Hi all! I'm writing a story (my first story in PIMD) and would like feedback. All coments are welcome! I apologize for spelling errors. Alligator Man - Origins I supose that i'm supposed to introduce myself at this point. The only problem is that I don't say my name. Well I do, but only to a few people. I go by Swamp man, or otherwise known as the "Alligator Man". I wasn't born with it, not at all. It was a bad situation, and I'm left to suffer for the rest of forever, probably in a stinky, old swamp. A while ago, I was quietly sitting in my bed, another night of little sleep. My girlfriend's dad just died, and my college requires that you must spend research with professionals before you head into a field, so i was stressed out. I was 26, and had less intrest in a research lab while my girlfriend was busy bawling herself to sleep. She said she's fine, but that's 100% bull. Anyways, Jessie made Breakfast and I kissed her goodbye for the first day of research. The lab technicians gave me a tour, which was boring as hell, and I went home. The days trudged on as I continued with research in my soon to be profession, Taxonomy. Lots of boring words to learn, FYI. While i was studying, I met with the professor, Dr. Charles Mary, who attempted DNA expirements to classify- well, boring things. Charles was a nice man when I met him. He always smiled and chuckled at my stupid jokes, and knew a lot on the field. He always talked about some secret project too. Jessie called one day, saying, "Please come home." I left early, and when I came home it was in a disaster, and Jessie sat in a corner. She had a mental breakdown, and I started to take her to a counsler. Charles called one day while I was sitting at home smoking. I hopped in the car, and drove to go see him. He finally showed me what his secret project was after months of begging. He took a principle of DNA and managed to combine multiple fragments from different animals. He then worked on a liquid form of the chemical that caused the change. He only needed two things. The first, he said, was DNA from any animal. Charles told me to go and find my favorite animal at the Zoo, and talk to a certain Zoo keeper. Turning something good into great, I took my girlfriend to the Zoo in an attempt to cheer her up. "Jessie," I said, "What's your favorite animal?" she merely laughed and replied with mine, an alligator. As I left, there was a poll on "What's your favorite animal?" I also saw the keeper I was going to talk to, he was running the stand. I wrote down Alligator and left for home. It was the weekend, and I chilled with Jessie and just chatted. Sure I worked out, but other than that I really did nothing. That was the last day I could say that. Monday rolled around and I set for work. Jessie didn't feel good, so I talked about leaving early to Charles. He only chuckled and replied, "Have a glass. I'm making a new drink from the DNA technique." I grabbed the glass, not thinking anything strange, and swallowed. I woke up in a bed, merely stripped down. I heard voices, and they all chatted about "starting". That was the only time I was awake while they prepped or did something to me. A man rushed in the room and filled my IV, making me pass out again. I woke up back at the office, in the same spot. It was three in the afternoon, and I wasn't sure if I slept the day and dreamt it all. I quickly got in my car, and did not feel good at all. When I came home, there was a noise in the kitchen. I hit my head on the door frame while walking in, and realized I was taller. And had a stomach. I probably gained four inches, and about 20 pounds. I looked at the rest of my body, seeming a bit chubbier and lengthy. Running into the kitchen, Jessie had another breakdown, but fell asleep. Picking her up, and realizing it was much easier to pick her up, she and I went to bed. When I woke up, i checked myself. Still taller and chubbier, i quickly headed to work early before Jessie got up. I headed up to Charles's office, wanting an answer. Charles chuckled when I came into his office, and I glared. I asked a few questions, and he finally sighed. Dr. Mary handed me a vial, and said, "Try this instead. Maybe you'll lose weight. And go home, your fired." Pissed off, and I smashed the vial with my fist and marched home. I sat in bed, and fell asleep again. Jessie wasn't at home when I fell asleep and i was worried. Waking up around 1AM, I rolled over and saw Jessie. I headed to the bathroom, felling a bit sick. I defiently was sicked. I lost the extra weight and probably gained another two inches. Thinking it