Lizard Part 6: Risks Dr. Giberson strolled back to his office after seeing that the cargo plane had taken off. He was pleased that the first shipment of Animalizer was on its way to the USA. He was surprised at how many orders were received on the first day the commercial aired. This is going to make him rich! He walked into his office and sat down behind his desk propping his feet on it. All he has to do is sit back and wait for the money to roll in. "Dr. Giberson!" a guard's voice came over the intercom. "Yes?" Giberson asked leaning toward the intercom. "Doctor, there seems to be some trespassers leaving the airstrip. Our security cameras picked them up. They are heading for Yontsville on foot." "On foot?" Giberson was surprised. Yontsville was about twenty miles away. "Do you seen any type of vehicle?" "No, sir," the guard answered. Someone must be trying to escape the facility. He hoped they weren't employees for their sake. It could be one of the test subject for the new formula. "Bring them back here and lock them in one of the lab rooms." "Yes, sir." Giberson leaned back in his chair again. He hated interruptions like this. -------------------------------------- Tim and Darrel were on their way toward Yontsville. It was a long walk, but Tim loved to walk. He didn't know how Darrel felt about their long journey, but the human was keeping up. "So, what's it like?" asked Darrel. It was the first thing said for the last few miles. "What's what like?" asked Tim. "Being a lizard man," Darrel replied. "What's it like being a reptile?" "I don't know. I can't compare it to anything. I don't remember anything before waking up like this about a week ago. I don't remember what it was like being human." "I was just wondering," Darrel said. "I've never talked to a lizard before. I always wanted to know what it was like to have scales or to be cold-blooded. I don't want to get turned into one though. No offense." "Well, I don't know how to explain any of that. Sorry...." Tim trailed off. He saw lights behind them in the distance. They were cars coming from the facility. "Duck," Tim yelled pushing Darrel to the ground. This part of the island was pretty bare. No trees, but there were a few sparse bushes. Hopefully the cars won't see them on the ground this far from the road. Darrel and Tim lay still watching the cars drive by. One was a truck with a spotlight on the back of it searching the sides of the road. The beam swept too close to where they were laying. The beam was heading back in their direction. "Let's go," Tim said pulling on Darrel's arm. They both crawled away quickly. Tim was much faster than Darrel. Tim heard a shot ring from the caravan of cars. "Tim!" Darrel yelled. Tim crawled back to Darrel. He had been shot with a tranquilizer and was out cold. Tim tried to drag him away, but he was too heavy. Another shot hit Tim in the arm. He managed to pull it out just before he blacked out. -------------------------------- Giberson hurriedly walked to the lab. The trespassers were being held there until he decided what to do with them. He didn't like going to the "Back End", but dealing punishment was one of the enjoyable parts of his job. He stepped into the lab and walked over to the observation window. The people inside couldn't see him through the two way mirror. In the room he saw a lizard and a human. "Casada, is that Tim?" Giberson asked. The boar stopped what he was doing and ran up to the Doctor. "Yes, that is Tim Grey." "And who is the human?" "We are not sure, Doctor," Casada said. "He doesn't work for us." "Give me the microphone," Giberson ordered. Casada handed him the microphone and flipped on a switch. "Hello, Tim." His voice came over the speakers in the observation room. Tim and the human looked toward the mirror. "Who are you?" asked Tim. "Why, you don't remember me, do you?" Giberson said. "I am Dr. Giberson. The former assistant of the person you used to be. Who is your friend?" "Why do I have to tell you?" Tim asked. "You don't have to. When we are through with him, he will be someone else anyway." "What do you mean?" asked the human. "We can't just let you go. You are going to become one of the residents here. Now, let's see. What animal should you become?" Giberson paused to act like he was thinking. He knew exactly what animal he needed. The human would not live in Yontsville, but would work in the facility. "How about a shark. I need a new guard to patrol the waters." "I will do no such thing," the human said. "Oh, but you will. You see, after you have changed into an anthropomorphic shark, your memories will have been replaced. You will think you have always been a shark morph and have worked for me for most of your live. You will be a loyal guard." "Doctor," Casada