wanted to take a look out Newlyn knew that he would have his chance soon enough as he got to the second airlock.

When he got to the door it automatically opened for him, operated by another that was in the observation deck, and found to his surprise that it led to an elevator. He stepped inside and heard the doors close quickly behind him, then once more felt the air distribution of yet another sterilization procedure to prevent contamination by the Bal'Kar. By the time the elevator reached the bottom of the cavern and the doors opened the snow leopard could almost feel the radiation no doubt used to decontaminate the suit. The second the door opened the scene changed from the artificial light and metal of the facility to the warped caverns of the creature.

As Newlyn started to walk further across the black stone he found it easy to see, the green light from the glowing bio-extract showing him the way as he slowly moved forward. He didn't see Serathin anywhere, the draconic sabrewolf either under the surface of one of the large pools or in his guise form. What really caused the snow leopard pause was how dramatically the cavern had shifted; not only had it expanded immensely since the last time he had been there, but the pits of bio-extract were everywhere and no doubt lined with eggs down below. There were also fleshy tendrils that seemed to expand over the walls, as well, extending from the bio-extract pools and up the walls.

"I've been told that it's quite the sight to behold," a voice said that nearly caused the snow leopard to jump right out of both suits, spinning around to see the grinning hybrid a few feet behind him in his guise form. "Apologies for scaring you, I forget that when I'm in this form I can be rather silent."

"It's... alright..." Newlyn replied as he regained his breath. "Although I thought you preferred your big Bal'Kar form to that one."

"I was told that when anyone is to come into these chambers that I was to go into my guise form," Serathin replied as he walked around the snow leopard and went over to a table next to one of the cavern's alcoves and sat down in a metal chair that was reinforced to hold his compressed weight. "Plus I do have a fondness for my guise form, it was mine to begin with after all. But I know how you types like to scurry forward and get your samples, so I won't keep you any longer... but since you seem to be new I just want to warn you that if you fall into that pool while collecting your samples I'm not responsible for the sudden and irreversible transformation that will occur to you."

Even though Newlyn didn't respond he couldn't help but think back to when he saw the Bal'Kar body on the monitor. He wondered how so many tentacles and so much mass could be compressed into the sabrewolf's former form, which he knew was there as he could see even the hardened metal of the chair bend slightly under his weight while he looked at a tablet. "I thought you guys hated technology," Newlyn commented as he watched those green eyes flicker up towards him. "Sorry, just something that was told to us from the higher-ups."

"Normally I just share in the lust through the hive link that all Bal'Kar possess," Serathin replied nonchalantly as he flicked up on the screen. "But while we're not fond of such things, we do understand the place of it in the world. While I can't really interact with it like I used to, it does provide a means of entertainment while I'm down here."

The snow leopard just nodded and looked back down at the pool of bio-extract as he heard a ding, looking down to see that the sample had finished collecting. When he informed the Bal'Kar that he was going to leave he was surprised to hear Serathin say that he would escort him back to the elevator. While he wasn't sure that this was typical behavior he decided to roll with it and nodded, the two of them heading back. Just as Newlyn was about to press the button to call the elevator he was stopped by a hand on his wrist, though at this point the blue scales of the draconic sabrewolf had started to turn a shiny black.

"I can sense the lust in you," Serathin nearly purred as he got close to the snow leopard. "Even with all those layers you wear in order to protect yourself from me I can smell the desire to meet me without them, the want to experience the embrace of my tentacles on your fur. If that is truly what you want they can't stop you... but doing that will mean being in here with me, and though all of your fates are to become one with the hive, I continue to uphold my promise. That means you're going to have to choose to come here..."

Serathin immediately let go and motioned for the snow leopard to push the button on the elevator before walking away. Even though Newlyn was able to call the elevator, something that the Bal'Kar was unable to do, he still felt his hand quivering slightly from the encounter. Was what the creature saying actually correct? He knew that the Bal'Kar fascinated him to no end, but was he secretly lusting after them like the former sabrewolf had said, or was this just some sort of trick to add to their numbers?

