Lizard Part 8: Finale It took a while, but Tim and Darrel finally calmed Milly down after she woke up. She was hysterical at first. She couldn't believe that a real live Homo Sapien was here. Tim had told her the whole story about how Darrel got here. He conveniently left out all the parts about the islanders being transformed humans. Luckily Darrel did also. No telling what Milly would have done if she found out that she wasn't really a kangaroo. Night came, and the three had a lovely dinner. Tim had cooked vegetable soup over a fire they built. They sat around talking. Milly wanted to know all about the Homo Sapien. After a short while Tim thought he heard a noise. "Did you hear something?" he asked. "No," the others responded. "It sounded like something moving," Tim said standing up looking in the direction the noise came from. Milly and Darrel looked, too. "I don't see anything," Milly said. Suddenly from behind them several figures rushed out from the shadows. Tim saw Milly fall from a blow to the head. He rushed to her pushing the attackers out of his way. Milly was out cold. Tim grabbed a large stick that was to be used for the fire and swung it at the attackers. He saw that Darrel was standing his ground. Several of the foes surrounded Tim. He sent a few running away with head wounds. Unfortunately, he didn't get all of them. One of the attackers managed to knock Tim out with a blow to the head. Tim woke up to Milly's voice. She was leaning over him. "Tim, you are going to be fine," she was saying not seeing Tim was awake. "Milly?" Tim asked raspy. "Tim! You were knocked out. I was too. But, don't worry. Neither of us show any sings of internal bleeding." "What about Darrel?" Tim asked slightly raising his head. Milly hesitated and then cried, "They took him." ------------------------------------- Ned was among the mob. After they found the Homo Sapien and captured it, he became insignificant. The mob was set on putting it into the zoo or a lab. They had the thing's arms and legs strapped together and tied to a pole that was carried between two people. It was unconscious at the moment. Ned liked it better that way. Even though it was bound, he didn't want to know what it would do if it was awake. He thought he heard it speak during the fight. The thought of something that can speak tied up like that made him feel sorry for getting the mob together to begin with. He should have kept finding the Homo Sapien a secret. Tim and his neighbor, whatever her name was, must have had some reason to associate with it. The mob took the captive creature through town. The police would keep it over night until they decided what to do with it. Ned hoped the mob kept its curiosity about the creature so they wouldn't kill it on the spot. Suddenly a shot rang out. Ned saw one of the men carrying the pole the creature was strapped to fall. People screamed and scattered. The other man eased the creature to the ground and ran to the other's side. Ned looked around and didn't see anybody. The street lights didn't light up the alleys too well. Another shot hit one of the people near Ned. Ned saw that he was hit with a tranquilizer. More shots found their targets while a stream of darkly dressed figures poured out of the allies. The dark figures outnumbered them. Ned and the few mob members remaining conscious were forced to flee. Two of the figures grabbed the Homo Sapien. Ned saw that they looked like ants. The two ran off into the alley they came out with the creature. Ned got his courage up and ran after the two. He reached the alley. Ned brought out his flashlight he carried to show the way to the cave and shined it down the alley. The two figures or the creature were nowhere to be seen. ------------------------------------- Tim and Milly ran through town in the direction they thought the mob went. Tim thought it was Giberson's men that attacked them, but Milly insisted it was townsfolk. She said she recognized Mr. Sutphin, one of the men on their street, before she was knocked out. Tim went with this notion, but he knew that Giberson was involved somehow. They heard gun shots in the distance. "Oh, no," Tim said. He hoped Darrel wasn't the target of those shots. They ran toward the source of the shots. When they reached the area, they saw several people lying on the street and yards nearby. Darrel wasn't one of the people. Milly ran to the side of one of the victims. "They were hit with tranquilizers," she said looking back at Tim. "They will be fine in a few hours." "What happened here?" Tim asked no one in particular. "We were attacked," came a voice from an alley. Tim spun around and faced the person. When the person stepped into the light Tim saw it was a porcupine. It was Ned. "We were attacked and the Homo Sapien was taken." "Who did it?" Milly asked. "I don't know. They were a bunch of ants," Ned replied. He looked nervous. "Tim, I'm sorry. I didn't know all this was going to happen." "Sorry for what?" Tim asked. "I was the one who told them where you were hiding it. I didn't know it was going to turn into a mob." "He is a 'he'. Not an 'it'. His name is Darrel," Milly said angrily. "He is human as much as you and me." "Sorry," Ned