"So you're saying bacteria has literally changed my sister's DNA?" Marvin's voice was skeptical.

"It's not that simple. Chemical messages from bacteria can alter chemical markers throughout the human genome. Inside human cells, bacteria can trigger processes that change gene activity and that ultimately affect how your cells behave."

Errend rubbed a tired hand over his face and, after a moment, continued, "Honestly, Marvin, my people have been trying to figure it out for a century. We don't fully understand it, but we know that whatever this alien bacteria is that comes from some of the monsters, not all of them, just some, causes a mutation in ninety-eight percent of the people it infects.

"Usually mutation occurs within weeks of infection, mind you. I have no idea what it means that it took so long to take effect in your sister. Perhaps a more significant change because she was infected during her pubescent years? Or maybe a smaller change because her body was able to fight it better? I don't know Marvin. But if Sardini feels the change in her, then she is changing. Sardini is... Gifted." Errend's voice trailed off as his thoughts seemed to swallow him whole.

Errend was exhausted. In all his years, he couldn't remember a day that had taxed his training and resolve so much.

First, seeing Inta so broken and frail then feeling Aiya leave him. He couldn't explain it, he had just laid Inta back down in the lounge chair when it had happened. Inta had cried herself to sleep and as he was straightening from placing a blanket he'd found on a chair over her he'd felt something deep inside him pull from him.

At first, it had been a gentle tugging. Then something had suddenly ripped from his soul, leaving an empty space he hadn't realized had been filled by anything. It had only taken a nanosecond for him to realize it was Aiya. Or a part of Aiya?

Somehow, maybe from their connection on the train, she had burned a piece of herself into his soul, starting a healing process he didn't understand.

But however it had happened, they were or had been connected on some deep level. Then she had suddenly disappeared from his soul. And the pain had almost been unbearable.

He was now struggling with his control again.

When the feeling of loss had struck him, without even realizing how Errend had found himself in the garden watching Aiya crumble to the ground, he cried out her name, striding to her, needing to know if she was alive—needing her to be alive.

After reassuring himself she lived, he'd froze. He somehow kept himself from outwardly showing it, but inside, terror gripped him. An emotion so strong he couldn't ignore it as he he'd been trained to.

He thought he was going to puke for a moment from the intensity of the fear but managed to get himself under control enough to answer Marvin's question.

Rechecking her pulse and her pupils, he knew she hadn't been drugged. Yet, it wasn't until Sardini spoke that the image of Aiya's luminescent eyes had come back to him. Sardini was right. The change was upon her.

Thank Vishnu, it wasn't something else. Hopefully, only the Rakshasa were using the wormhole. It needed to be closed.

Now Errend paced the small living area outside the bedrooms, Sardini's door slightly ajar so he and Marvin could keep on Aiya.

Errend did his best to explain what he knew to Marvin. But Marvin expected, no, he deserved to know the whole truth. If Aiya survived, she would be changed forever, and her brother would have to accept that.

Errend didn't doubt Marvin's love for his sister, but a person's true character only really came through when tested. Words were just words.

Errend still needed to talk to Aiya about what happened on the train. He couldn't even guess at how she would handle her changes when she hadn't even really reacted to him yet.

For Vishnu's sake! Fuck this.

Errend looked to Marvin again. Marvin sat on the edge of the love seat, staring at him like it was his fault Aiya was unconscious in the next room.

Maybe it was. If he, Zirco and Inta hadn't opened the wormhole, would the Rakshasa have made it here?

No, I can't go there. What's done is done.

Errend scolded himself. It was no use dwelling on "what if's." Now he needed to prepare Marvin the best he could.

He wanted to test the young man's character with his own secret but was that the right thing to do? If nothing else, it should more than prepare Marvin for what was about to happen to Aiya.

Hesitantly Errend turned to Marvin.

"Marvin, what has Aiya told you about me?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know I come from another planet, right? One that the Rakshasa, or monsters as you call them, have almost overrun. But has she said anything else?"

"You're from a parallel universe, right? Or a different dimension?"

"Well, the Rakshasa come from an alternate dimension, but yes, Inta and I come from a different Universe than this one. However, I am asking if Aiya has said anything specifically about me having powers or abilities?"

At first, Marvin looked confused; then, his face became a mixture of concern and skepticism. Marvin looked a lot like his sister. They had the same olive skin tone, dark brown hair and same almond-shaped eyes and wide mouth.

However, Marvin's eyes were more hazel than blue, and when he became worried or upset, they almost turned green. His square jaw was sporting stubble, and dark circles shadowed his usually bright and alert gaze. He looked how Errend felt. Like shit.

