As the shot left the gun, and his adrenaline faded a terrible racking pain pierced through Alan’s core. He’d dropped both his gun and hammer and collapsed on the ground clutching his gut. He felt as though a hot fire burned his belly, and was moving through his veins. He lay their writhing in pain for an indeterminable amount of time. For what seemed like hours, but in fact was only a matter of minutes he was delirious.

As his body cooled and his mind cleared, Alan wretched a few times from the after-shocks of the pain. Coughing he mumbled to himself, “What the heck was that?” Looking around Stavin’s body had disappeared, leaving behind a few items and some credits. He did get one dose of Nano Drugs, a pretty good find, and wondered if he needed to use it. Checking his status, he was alarmed to read a list of bright red notifications next to his information on his Genetic Modifications.

WARNING! Use of EV energy beyond specified parameters. - Attempted Transfer to organic object

WARNING! Forced transfer of energy has resulted in a forced mutation of: VE Generator. Due to unexpected mutation advancement pain inhibition cannot be implemented.

NOTICE! Forced mutation has upgraded: VE Generator. Genetic modification now allows you to use VE Energy in transference to non-machinery/tool components.

WARNING! VE Generator has mutated. It is now utilizing 34/30 available GMU. Due to the lack of available capacity, you will experience significant pain during utilization of energy transference. If mutation is not dealt with in a timely manner, you may experience additional unwanted mutations.

Alan looked blankly at the messages. He couldn’t help but ask himself if this was even possible. He’d never heard of such a thing before. Forced Mutation? Perhaps it had happened but they weren’t able to manage the side effects. Lucky enough for him it was only 4 GMU over his limit. He could take care of it, he hoped. It was something to think about in the morning after he got some rest.

Checking for other loot he discovered the pistol was the only good thing the gunner and blueberry had dropped, having left mostly food rations. In total he’d collected close to 600 credits and a few pieces of silver and copper metal.

Walking over to where he had dropped the hatch door, he picked it up, and noticed the scorch marks left by the pistol. He decided it was worth the inventory space to keep the makeshift shield.

He didn’t bother to check to see if he had much time left. He needed rest. Moments later he was pulling himself out of the pod. His whole body aching from the physical torment it had been put through that day. Whatever pain relief he’d had clearly not been enough for the unexpected mutation.

He changed quickly; told the attendants he would be in early to get adjusted to his new leased pod. Sitting in his car, he debated for a moment on whether to just go straight home, but his pride didn’t allow it. Instead, he drove to his parents’ home. There he met his Dad at the door and handed back the cash, with a little bit of interest. His Dad gave him a look of surprise, and the unasked question he had, was instead answered by Alan who invited Dad, Mom and Sister to lunch the next day.

It was nearly 11 pm when he pulled up to his street, to his garage-converted studio apartment. Alan was exhausted from all the running around mentally drained by the adrenaline of the fight and felt tender from the changes. He pulled up to his street, and began to walk up his driveway when 4 guys seemed to be hanging around out front. Alan immediately grew tense when he noticed the college jersey one of the men had. Alan groaned within, and could only blame himself, once again he hadn’t noticed the few extra cars on the road. He’d walked right into the second ambush of the night.

“Hey, are you the chump that broke up with Denise?” One of the men spoke up. He was clean shaven and had been wearing the football jersey from the college Denise attended.

Well at least these guys have the courtesy to not jump me immediately. “Guys, I’ve had a long day. What do you want?”

“You didn’t answer my question buttwipe!” He challenged Alan, while the other stared him down and began to corner him.

Alan thought for a moment and was tempted to pull out his pistol and hammer from his ring, but decided it would be best if he didn’t kill these guys. Deciding that hiding the truth was pointless and his mind was too exhausted to think of anything else, he responded irritably, “Yes, I broke it off with her yesterday.” His response only made them more agitated.

“Well, you just made it easy.” He smiled to the rest of his gang. “She told us all about what you did to her while you were dating, and we can’t let you get away with it.”

Alan didn’t have to hear anymore to put together, she’d obviously been spreading lies about him. “I don’t know what to tell you guys, but whatever she said wasn’t true.”

“Yeah, she’d say you’d say that.” Alan tried not to roll my eyes.

“Look, if what she said was true, why didn’t she go to the police?” He attempted some logic with the meat heads. They paused a moment clearly straining to try and come up with a way to answer.

“All right, why don't you guys go back and ask her, and then we can go from there.” Smiling mildly, Alan figured he’d might have avoided the danger for now. Let’s hear a cheer for charisma. Unfortunately, you should never overestimate human intelligence.

One of the minions, clearly not liking the logic of the situation, had decided to let his fist respond instead, catching Alan in the gut. Alan tried to step away and recover. However, it seemed the rest of the college boys liked the first’s answer and decided to add their blows to the argument. Alan dodged a few punches and gave a few strikes back. Recognizing the genetic and physical enhancements wouldn’t take place in this world for another 72 hours.

Alan, however, lost the argument. He laid there on the concrete, as the would-be champions of his ex-girlfriend ran off. Dragging himself to his door, he took notice the curtains of Mrs. Dubai’s living room move.

“Had she seen what happened? What has she got to be thinking now?” He thought miserably. “First I came outside nearly naked, then a stranger vandalized her guest house door, and now a group of thugs beat me down in her front yard.” He didn’t even know what kind of explanation to give her.

He continued his thoughts silently as he limped into his home, “She probably thinks that I’m mixed up in something awful.”

He pulled a frozen bag of peas from the freezer and the first aid kit his mom had bought him when he’d left home, and attempted to care for his injuries. It wasn’t long though when exhaustion overcame him and he fell asleep.