Either way the snow leopard didn't have much time to think about it as the elevator doors opened and allowed him inside. Once more he found himself going through the extensive decontamination procedure as he attempted to stop his entire body from shaking. He didn't want the others to think that the Bal'Kar had gotten to him somehow and quarantine him from the rest of the staff, or worse yet kick him off the rotation. As that thought of not being able to go back into the chamber of the creature passed through his mind he realized how that sounded a little obsessive while he walked back through the observation deck and back into the main facility.

With the last steps of the decontamination procedure finished Newlyn immediately walked out of the designated Bal'Kar wing and towards the exercise wing of the facility. He knew at that point in the day that Arlo would be there and found the lupine working out in his usual spot. When the arctic wolf asked him what was up the snow leopard asked if they could go somewhere private to discuss something of importance, the lupine pausing for a moment before nodding and turning off his machine. The two walked out of the gym and into Newlyn's semi-private quarters, making sure his roommate wasn't there before he ushered Arlo in and closed the door behind him.

"Alright, where's the fire?" Arlo asked as he sat down on the bed.

"I need to know if you managed to hack into the feed for the Bal'Kar chamber yet," Newlyn replied, trying not to show his anxiety even as the lupine got a surprised look on his face. "He... it... Serathin told me something that I can't stop thinking about and I knew that you were on the case to try and get an inside eye on the place."

Even though it was clear that Arlo looked at him with suspicion the arctic wolf shrugged his shoulders and leaned back. "The feed is pretty encrypted," Arlo said before fishing something out of his pocket with his digits closed around whatever it was. "However, since they're allowing us to now go in for their hourly sample run, I have something much better and with way less chance of being caught. I give you," he stated with a small flourish as he held it in his fingers, "the mini-spycam."

Newlyn looked at the tiny camera as Arlo put it into his hand, the device no bigger than a marble as he pushed it around with his fingers. The lupine explained that he had a sample collection shift in a few hours and he had planned to put a few around the cavern in areas that would be likely not to be covered in slime or other material. The snow leopard was only half-listening as he began to imagine what it would be like to see Serathin out of his guise once again, imagining those tentacles flailing about as he moved in his huge form.

"Hello, Earth to Newlyn..." Arlo said, getting Newlyn to snap out of his thoughts and look back at the smirking lupine. "Looks like I lost you for a second there, welcome back to the conversation. I'd ask you where your head was at but I think I have a pretty good guess of what you were thinking about given your current state."

Newlyn wasn't sure what Arlo meant until he followed the lupine's downwards looks until his gaze reached his own groin. The snow leopard felt himself blush slightly with embarrassment, but that emotion was quickly replaced with surprise when he saw the arctic wolf stand up with a similar predicament. "Looks like we share similar feelings about the guest of the facility," Newlyn spoke up as he felt himself press back into the chair he was sitting in from the wolf's approach. "Or is that because of me?"

"Mmmm little of column A," Arlo said in a sultry voice as he got up until they were only a few inches away from one another. "A little of column B." It was clear that the lupine was horny and as their muzzles inched closer to one another Newlyn realized that he was feeling the exact same way. Was it the Bal'Kar that was doing this, the snow leopard wondered, but at the moment all he could think about was that muzzle waiting for the other to reciprocate the feeling.

Newlyn didn't make Arlo wait long as he leaned forward and their lips touched, sparking a backlash of lust as the two let any inhibitions fall to the wayside. Their tongues explored the mouths of one another as they made their way over to Newlyn's bed, shedding their clothes along the way until their naked bodies hit the sheets. Neither of them were thinking of the ramifications of their actions, the pleasure of their naked furry bodies rubbing up against one another overriding the thoughts of the potential consequences of being found out. In fact the only thing that the two had on their minds besides their throbbing cocks pressed against one another was the creature that had brought them together in the first place.

"I am so horny right now..." Arlo moaned once they had broken their kiss, the lupine and feline still pressing against and groping one another. "Just thinking of that Bal'Kar makes my blood pump, thinking about those tentacles over my body... that slime matting down my fur. Having that... glowing green cocktongue push into my throat..."