Instead of commenting on this, Errend explained what happened the night Aiya had found him on the train and the history of his people and the newly emerging powers in the younger generations.

***

Marvin wasn't sure what to think. On the one hand, Errend having weird kinetic superpowers didn't seem that strange compared to him travelling through a wormhole from a different universe. But on the other hand, what the fuck?

Not being able to decide how he felt or if he believed the strange man in front of him, Marvin just sat staring at the shiny white floor.

"Marvin," Errend's voice held little inflection, but as always, like the nickname his sister had given him, he sounded as earnest as ever. "I can understand how you may not believe me, but it is the truth. Also, there is a reason I have told you this."

Marvin didn't need Errend to spell it out. He got it. His sister was about to change forever. Looking up at Errend,stomach in knots, he met the man's eyes with his own bleary ones.

"So Aiya will have powers like you then?" Marvin's voice sounded far away to his own ears.

"No," Errend replied. "Well, maybe. Her change is different than my born abilities, though. It will depend on her genomes and DNA. Depending on her individual make up different abilities could be activated. Or maybe just one powerful one.

"Humans, much like my own people, have many potentials in their DNA that are not fully understood. Ironically many of your biologists here on Earth have naively thought that these unused human genomes are junk or useless."

Errend actually shook his head at this. It was as if he couldn't believe how stupid humans could be. Marvin had news for him.

Errend looked Marvin in the eyes after a pregnant pause and said, "Until she recovers, we won't know how she'll change."

Marvin couldn't help cursing inwardly and thinking, Fuck, I need a drink. Wonder where Derek is?

First, he wanted a little more info.

"Will my sister be ok, Errend? Assuming you have seen people go through this metamorphosis before, has it ever killed anyone? Left them in a vegetative state?"

"I only know of one person who did not survive the change. They had been quite old, and I personally believe they had a compromised immune system." As usual, the alien, because essentially Marvin had to admit that's what Errend was, delivered the facts without pause or hesitation.

Errend continued saying, "No one has ever been left immobile or unable to function after the change. A few did lose their minds, being unable to accept their changes. Those were mostly the ones whose bodies changed outwardly as well as internally. It's much harder on people when they feel they have physically mutated."

There was no remorse or sadness in Errend's voice or eyes as he talked about peoples suffering.

Was it because the man couldn't feel, or was it because he had learned to live with this weird shit happening around him like it was perfectly normal? Just like kids getting chickenpox or something. You know "shit happens" right?

Marvin shook his head and turned away from his friend. Suddenly it was all hitting him at once. He'd thought he had accepted it. Now he realized he hadn't taken the time to absorb the whole truth.

Errend was an alien. He had come to Earth to try and save it with his team but instead brought their destruction possibly earlier than it would have come on its own.

The more he thought about it, the more it upset him. Errend and his team not only helped the monsters get to Earth faster but was essentially why his sister could be physically mutating and was definitely changing genetically, gaining superpowers or something similar.

Standing up, Marvin's face was hot. He needed a walk. He had to cool off and wanted to talk with his childhood friend, who had a weird way of making him see reason. Where the hell had Derek gone?

"How long will she be out, Errend?" Marvin heard the steel in his voice as he looked at the wall instead of the man he addressed. He was a little surprised by how chilling his own voice was. Like a man about to go on a killing spree in the name of vengeance.

Errend either chose to ignore Marvin's tone or wasn't surprised by it. Errend just replied as if he had been asked what the weather was like outside.

"It's hard to say. Hours, or a day. The most extended change I ever witnessed took five days. However, it resulted in the strongest power I have ever seen."

Marvin felt an immature need to lash out at Errend upon hearing this. Five days! Strong powers? Did they even have five days? And who cared how strong the power would be? Aiya needed to get better. Screw powers! Who knew what plans the crazy doctors had for everyone.

Using more self-control than he knew he possessed, Marvin bit his tongue and nodded. Refusing to open his mouth in case words he would regret escaped, he turned on his heel and headed for the door.

Suddenly Sardini, who'd been watching Aiya, came bounding out and somehow managed to get to the door before him. Her gaze bore into him—eyes like gems, unblinking and all-knowing stopping him in place.

"Marvin." Her voice was tender and musical. It almost stole the fire boiling in his veins but thinking of Aiya again, and why she was where she was, his anger remained.

But he forced himself to reply through gritted teeth doing his best not to sound too pissy.

"Yes."

Sardini smiled sadly at him, and her tiny hand slid into his large calloused one as she said,
"Let's go get ice cream."