Wolf and the Shapeshifter Signal
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Volume 6
Chapter 1: The Rescue Beacon
The stars were quiet. For once.
Wolf leaned back in his pilot seat, fiddling with a broken joystick he'd meant to fix three space cycles ago.
Moon, his trusty space dachshund, snoozed in the corner with one eye half open.
Then it happened.
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
A bright red alert blinked on the main console:
Rescue Beacon Activated… Unknown Coordinates.
Wolf sat up. “That’s either someone in trouble... or someone trying to cause trouble.”
Moon jumped onto the dashboard, ears alert.
Wolf tapped the screen. “Let’s beam 'em in.”
Chapter 2: Incoming Passenger
A swirl of green light filled the center of the cockpit. The teleport pad buzzed and glitched, sparks flying.
And then plop!
A small, sleek cat with glowing violet eyes and a curled tail stood on the pad.
It blinked once.
“Meow,” it said.
Moon lost it.
He barked, spun in circles, and launched straight at the cat.
“Moon, no!” Wolf yelled, diving to grab him.
The cat shimmered, and suddenly wasn’t a cat. It looked like a floating jellyfish. Then it blinked again and became a mini Moon.
Moon froze, mid-bark, staring at the copy of himself.
“Meep,” said the fake Moon.
Chapter 3: The Shifter’s Story
Wolf separated the two with a force field.
The real Moon paced in circles. The shifter, now back in cat form, curled its tail politely.
“Alright,” Wolf said. “Who are you?”
The cat spoke, clear and calm. “I am Zarn, a Neomorph from the planet Mimicon. My ship was destroyed by asteroid sharks. I activated my emergency beacon.”
Wolf blinked. “Did you say asteroid sharks?”
Zarn nodded. “Very bitey.”
Wolf scratched his head. “So... you can become anything?”
“Anything I’ve seen. I thought mimicking your companion would calm him.”
Wolf looked over. Moon was still growling.
“Yeah. No offense, but maybe don’t do that again.”
Chapter 4: Trouble from the Outside
Before Wolf could set a course to return Zarn home, the ship jolted.
“Uh... Moon? Did you leave the defense shield off again?”
Moon barked and hit the alarm.
On the radar: two pirate cruisers, headed straight for them.
“They must’ve followed the beacon,” Wolf muttered. “Zarn, can you fight?”
Zarn grinned. “Only if you like surprise tactics.”
The cockpit lit up with flashing lights.
Outside the rocket, a giant version of Zarn appeared, projected into space as a terrifying space kraken. The pirates spun their ships around and fled without firing a shot.
Wolf blinked. “Okay. That was awesome.”
Moon barked twice and was impressed.
Chapter 5: Friends in Strange Forms
With the pirates gone, Wolf set a course for Mimicon.
Zarn paced the deck. “I appreciate the rescue. If you ever need a disguise, a diversion, or someone to freak out pirates... call me.”
Moon barked.
Zarn turned into a bowl of dog treats. “Apology?”
Moon sniffed, barked once, then ate the treats.
Wolf laughed. “Guess you’re part of the crew now.”
As the ship cruised toward the stars, Wolf stretched.
“Where to next, Moon?” Wolf asked.
Moon looked at Zarn, barked once, then pointed his nose at the navigation screen.
Wolf hit the throttle.
The End... or is it just another disguise?