Even though Newlyn could tell that the lupine was getting off far more on the mental image of the Bal'Kar than their actual physical rutting, he strangely found himself feeling the same way. With every description that Arlo gave in his lust-filled state he found himself thinking the same thing until he could actually feel those slimy tentacles wrapping around his body. Where Arlo's fingers ran through the fur on his back he imagined that it was the smaller tendrils known as seethers wiggling against his backside. Though there was no way for them to approximate the sheer size of the Bal'Kar both males could see one another as a compressed, humanoid version that sometimes happened in the beginning of a Bal'Kar's transition from guise to their true form.

Even though the snow leopard knew that he shouldn't be fantasizing about such things, the thought of those slimy tentacles pushing their way out of the arctic wolf's body and over his, pushing their way into his mouth and tailhole as the disguised Bal'Kar continued to transform. If he closed his eyes he could actually feel them, though he knew in the back of his mind it was just Arlo mimicking them with his fingers and the cock throbbing between his legs he had lubed up with the gel that Newlyn kept in his dresser for just such an encounter. As the snow leopard continued to imagine them while Arlo pushed inside his tailhole his mind realized that at this point he would likely be starting to transform himself, seeing his own grey, spotted fur begin to fall away in clumps as his mind's eye looked up at the face of the slimy tentacle creature having its way with him.

How would he transform? Newlyn wondered in his haze of blissful pleasure, thinking about the tentacles that would push out of his body while the arctic wolf mounted him. He had heard stories of the Bal'Kar being able to merge together, that they can press their bodies into one another and become one hulking, massive creature... but that didn't seem like something that would go on during his transformation. He imagined as that slick cock, or really any tentacle for that matter, continued to push its way inside him that their bodies would grow bigger together, their slimy bodies oozing that green slime on one another while they transformed. Their passions grew more intense as both males were lost in the sensations of pretending to be Bal'Kar, the lusts they felt in their fantasy world even more palpable than their physical pleasure as Arlo quickly worked both himself and the snow leopard up into a hard orgasm.

"Oh Gola!" Newlyn shouted as he came hard, his eyes snapping open to see the green-eyed arctic wolf as he climaxed as well. It took more than a few seconds to realize that he had just shouted someone else's name during sex after they were both done making a mess with one another, the snow leopard looking away sheepishly when the arctic wolf had finally regained his breath and looked at him in question. "Uh... sorry about that..."

"Hey, if you were getting off on an ex or something I totally understand," Arlo replied as he waited for a few more seconds before he pulled out, causing both males to shudder from the sweet sensation of their sensitive flesh sliding together one last time post-orgasm. "I was kind of thinking you were talking about our special guest, but hey, whatever floats your boat. You mind if I take a shower before I leave? I wouldn't want to give anything else for the facility rumor mill to churn out just because someone caught a whiff of musk from me leaving your room."

Newlyn just nodded and got one of his towels for the arctic wolf to use, then sat back on his own bed while he thought over what just happened. While hook-ups weren't uncommon in this facility, especially when they were on lockdown with nothing else to really do, it was the nature of it that caused the snow leopard to pause. Not only had it been brought on by conversation of the Bal'Kar, but it was an intrical part of his sexual gratification while they had it. He began to wonder if the suits and the decontamination procedures were missing something and that he had somehow gotten infected with the legendary lust that they had been warned about when Serathin first moved into their facility. The other question on his mind was... just who on earth was Gola anyway?

As he sat and mulled about it for a while the snow leopard didn't even realize it when the wolf had gotten out of the shower and had already started to get dressed. "So once I get in there to do my sample collection I'm going to put in the webcams," Arlo instructed as the naked male continued to towel himself off. "They're pretty rigid on the time that it takes for you to get a sample so I'm going to have to hurry, but the second I place it the device should self-activate. In fact, if you give me your tablet I can sync it up so that as soon as it's done."

The snow leopard eagerly went up and got his tablet, handing it to the arctic wolf who did a few things with his wifi connection before handing it back to him. After that they talked for a little while longer before he gave him a wink and put on his clothes. Even though they had just had sex there was little residual lust between them, like two drunken patrons that hooked up for a one-night stand instead of two recently acquainted lovers. It started to point Newlyn once more towards something supernatural happening to them, but at the moment all he could do was wait for Arlo to complete his mission so he could see that creature once again...