Carl felt he was allowed a moment with the woman, when he told her what he'd learned about her state. She was like any mother, he'd been present during some deliveries of babies, and that seemed innocent and pure somehow. There was no doubt Zara was a dangerous being now, but he had a hard time seeing it, the way she cared about her offspring. In her situation, wouldn't others have been just like her if they had her abilities? As a scientist, he was easily swayed, and would rather connect with his research subject than think of her as a monster.<br/><br/>Kal who had been allowed a new spectrum of emotions, liked the way he was able to inspire awe in her when she stepped in, her sentence decapitated. The doctor had been thirsty for answers, so Kal had given him what there was time for. The man had been helpful to Zara, and exhibited no threatening signs. Kal could sympathise with someone like that. He recast with the same light that her eyes glowed onto him, and felt the unhindered chemichals in his blood that a human meeting his mate did. Theirs was a reunion against the odds. Max's blood had jump-started his own healing, and copied off the rawer blood. He felt more whole now than before.<br/><br/>He listened to her forgiveness dispel his mistake of leaving her, and savored the heat of her face and the reaction of their child when he touched her belly. "We have lost nothing, today." he said, looking at the rounded part of her, below her breasts. It was true. Even if they'd gone through people to get here, and he'd died himself, they'd only become better and more complete. Their bodies were learning to become perfect. When he addressed the returning group she had a question for him, and he looked back at her with a confirming glint in his human eye. They had been fascinated by the tendrils of flesh weaving back together on his face, and when they came closer he'd broken the glass. Max's plates sprouted on him from between his muscles, and covered him in time to make shields against their shots. The natural armor wasn't enough to deflect the attack, but they regrew well after keeping the projectiles away from his organs, at least. Eating their remains still hot had helped rebuild him.<br/><br/>Kal remained the towering dragon-man he'd become when Zara dictated the new rules. She could have anything she wanted. He'd make sure they followed her lead. His posture did relax somewhat when she pushed against him, because that's what she meant to do. If she would rather talk to these inferior animals, he wouldn't object. While not able to surprise them this time, he was sure he could slaughter them before they could do any lasting harm on him and his mate and child.<br/><br/>Nathan had a grave expression when she talked to him. He knew not to keep his rifle aimed at her, he didn't want the same fate as Stone's group for his own, but he still needed to be weary, even if she was offering a kind of peace for now. He didn't need to agree that things had changed, so he simply listened. Zara had far more power now that she was backed up by the behemoth by her side. They all reacted, however, when she experienced pain from her baby swell. Kal was especially anxious, if Nathan had to judge by his body language. The giant concentrated on the doctor when he answered the woman. Nathan tried not to be pulled along for it. She was still dangerous, as was her offspring.<br/><br/>The threat of reprisals if they attacked now was enough to build the tension again. Nathan knew the next exchange of violence wouldn't go so smoothly. With that helmet on Kaldeio Silverman wouldn't be so easily felled, and then he'd have the time to get to them all. The other team had been annihilated, and there didn't seem to be a scratch on his exo skeleton. The way Zara went on about his own paycheck suggested she meant to please as many as she could. Good. He'd rather not go to war with them again, when they had leveled up in strength.<br/><br/>They all moved closer when her bleeding became a concern, and Kal helped her onto the bed, his helmet retreating into the skales of his spine and neck, his expression of perfect concern surprising everyone. "Zara?" Kal asked and stroked her cheek. He put his hand on her stomach as though the fingers could read her much better than the devices Carl had at his disposal. The giant meanace turned back to stare at Jonah, who lifted his weapon without aiming it, almost like a shield. Nathan knew there was no love lost between the altered creatures and Jonah. It seemed the animosity was enough to grant Carl access to her - the doctor could be a bridge between the humans and the post-humans. Kal was pleased by the doctors concern and agreed with his assessment of keeping her here, safe and calm.<br/><br/>Nathan listened to her when she gave her offer. He was still trying to wrap his head around all this, but his attention was transfixed on her when she came over. She was glowing with her motherhood and it wasn't like she hadn't been a very enticing woman before. Her logic appealed to him too, and when she cut her arm he couldn't help but stare at the blood. Before he could answer, however, Jonah stepped in between them.<br/><br/>"Wait. I'll take the deal." he said and grabbed her wrist to start pulling her toward his waiting lips. Jonah was greedy for his, mouth wide and tongue out. Jospehine was waiting behind him. Nathan saw a motion in the back, it was Kel's large arm gesturing. Before Nathan could wonder what the motion meant, Jonah and Josephine fell to the floor, gargling in agony, as though their screams were too thick to push through their throats. Kel came closer to look down at the spasming, contorting soldiers. He put his hand on Zara's shoulder.<br/><br/>Jonah's face split open, his teeth popping out like buttons off a ripped shirt, a black blade the same texture as Kel's armor shooting out. The rest of his human skin soon peeled from the growing being inside. Nathan aimed at the monster being birthed from Jonah's old shell while Josephine started to wail. "What's going on! Help him!" he demanded and then aimed the weapon at Kel. Kel didn't seem concerned with the threat and soon looked back as the creature, a much larger version of Max, immerged.<br/><br/>"I think Jonah had outlived his use in that form. He's much better now." Kel explained. Nathan gritted his teeth and waved violently at the gory remains of the admittedly hard to control soldier. Jospehine passed out. Her silence was sudden.<br/><br/>"Is this what you're offering me?" he shouted. "To try your blood and become this? I have a family." he said and shook his head while the rest of the group took a defensive formation, further away in the room, their leader staying close but very weary. He walked over to her. He needed to be diplomatic if he wanted to survive this. The creature that had been Jonah looked at him hungrily, but he had to trust Zara or Kel to keep him safe, at least for negotiations. "I don't want to die, so I suggest we be keep the peace while we're on this ship. I'll tell Weyland you overpowered us, which isn't a lie, and then you two can escape when we land. Doesn't mean I trust you, but I'd rather not fight, either." He backed off, eyes trained on her.<br/><br/>Nathan, did however, bend down to check Jospehine's vitals, and that's when Kel darted forward. A cloud of bullets was released to aid their commander, but Kel's back withstood the fire as he grabbed Nathan's neck and pushed him toward Zara's waiting arm. The commander gargled, but when he tried to use his weapon Kel ripped it off him, tearing the strap, and threw it to the wall. Even Carl was chocked by what was transpiring. "You seem like a level headed man, Nathan." Kel said while new scales grew to replace the old ones that he been shot out by the rest of the group. They were shouting for Kel to let go, but Kel had no such plans. He instead took hold of Zara's wrist to bring the bleeding forearm to Nathan's mouth. The commander's protests were muffled, and eventually his distressed coughing confirmed that he'd swallowed some of that ruby wealth. "But I want Zara to get what she wants."<br/><br/>The rife fire was aimed at the new spawn, Jonah, and it replied by showing its metallic teeth and salivating a silicone-like mass on to the floor before taking to climbing the walls to get away from the bullets. Carl shouted for them all to stop, so the equipment wouldn't be destroyed, just as Jonah disappeared into a vent, its cover clanking to the ground.<br/><br/>Nathan was dropped onto his knees, wiping his mouth and spitting. He looked up at her with her blood still on his hand, the taste ot it rich in his mouth. "W-what have you done?" he asked, eyes wide with horror and anger,  glistening with upset tears. "I-I... I don't want this. I have a wife and children. I..."<br/><br/>Her blood was more potent now, and Nathan was soon convulsing on the floor, heels of his boots stomping as he tried to get control back of his body, but failing.