replied. "If there is anything I can do...." "Go report this to the police. But leave out the part about the Homo Sapien. Milly and I will make sure these people are safe until they revive" Tim said. "I'll do it," Ned said. "I'm so sorry." He ran off toward the police station. Milly and Tim carried the tranquilized people to a yard nearby and arranged them in rows. None of them seemed injured. "Milly, I need to go find Darrel," Tim said after they got everybody off the street and into the yard. "Go find him? How?" she asked. "I think I know who captured him..." "Who?" "I can't say," Tim responded. "Just promise me you won't follow me this time. Someone needs to stay to take care of these people." Milly stared deafeningly at him for awhile. She then gave in, "I promise." "I have your word," he said running off. "Be careful," she yelled. "I will," Tim yelled back. He wished he learned how to drive. He had a long trip ahead of him. ----------------------------------------- Darrel woke up in the same lab room he and Tim were in a few days ago. He was back at the facility. If he doesn't escape he is going to become a shark guard for that crazy doctor. He looked around the room. All that was in there was a bed fastened to the floor with sheets and a pillow. A mirror almost filled one wall. He assumed it was a two way mirror. The door was locked from the outside. "There's got to be a way out of here," he said to himself. The door opened. A human guard stepped in. The doctor followed. A boar man came in last. He was carrying a syringe. He closed the door behind him. "Good morning, human," the doctor said. "I am Dr. Giberson. I still don't know your name." Darrel sat on the bed without saying a word. "It doesn't matter. You are going to be a new person." Giberson turned to face the boar man. "Dr. Casada, will you do the honor?" The boar motioned to the guard. The guard grabbed Darrel and held him still. Darrel tried to get away, but the guard was too powerful. The boar prepared the syringe and injected it into Darrel's arm. Darrel didn't know for sure, but the boar had a sad look on his face. "Too, bad your friend Tim couldn't see this," Giberson said as the guard released Darrel. Darrel still didn't say anything. "It doesn't matter how defiant you are now, human. When the transformation is complete, you will be my loyal guard." Giberson, the boar, and the guard all stood around Darrel watching him. "Dr. Giberson," the boar said, "the transformation is starting. We should leave." "Very well," Giberson said walking toward the door. Casada and the guard followed. "I'll see you later, shark." Darrel was scared. He didn't want to see what was happening to him. There had to be a way to escape. But when a chunk of hair fell onto the bed, he knew it was over. He glanced up at the mirror. He saw himself sitting on the bed. He didn't look different, except the fact that his hair was falling out. He thought he saw a grayish tint to his skin. Extreme pain shot through his body, and he passed out. --------------------------------- Casada watched through the observation window. Giberson had tired of watching the transformation and had left the lab. The nameless human was well into his transformation now. Casada wished he didn't have to change him. But, it was the only way. If he didn't Giberson would have not only transformed the human in the shark creature, but he would have also transformed Casada completely into a boar. Just like Frank is now a camel. "If only Dr. Yonts was still here," Casada thought to himself. "Giberson is ruining the project by enforcing new rules to protect it." Casada didn't know that Giberson had transformed Dr. Yonts into the lizard man named Tim Grey until he was captured with the human a few days ago. No telling how many people Giberson had transformed to his will behind his back. "He has gone too far." --------------------------------- Tim arrived at the forest where he found Darrel. He was careful to hide from the cameras this time. The air vent they crawled through with Frank was around here somewhere. Tim searched for hours keeping to the undergrowth. He hoped his green skin helped him blend in. Then he found it. The vent was well hidden by shrubs and small trees. Unfortunately, Tim discovered it was locked tightly. He didn't have any tools with him either. Discouraged, he set off to find another air vent. After a short time, he arrived at the airstrip. An airplane was still parked there. A group of humans and morphs were doing something. It looked like they were going to fly the plane. Tim stayed hidden and watched. After about ten minutes, the plane started and took off down the runway. The rest of the people that were working headed off into the forest. Tim decided to follow. They arrived at a small clearing. One of the people took out what looked like a remote control and pressed a button. A portion of the ground started to rise. Eventually a door was exposed. The group of people walked in. Tim ran up to the door. He slipped in before the door closed and stayed back from the group in front of him. The passageway sloped down a ways. Then it leveled out and opened up into a huge cavern with buildings. Tim