When I returned to my apartment, and my body reverted back to its normal form... I could feel something had changed.

Though I've become somewhat accustomed to shifting like this every month... this time was different. When I transform, I take precautions to ensure I'm not around anyone else. This time, I was forcibly transformed until nightfall-- or at least, the rough approximation of night in that place. All while doing a substantial amount of field work and physical activity.

It seems that, combined with the 'acceleration' that comes with completing these jobs, my connection to this... side of me, has grown significantly stronger. If I merely will it, I feel that I'm able to now call upon these urges and trigger my transformation near instantly.

I'm... rather reluctant to experiment with these changes further. However, if I'm to remain in control and continue surviving the dangerous situations these jobs will throw at me... I'll have to learn somehow.

After the events of the last Contract, I've come to the conclusion that I need a way to subdue people more reliably. I can't resort to going all out every time some jackass decides to crash out, or when I have to defend myself against giant rats, or whenever else things fall apart horribly. I need to be able to stay in control.

I've never been a great shot-- only ever got good enough to get by. If most officers at the precinct were shooting at a 6, I was at a 3 or 4 at most. Besides, guns simply just... aren't my style. Too loud, too traceable, too unreliable.

So instead, I decided to start practice hitting things. Really, really hard.

I was never bad at CQC, though it wasn't really my specialty before, either. This time? It just came naturally. Before I knew it, I was able to catch bullets barehanded, and move in a way to single out anyone in a crowd. Must be something related to my instincts growing stronger with these jobs.

Either way, I'll be ready next time things go wrong.