The two mutations Seth liked the look of were the Drakavac and the pixie mutation. Both were powerful, they could be used as a weapon or shield, depending on the circumstances.
This was though only if he was interpreting the mutations correctly. The usefulness of each would be ultimately dependent on how he used it, not on the mutation itself.
As Seth continued to think about the different uses for each mutation and the possible draw back of each until Mongrel returned.
"Sorry it took so long, I got us burgers as well though" said Mongrel.
"Thank you Mongrel. What did you get us to drink?"
"The local special of this little planet" Mongrel said while holding up two bottles of a light blue, almost translucent blue liquid.
"What is that, looks like dyed sea water"
"They call it ocean's blue" said Mongrel.
"Very creative" said Seth while rolling his eyes at the silly name.
"I know, I know, you don't like so badly though through names"
"It is just lazy"
"Just try it will ya"
"Fine" said Seth as he held out his hand to catch the bottle that was already flying though the air, having been thrown at him.
"How was ya search?" inquired Mongrel.
"Fruitful" replied Seth as he popped off the lid of the bottle with strange liquid in it.
"Well come on, don't leave me in the dark. What did ya find?"
"Two mutations, one called pixie, the other called Drakavac"
"Those both sound like they were named after animals. Can ya afford that?"
"I should be able to just afford them, but I will need to purchase an armour set with the pixie mutation"
"So it is less useful than the other one"
"When the armor is gone, I guess it is"
"So ya gonna go with the Drakavac mutation?"
"No"
"Why not? Ya said it was more useful. Surely you are not going to take the pixie mutation"
"I have not decided yet what mutation I want"
"What is stopping ya?" asked Mongrel before biting into his burger, spilling sauce all over himself.
"Money and how useful they will be"
"I don't get it. Don't ya have enough money and ya know what one is more useful"
"I do, but I need two mutations"
"Aren't ya already at ya limit?"
"Yes I am but if i want to keep my current abilities, like my strength and speed. I will have to change over to the Erymanthian mutation to replace my current ones.
"Opening a new spot for mutations that ya can use to enhance your combat strength?"
"Exactly"
"And what is the other reason?" asked Mongrel.
"I don't know enough about the pixie mutation"
"What more do ya need to know. Ya use magnetic waves to control magnetic metals, or induce currents in metals by moving the magnetic waves across the metal, what more would you want to know?"
"Yes, I think that is what I could do with it at least"
"So what am I not getting?"
"The metal we have inside of us as well as how precise of a control I can achieve"
"Oh shit, I had forgotten, but surely the metal would not be magnetic?"
"I don't know, all I do know is I want to be sure before I make my decision"
"Makes sense. How long would ya be out of commission as your body changes with the new mutations?"
"I don't know maybe 6 months. It will have to occur after the first mission we have. What about you Mongrel, what mutations are you going to change?" asked Seth before he took a swig of ocean mist.
"I never told ya did I"
"Tell me what?"
"Why they call us mongrels"
"I assume a stupid person thought they were being smart"
"Hahaha, probably, but the reason we are classed different, we are considered bastards that are not finished, dirty offspring, not human and not scout, a mix. A mongrel"
"I know you don't think so little of yourself"
"Ya are right, I don't most of the time, but that is why we are named"
"You know no one around you would think that. You are one of the best people I know"
"Not my point but thank ya. My point is unlike Scouts who have a central mutation, secondary mutations and finally augmentations. Mongrels cannot have a central mutation, we are limited to secondary mutations that are weaker than a scouts secondary mutations and augmentations that are weaker as well. I also cannot change any mutations. After it is done that is it a Mongrel cannot change mutations that is why we are defective"
"Mongrel ... I am sorry I did not know"
"Not many do"
"Why did you not tell me before. I would have not tortured you with the choices I have"
"That Seth. That right there is why I did not tell you. I need no pity from you or anyone else for that matter"
"That is not what I meant Mongrel"
Mongrel paused to drink his ocean mist, a big gulp finished the last of his drink.
"That is what ya meant Seth. It is okay, natural even, but by god, do I hate it. I am not someone in need of babying just because I cannot change my mutation. What about Maria? Do you not tell her about your mutations because she cannot have them" asked Mongrel.
"That is not why I don't tell her"
"Did you tell Jasmine?" said Mongrel.
"Do not bring her into this" Said Seth back with a seething tone. There was now two ways about it, it was a threat to drop this line of thought.
The silence lingered in the air as the rain on the window was crashing down.
Seth turned to look out upon the city, the rain made it so gloomy, the whole city looked sad. He used to love the rain, Jasmine his wife when she was with him used to say it was the worlds way of giving animals a break. A day of rest. Thus humans should observe the same as she would collect blankets and settle on the couch ready for the long day of TV that would follow.
Mongrel looked out across the city. The rain drops beaded up on the windows flowing down, reminding him of the days he spent in the orphanage. In those dull times the rain his only solace in among the countless rejections from families watching the children around him grown and then disappear. They now had a family. Why would they want to return?
The two men looked at the floor to ceiling window with the dark skies and grey world beyond. Their eyes began to water, the bittersweet memories surfacing and blinding the two to the present.