"I see so thats what you two were up to, I still dont get how you made money like that but I understand most of it. I want to tell your father, is that alright? He deserves to know too"

This situation came about after two hours of explaining, the two could only nod, thankful that they wouldnt have to explain all of this to their dad.

At first their mother was pretty mad about it being kept a secret, she intended to have the two taken to a hospital to get checked up. Any mother would fear if an alien entity with unknown motives lives inside her own children but the two explained how it worked and what they thought its motives were and in the end she had no choice but to accept it, she remembered the last time they were at the hospital and the doctors found nothing wrong.

Alas, her worry was still evident since she wished to discuss with her husband alone. She was pretty concerned about whether this was safe but at this point she knew it was far beyond anything they could just finish and head home.

The two had not told her about changing their species or else she would probably have gotten a heartattack, all they told her that it was a teleportation device they got off a limited sale.

They explained their looks as a beautification product that also had a limited sale. The two still had a fair amount of martial points so they presented the mother with two 2nd grade pills and told her to give one to Mr.Royce.

They had already told her about the capabilities of the chip so there was no reason not to.

They wished to perform the bloodline switch on her too but how would they even bring it up 'hey mom, wanna inject some alien DNA into yourself? youll look freak amazing, all the cool kids are doing it', would any sane person say yes to an unknown dna change?

She warily took the pills and tried feeling their texture, it was a smooth round ball like item which she continued playing with as if intending to discover any malicious virus inside.

Alex reminded her to only take the pills before sleeping and she nodded, she then hugged her children as if signifying her acceptance of their situation and her support through it.

Violet wondered why the chip picked her children after all there could have been an infinite amount of people that could have obtained it. Would it be a blessing or a curse? She did not wish to see them taken as lab rats or made into an enemy by the entire human population, sure from what she saw they could fight back or atleast run but then what? live with the monkeys? OOO OOO AAA AAA? Banana?

She ended her worries and went to call her husband, asking him to return early if possible. Mr.royce still had work remaining so he denied her request apologetically. She sighed and continued with her daily routine, albeit for the rest of the day she was often lost in thought.

Alex and Laura too decided to rest as today was a pretty hectic day, they were awoken by a shrill scream coming from their parents rooms which quickly quietened down as quickly as it came.

They wondered if they had screamed like that and if so, how come their parents didnt point it out? Then again they were pretty suspcicious the next day, they tried teasing them almost as if they thought the two had... well thats a secret, the siblings just fell asleep again without worries.

Early in the morning the two got ready as usual, they went down to get breakfast. The two parents acted as if everything was the same, something Alex and Laura were thankful for. Although they clearly looked different, the two couldnt put their finger on how exactly tho.

Alex received a message, apparently his order of phones were done and he could go pick them up.

He messaged back and scheduled a meeting after college, what he needed now was a simple fix to his appearance. He didn't mind being devlishly handsome he just didnt want others to find out it happened overnight. He avoided getting sent to the lab for so long a little longer wont hurt right?

Honestly, at this point he didnt need to fear the government anymore but that didnt mean he wanted it buzzing around him.

Alex decided to slowly change his features everyday and slowly get closer to his real features, atleast that way he can say he got a very expensive plastic surgery but for now he had to change his appearance to his former one.

This would be pretty hard even for the current him or so he thought, he was pushing his mind into overdrive to think of a quick way to look normal and kept pacing around.

He eventually passed a mirror and happened to glimpse at it, his face had already changed back to normal as if thinking was all that needed. It appeared as if he truly did not know how to manage his own ability like a newborn child. Then again he was one so its nothing to be ashamed of right?

He also tried experimenting sometime in the distant future, attempting to stretch his arms and legs just for the hell of it but thats a story for another time.

He threw all his worries away and went to college feeling like a new person, refreshed and unconcerned. A thought in his mind wanted him to show off but he knew he will have the time for that later on.

The day proceeded as usual, Ray actually attempted to talk to Alex but Alex just ignored him. Ray expected this and did not push the issue while Alex was thinking about how easily he was betrayed. He knew Ray would choose money and success over friendship since day one, any normal human would regardless of whether they themselves believe otherwise.

He knew the minute Alex asked Ray for lets say some form of loan, he would still help but thats where their friendship would end.

He knew but he didnt think that Ray would infact take that a step further and actually scheme for what belonged to Alex, especially not through such a method. He didnt think he would be that bad of a friend but then again, successful people must climb the bones of others to succeed.

Alex spent his day with Mercer much to everyones surprise, the children here werent dumb they knew that whatever deal Mercer proposed worked out for him since they appeared to be getting along and they considered Alex to be a simple lamb on a chopping block, after all to the others Alex and Mercer had an entirely different status.

Equal cooperation requires equal power or status and clearly a top celebrity and a normal everyday joe will never have equal power or status.

Its not hard to see why they came at such a misunderstanding but regarldess Alex and Mercer had a normal chat.