saw the group go into one of the buildings marked "Offices". He followed them. When he got in the building, the people he followed were no where to be found. He sneaked down the hall. He was looking for some clue as to where Darrel was. Frank would have been a big help. Suddenly he heard voices and footsteps. They were coming from ahead of Tim around the corner in the hall. And they were heading this way. Tim looked around for a place to hide. The empty hall provided nothing. Then three people that the voices belonged to turned the corner. They were still human. They saw Tim. "Afternoon," one of them said to Tim. "How are you?" Tim politely responded. "Just fine," the other said still walking with the other humans. The three passed Tim and continued with their business. Even though Tim knew everybody on the island used to be human, it was still amazing to see so many humans in one place. He was amazed at that and the fact they didn't stop him. Maybe they didn't know he didn't work here. Not wanting to question that too much, Tim continued on his hunt for Darrel. He passed many doors. None of which said anything about Frank or a lab. Then he came upon a door with Giberson's name on it. "So this is his office," Tim thought to himself. He poked his head in, not knowing what to do if Giberson was in there. And he was. "Tim!" Giberson said looking up from his desk. "How did you get in here?" He pressed a button on his desk. "Security, there is an intruder in my office." "We know, sir," came a voice over the intercom. "We were just about to inform you when he opened your door." "Well, get over here!" Giberson pressed another button. The door locked behind Tim. "I know what brings you here, Tim. It's too late. Your human friend is now one of my guards. He seems happy as a shark." "NO!!" Tim yelled. "You are just like what you use to be. Phil didn't want to transform anyone unless they were willing. I found it to be a great disciplinary function. You were never willing to take chances." "I'm not Phil anymore. I'm Tim. And it is because of you!" Tim yelled. "Why, thank you," Giberson acted flattered. "No one has given me credit, yet. But, that will change. You see, I have already shipped a load of the Animalizer to the USA. They seem to be liking it." "You. You...." "Tim, I wouldn't get me too angry at you. You might end up like your friend Frank." "Frank? What did you do to Frank?" Tim was getting furious. This man was crazy. "Look," Giberson said punching another button on his desk. A monitor popped on with an image of a camel eating. "That's Frank? You turned him into a camel?!" "He is all camel. Mind and body," Giberson said with a twisted smile. "You killed him!" "I didn't kill him. He is alive. He is just alive as a camel." "You killed his mind. You killed him!" "Then I guess I will be killing you AGAIN when you change completely into a lizard," The twisted smile became an evil grin. "Don't you think it is fitting. You becoming what you named the project after?" Tim leaped at Giberson knocking him to the floor, his claws digging into flesh. Giberson screamed with pain. Giberson took his foot and pushed Tim off of him. Tim fell backwards. He leapt to his feet after regaining his composure. Giberson ran towards the door. Tim's lizard legs enabled him to catch up to Giberson and trip him. Giberson fell flat on his face and began kicking at Tim hanging on his feet. He began crawling toward cover under his desk. Tim was on top of him in a flash. He began punching Giberson in the face with his scaly fists. Giberson reached for the garbage can near by with one hand and trying to block Tim's blows with the other. He grabbed the can and swung it at Tim's head. Tim fell over from the blow. Giberson scurried toward his desk. He then stood up quickly holding his chair like a shield. Someone pounded on the office door. Tim figured it was the security. He had to take care of Giberson now. Tim got to his feet and faced Giberson. "Phil was right," Tim said. "You don't know how to run this project. It is just a big power trip to you. And then you want to make a profit from it!" Tim was slowly approaching Giberson. The pounding at the door continued. "I did what was needed. We needed more money," Giberson said backing up. "YOU needed money," Tim yelled over the pounding. Giberson backed into his desk. He groped around and pressed a button. The door swung open revealing a large shark man in a security uniform. He was carrying a gun. "Shoot him! Shoot him!" Giberson cried. "He is out of control." The guard aimed the gun at Tim. Tim froze in his tracks. "Isn't it ironic?" Giberson panted with a smile on his face. "You getting shot with the lizard transformation formula by the friend you were trying to protect?" Horrible feelings ran through Tim. This shark guard with a gun pointed at him was Darrel. Tim looked into the sharks dark eyes. All he saw was the cold intent to shot Tim. "What are you waiting for? Shoot him!" Giberson shouted. The guard eased his finger on the trigger. Tim closed his eyes. He heard the gun go off. But he didn't feel anything. Then he heard a yell. It was from Giberson. Tim opened his eyes and saw the shark lower