Lizard Part 7: Changes Frank made his rounds through Yontsville. He didn't see anything that would harm the project. The citizens were going about their business. It was just another normal day. Frank headed back toward the base. He opened entrance to the underground facility and drove in. He parked his car in his space and walked toward the main building. Dr. Giberson was standing at the door waiting for him. "Ah, Frank," the Doctor said. "How have you been?" "Doing great, Doctor," Frank responded. "That's good. Where were you just now?" he asked. "I was making my rounds of the town," Frank answered. "I see," the Doctor said. He snapped his fingers. Several guard came around the corner and grabbed Frank. "I know you let the prisoners escape, Frank." "But, I...." "I don't want to hear what you have to say." The Doctor turned to the guards holding Frank. "Take him to an observation lab." Frank's eyes grew with fear as the guards drug him off. He struggled to get away from the guards, but it was of no use. ----------------------------------- Coming back from his break, Dr. Casada walked into the lab and saw that one of the observation labs was occupied. He didn't have anyone scheduled now. As he walked up to the window he saw Dr. Giberson standing over a strapped down figure. When he got closer he saw it was Frank. The Doctor was just taking a syringe out of Frank's furry arm. Then he left the room. A guard walked in and removed the straps and left. Frank just sat there. Dr. Giberson walked around to the observation window where Casada was watching Frank. "What did you do to him?" asked Casada. "I decided to try out the new formula," Giberson answered. Casada turned angrily to face Giberson. His mouth in a frightening tusky snarl. "You used Version Five on him? We haven't fully tested it yet," Casada growled. "Don't take that tone of voice with me, Dr. Boar," Giberson said confidently. "Why don't you watch Frank for your testing?" Giberson turned toward the observation window. Casada looked at Frank. Frank seemed to be more camel like. Casada just stood and watched Frank's body change from a humanoid camel to a regular camel. Frank looked around in horror. Then his eyes became vacant. The camel looked around for something to eat. "Frank is not going to spoil my fun anymore," Giberson said walking away. Casada knew Frank's mind was still in the camel. The camel mind is in control of the body. Frank is simply along for the ride. Casada didn't know if Giberson knew that or not. Casada designed Version Five that way. The person would be an animal in body and mind, but the process could be reversed. ----------------------------------- Tim and Darrel waited in the cave for three days. Frank never came back with supplies. Darrel had seemed to calm down. He would sit and think for long periods. He was still nervous about getting caught and changed into a shark. Tim was getting restless. He didn't like being cooped up for the past few days. He had to get out. He had to get supplies. "Darrel, I'm going into town," Tim finally said. "What? You can't go in town," Darrel said coming out of his deep thinking. "We need supplies. We have no food!" "We can hunt for something." "There isn't anything around this area," Tim said pointing out the cave opening. "I've already checked. I need to go." Tim waited for Darrel to respond, but he didn't. "I'll ask Milly to get some food. I can't just go to the supermarket." "Be careful," Darrel said as Tim left the cave. "I will," Tim called back. He started his journey to town. He had a good sense of direction. Hopefully he could find his way back to the cave. He thought he could if he got back before dark. He managed to sneak into Milly's backyard without being seen. He didn't know if he was on the most wanted list or not. He didn't want to take the chance with the neighbors. But, he could trust Milly. He knocked on the back door and waited. Milly finally came to the door. "Tim, where were you?" she asked hugging him. She pulled him inside by his arm. "Are you ok? What happened?" "It's a long story," Tim said. "I'll explain it later. I need you to do me a favor." "Sure. Anything." "I need some food." "Food?" She looked concerned. "I can't go to my house or the grocery store. Can you go get some?" Milly walked into the kitchen. Tim followed. She opened the cupboard where she kept soup and caned fruit. "You can take some of mine," she said. "I'll stock up later." "Thanks, Milly." Tim kissed her on her furry cheek. She helped him load some of the caned food into a sack. She also lent him a pot to cook it in. Tim thanked her again and sneaked back to the cave. Darrel was overjoyed to see Tim return. He couldn't wait to start eating. Tim handed