"Alex let me tell you man, this industry is never about talent. You see me now right? Man let me tell you I was the son of a fisherman, I had good looks and only that, singing? acting? I couldn't do either, what I could do was sleep with some old and wrinkly hag who could make it look like I could sing and act.

Learning to sing and dance isnt tough, any fault can easily be edited out using technology. The only reason I chose this stupid degree was because I thought I should figure out how, you know for a backup plan. I wont always be young after all and really who would even want to sleep with these fat old hags and speak seductive words to them.

I swear I lose a part of myself everytime I have to pretend they are even remotely attractive."

The two had gotten pretty close, it appeared as if Mercer was a completely different person compared to what he had shown before.

Actors act, facades are normal for them. It wasnt weird for Mercer to have been pretending to be someone just as a public face.

A once famous actor had even said he had forgotten which role was truly his and which was just a facade, ofcourse he was just boasting but it still an outlook their life.

"Really? Well seeing you I guess I really shouldn't believe how you guys act on stage"

This irked Mercer, his new friend was teasing him and he couldnt accept it.

"You think I am that bad? We are all normal people apart from the ones with more vanity, man those stuck up ones are the real problem. You know Lu Susan? The really pretty half asian singer? She acts like the world owes her something, always speaking in a condescending way to everyone, her fans get treated like shit and man I swear she even introduces little underaged girls to prostitution and drugs but you know what?

Let me show you a video I have, its from a producers meeting I just happened to go to cause of my connection with Mr.Ted and a few others. Let me tell you man these fat and ugly producers had the weirdest fetishes, I swear some of them even had to use pills just to get it up and Susan, you wouldnt believe how eager she was to be abused like that. I just, I am glad I am one of the better treated ones I really am."

Mercer took out his phone, unlocked it then dragged two fingers apart from one another. Another lockscreen popped up which he openned, it was filled with videos and pictures.

The thumbnails alone would be pretty scandalous and some even had all sorts of illegal vibes, personally Alex wondered why he even had these but he stayed quiet. A mans fetishes are their own after all, its never polite to judge.

Mercer scrolled down then opened a specific video.

In it a female could be seen performing all sorts of acts any self respective individual would never even hope to. It was as if he was watching some sort of hardcore porno, heck the ending bit wouldnt even be allowed online because it had the worst thing any porn could, beastiality.

The video itself was much worse but the details should never be said outloud, not for any normal person. Alex wondered why would a human even fall so low just for a bit of fame and money, what good was it?

She obviously didnt want this, money that didnt make you happy is useless in itself is it not? You are rich now congrats, but at what cost? You aren't happy and you never will live with yourself after falling so low yet... He ended his thoughts here, there was no point in thinking any more about this. He was not her, to each their own.

He looked at Mercer suspiciously.

Noticing Alex's gaze he replied.

"Hey its not my fetish alright? Mr. Ted wasnt there either, I keep these to remind myself that I need to build myself up. To avoid falling this low because it will happen, eventually, unless I make myself important. I am thankful to Ted he gave me a way out if I ever need it and I am thankful to you, this deal we made it might just save me.

Celebrities are more about connections Alex, Either you have rich parents or you do.. that. You can have skills sure. But you need marketing, you cant just be good at singing cause theres millions like that. You need luck and you need to know how to put yourself out.

For the unskilled like me? we dont have a lot of options, this world doesnt show you kindness just for the sake of being kind, if it offers you a cookie its to ram it up your ass for some sort of weird play."

Alex noticed Mercer grew more and more depressed as this topic went on, he skillfully picked a topic from the conversation and led it away

"Yeah so about the deal with Ted, we will have a meeting soon. Do you want to come with us? You can meet Ted's bosses if things go well"

An act of sympathy perhaps but to Alex it didnt cost him anything so it didnt matter. Perhaps Mercer could someday help him too.

"Yeah lets do that, I am curious about what exactly the deal I started is about so ill thankfully take part in its discussion."

Mercer flashed a smile, he then began swinging his legs while sitting as if his mood suddenly turned better.

"Well, I cant exactly go on some taxi can I? I'll get a car soon but now yet."

Alex stretched his back, then opened up a snack and continued chatting with Mercer. Classes soon ended and he went to the meeting place.

Richard was sitting there reading a newspaper while slowly nibbling on some biscuits. It appeared he had ordered some tea and biscuits.

He greeted Alex and asked him to sit, as if performing a sort of formality.

A waiter appeared and as if he was prepared for this, he put down another cup of tea and some biscuits infront of Alex.

"So Mr. Richard is everything done?"

Richard opened his bag and brought out some documents.

"I am sure you will find it to your liking."

The documents had the specifications agreed upon written on it and other details regarding the project including any sort of problem with details.

"Would you mind if we took your car there?"

Alex asked, he had come on a taxi and he obviously would prefer a private car if he had such an option.

"Not at all, but please enjoy the tea first it has this amazing soothing affect, it would be a shame to miss it"