said. "Sorry to interrupt, but you have an important phone call." "Tell them to hold. I'm driving back to my office to take it," Giberson said turning off the microphone switch. "You heard what to do with the human. Wipe Tim's memory also. But, let's keep him a lizard." "Yes, Doctor," the boar answered. Giberson left the lab and drove to his office on the other side of the facility. He got behind his desk and picked up the phone. "Hello." "Bob, this is Brian," the person on the other end said. "Hi, Brain...." "Bob, this Animalizer thing you are selling needs to be recalled." "Why?" "The FDA is furious." "That's why I paid you." "I sneaked it past them once. But, if they trace it to me. I'm the one going to jail, and I'm dragging you with me." "Brian, I know you can get away with it. You've done it before." "But this is different," Brian nervously said. He sounded angry also. "It could be dangerous." "Why start sounding like someone at the FDA, now? What could be dangerous about people changing into part animal?" "It is potentially dangerous." "We've tested it thoroughly here. There are no side effects." "Well, I am warning you," Brian hung up the phone. Giberson sat back in his chair to think. "The Animalizer will succeed. It has to." He was only selling Version One. He didn't want to mess with people's minds. He just wanted to let people partially change into the animals they like and make a profit off of it. -------------------------------------- Tim sat in the lab observation room. He knew what they planed for Darrel, but he wasn't sure about what to expect for himself. Darrel was sitting on the floor contemplating his fate. "So, the person I am will just cease to exist, and I will be this shark freak and not know any better," Darrel said to himself. Tim sat there thinking about what Darrel said. The same thing already happened to him. The only difference was the Tim didn't have any memories about his past. It sounded like the formula would make a new history for Darrel. "That must be Version Four. The new formula Dr. Yonts wrote about," Tim thought to himself. Dr. Philip Yonts was who Tim used to be. He overheard Dr. Giberson saying something about Version Four, but he didn't know what it did. Now, Tim knew. The door to the room opened. Darrel looked up ready to fight. Frank stepped in. "I'm here to free you," Frank said. Darrel looked confused. "How do we know, Frank? You were supposed to be my friend. And know you are here at this lab," Tim sat prepared for Frank to tranquilize them again. "I've worked here when you started L.I.Z.A.R.D. I mean when Dr. Yonts started L.I.Z.A.R.D. He hired me," Frank said walking in the room with his arms up. Tim couldn't see any weapons. "You know this camel guy?" asked Darrel. "I'm not sure," Tim said. "Tim, what they have done to you before is horrible. But, they plan to wipe your memory again, or replace it with another. I can't allow that," Frank said. Tim didn't know what to do. It seemed that going with Frank would be the best choice. "Let's go then." "We're going with him?" asked Darrel surprised. "If we don't go, we will be changed. If we do go, we might be changed. I want to go with the might," Tim explained. Frank checked outside the door. "The coast is clear," he said. "Let's go now." They all three sneaked down the hall. Tim was surprised that they didn't run into anyone in the hall. Frank led them to an air vent. "This leads up to the surface." They crawled into the vent. It gradually slopped up. They reached outside without any trouble. They must have been out for a long time. It was morning now. Frank had a car parked nearby. "They shouldn't stop my car. I make daily trips to Yontsville to check up on things," Frank said getting into his car. "I know of a good hiding place in the woods outside of town." Tim and Darrel hoped into the car and Frank drove off. Frank stopped the car on the edge of the woods outside of town. "This is as far as we can drive," he said getting out of the car. They proceeded to walk into the woods. Frank was leading. After about a mile, Frank bend down an pushed some bushes back. Behind it was the opening to a cave. It was well hidden. The three of them crawled inside. It was big enough for four people to camp comfortably. "How do you like it?" asked Frank. "I think I could live here for awhile," Tim replied. "Darrel?" Darrel nodded then continued looking around the cave. He has gone through a lot since last night. "Well, I better get back. I need to actually do my rounds," Frank said with a small laugh. "I'll try to bring some supplies." He turned and left. Tim and Darrel stayed in the cave. Darrel sat on the floor of the cave and seemed to be thinking things out. Tim couldn't help but wonder how long they would have to hide.