his gun. The tranquilizer dart that was filled with the formula was sticking out of Giberson's back. "NO!" Giberson yelled. His voice was becoming raspier. Giberson's hair was falling out as green scales took their place. He was shrinking also. Tim watched as the doctor disappeared into a pile of clothes. A small green head poked out from under the clothes. The gecko darted past Tim and Darrel and took off down the hall. Tim and the shark stood speechless. "It is still me, Tim," the shark said. "I'm still Darrel." "How? I thought they were going to give you a new personality." "Giberson wanted to. But, Dr. Casada, the boar, didn't. He gave me the formula that only changes the body and not the mind. Giberson thought that Casada gave me the other." "I'm sorry I didn't make it in time to keep you from changing," Tim said. "I...." "Don't worry. I kind of like it," Darrel said looking at his hand flexing it. "I discovered I can breath in water and air." "Frank!" Tim suddenly realized. "I wonder if Dr. Casada can restore him." "I'll lead the way," Darrel said. They both left Giberson's office and ran toward the parking lot. Darrel had a security car parked out in front. They both hopped inside. Darrel drove to the lab. "Of course I can restore him," Dr. Casada said. "But only to his humanoid camel form. I managed to keep a secret from Giberson. Frank's mind didn't get replaced by the camel's. Frank is hidden in the background." "So, Giberson is the same way?" Tim asked. "Yes, I'm afraid so. But, I don't think the gecko mind will let someone catch him to change him back." Casada prepared a syringe and walked into the camel's room. He injected the contents into the foreleg. After a few minutes, the camel shrank and became more human. Finally the camel-morph Frank was standing there. "Boy, it's nice to be me again," Frank said. "Well, as much me as I can be. I was about tired of chewing and spitting." He then saw Darrel. "Who's this?" "I'm Darrel. The human you helped escape with Tim," Darrel replied. "Sorry to see you were still changed," Frank said. "Don't be," Darrel cut in. "Can't you change him back?" Frank asked Casada. "I can't change any of us back into humans," Casada replied. "I haven't developed a way yet. But some day...." "What's going to happen to the project now?" Tim asked. "Well, since you are back, you can be in charge of it. I'm sure the workers will accept you as you are," Casada said. "No, I can't do that. I don't remember anything about the project," Tim said. "Besides, I like living in Yontsville. Why don't you be in charge?" "Me? I'll be honored," Casada said. "I'll stay here and work," Darrel said. "This security work is exciting." "I'll show you the ropes," Frank told Darrel. "Hold it right there!" shouted a voice coming from one of the doors to the lab. The group looked toward the sound. A stream of ant men in army clothes ran in. All of them had guns pointed at the four. "I have this under control," Darrel said authoritatively. "There is no threat here." "The lizard is a trespasser," the ant that had been talking said. Tim figured he was the one in command. Although he didn't know what rank. "No, he isn't," Casada jumped in. "He is one of my assistants who has been working undercover in the town." "Dr. Giberson has ordered the arrest of that man," the ant said. Darrel spoke up. "The Doctor has retired. He left for the USA. Dr. Casada is in charge of the project now." "Why wasn't I notified?" the ant asked. "I was the one responsible for relaying the message. I just haven't gotten to you yet," Darrel responded. The ants didn't seem to care. All the guns were still aimed at the four men. Eventually, the leader shrugged his shoulders. "Very well. Ok, men. Fall out!" The army of ants left the room single file. "I feel sorry for them," Casada said shaking his head after all the insects were gone. "Why?" asked Darrel. "They are just army ants doing their job." "They were an army squad that was given orders to capture Giberson and close down the production of Animalizer," Casada explained. "Giberson changed them all. Mind and body." "You can't give them back their old memories?" Tim asked. "Although with a little more research I might be able to change them back into their human form, I don't think I can restore memory, Tim. But, I'll try." "What about me?" Frank asked. "I was a dumb camel." "That was a special case," Casada explained. "Version Five was designed to keep the original personality in tact. It was just hidden. The other mind changing versions actually erased the old memories." Tim hated to hear that. Not only because the ants would never remember who they really were, but Tim would never know his own former life. Who knows how many others were changed this way. After the four visited for awhile, Frank drove Tim home. Milly was waiting there for him. "What happened?" she asked as Frank drove off. "Where's Darrel?" "I couldn't save him," Tim replied sadly. "The ants had killed him before I got to their ship. They took his body across the ocean." "I'm sorry." Tears welled up in her eyes. She gave Tim a big hug. "I'll be fine," Tim said. "I know he is in a better place, now." He hugged her tighter.