Darrel the sack to rummage through. "So, where's the can opener?" he asked seeing all the canned food. "Oh, man. I forgot it," Tim said. "You don't happen to have a knife on you, do you?" "No," Darrel replied. "I have a can opener," came a voice from outside the cave. Milly poked her head in. "Milly, what are you doing here?" asked Tim "You forgot the can opener," she said holding it up to glimmer in the light. Tim quickly blocked her from coming in. "You shouldn't have followed me, Milly. You can get into danger." Milly pushed her way into the cave. "Danger? What danger could you get in....?" she trailed off when she spotted Darrel. "A... A..." She fainted. "I must have that impression on women of all species," Darrel joked. "Help me get her out into the fresh air," Tim said lifting her from under her arms. Darrel grabbed her legs, and they both carried her out of the cave. They laid her down on a soft grassy spot and tried to revive her. They were too busy to notice a figure watching them from behind a distant tree and then leave toward town. ------------------------------------ Dr. Giberson sat behind his desk. Cindy was to bring him the results of the search for Tim and his human friend. She wasn't late yet. Knowing Cindy, she won't be late. He leaned back in his chair and propped his feet up. Just when he got comfortable, there was a knock at the door. "Come in," he called. "Dr. Giberson," Cindy said poking her equine head around the door. "I have the current situation of the search." "Let's hear it." "There is no sign of Tim or the human," Cindy said. "We have searched the whole town. The police are on the lookout for Tim. We are searching the rest of the island as we speak." Giberson was disappointed. "Keep up the good work. I know you can find him." "Thank you, Doctor," Cindy replied. She turned and left the office. The phone rang when Cindy closed the door behind her. "Hello?" answered Giberson. "Doctor, there is an aircraft landing on the airstrip," the voice on the other end said. "An aircraft? We don't have anything scheduled!" Giberson screamed. "I know that, sir. It looks to be a military airplane." Giberson sighed. "Get the gas bomb ready." -------------------------------------- Richard Graves didn't know what to expect on this assignment. All he knew was that he had to apprehend a Dr. Robert Giberson. So, that's all he could tell his men. He wasn't positive, but he thought that this doctor is connected to the Animalizer thing. The FDA was outraged that something like that got pasted them. The plane laded on an airstrip on the island. Graves ordered his men to move out. He followed. They were in the middle of a forest. No sign of any kind of base. "Where is this doctor?" he asked himself. "Ok, men!" he shouted. "Let's find this Giberson guy. Move out!" The squad split up to search the woods on both sides of the airstrip. Suddenly there was an explosion from the middle of the clearing. Graves turned and saw a gas emitting from the source of the explosion. He hurriedly put his gas mask to his face. It didn't fit properly. He couldn't explain it. It fit perfectly before. He looked around at his men for any injuries. They all seemed to be in pain. Some were trying to keep their gas mask to their oddly shaped heads. Graves was in suddenly hit by a tremendous pain as another pair of arms pushed their way out from his sides halfway between his arms and legs. His body twisted and contorted as his bones disappeared and his skin became armored. Then the pain stopped. He looked around at his men. They all seemed to be fine. "Ok, men. Let's go back to the base. Our mission was a success." They all followed Graves single file to the facility. --------------------------------- Giberson watched the monitor happily. The Version Four Gas Bomb prototype worked. Now he had an army on his side. An army of army ants. ---------------------------------- Ned couldn't believe it, but he managed to get the neighborhood gathered at his house for the meeting. Being the new porcupine in town, he didn't know if anyone would show up. This was important. Something had to be done. He walked up to the front of the room and quieted everyone down. "Everybody, thanks for coming. I am Ned Boiger. I'm new to this town. I'm sorry to say that I have to bring you this news. I have seen a Homo Sapien." The crowd burst into a constant chatter. "People! A real live Homo Sapien is on our island," Ned shouted above the din. "We have to get it for the zoo," shouted one person. "No, we need to study it," shouted another. "Let's go get it," shouted others. Ned didn't have a chance to say anything. The mob charged out of his house with him in the front being forced to lead the way to the Homo Sapien.