was just my imagination, I tried to sleep again. The next time I woke, my legs felt so funny. I couldn't tell if I had two or three, so I fell asleep again. Jessie screamed the next time I woke up. She had another night, but after I assured her with a strange voice I wasn't some giant Crocodile or Alligator she went to sleep. I woke up as the sunrise came up, and was completely normal. Jessie was still asleep, so I went to go make breakfast since I was fired from some strange job. I started to grab the eggs, and I got an idea. I rung up Charles, and he answered. "So, how does it feel?" He asked, and I laughed. "Feel what?" He took a gasp, and mumbled before ending the call. I reached for the bacon, and started to cook on the frying pan. My stomach started to growl, and I fought a strange urge to eat the egg raw. Jessie walked into the room, and sighed. She apologized for freaking out last night, and I gave her a kiss. She paused, and commented it was a bit cold. I rolled my eyes, and continued to make the eggs and bacon. I reached for a new egg to put on, when it started. I ate the egg raw with the shell, and it tasted great. Jessie watched me, and merely asked, "Are you on something?" "I don't know." I replied, and went back to bed. I took a nap for an hour, and Jessie woke me up. All i heard was breakfast, and got up again. I felt really weak and cold at this point, and Jessie thought the raw egg gave me E. Coli or something crazy. She lead me in the kitchen, and let me eat the rest of breakfast. Jessie quickly called the doctor, and we headed over. I puked twice in the car, and Jessie told me that she'd clean up while I went to the doctor. When we sat down in his office, he was grinning. The doctor told Jessie to go clean the car after she said what was wrong, and Jessie left. The doctor told me that Dr. Mary had called him, and only Charles knew the cure. I grumbled, and puked again. The doctor proceeded to say, "You're rejecting the substance, and probably will die without it. I'll be back." The doctor left, and Charles came in. He smiled, and held a small tube in his hands. Charles then rambled, "I thank you for helping me with the expirment, and give you the cure. I've already passed your papers for the assignment to your teacher." I snatched the tube from his hand and chugged it down. It tasted fine, and i felt better. That was true, until my stomach started to twist. I clenched it and asked Dr. Mary what he did, only to be answered with another chuckle. I woke up outside the city, in a swamp. I wasn't very awake, but I made my way out to an old cabin in the swamp. There was someone in the cabin, but they didn't seem to care. I had a nightmare that night. I was running to Jessie, but everytime I reached out my hand was green and scaly, like a snake. After I woke, there was a gun in my face. The other person in the cabin asked, "What the hell are you?" I glanced around, and realized I had no clothes. The man threw clothes at me, and I quickly put them on. He watched the entire time, and I was blushing. He repeated his question, and I sighed. I explained my story, and he just sat in a rocking chair with his gun. "Name's James. You wanna stay, you do work in the swamp." I accepted, at this point this was the only chance I had at a "normal" life. He showed me the way to his garden and merely said, "You help by taking care of my garden. Don't care what else ya do, just keep the garden in shape." He left and I just sat there. I felt the stupid urge of eating raw meat again, and had problems focusing. The garden looked done for work for today, and I went looking for something to eat. I saw some Alligators in the water. Then the pain happened again, and I collapsed to the floor. Instead of falling asleep or losing consioucness, I watched what happened. I started to grow very tall, and I felt a stump poking out of my shorts. I quickly pulled off my clothes seeing that and watched the process. This hurt very bad, but I continued to grow. It felt like my spinal cord was ripped out of my back. I reached back with my hand, only to feel spiky things on my back. My hands were turning green, and I felt like I was missing a toe on each foot. The stump felt longer, and reminded me of a tail. I couldn't focus after I had a major head ache, and my skull throbbed. It felt as though the skull was ripped out of my head and part was squished. My teeth ached, and I felt like I was beefed up. I felt my arm and it was scaley, and my nails acted like claws a bit. I still couldn't see, and was worried I would be blind. My eyes finally started to flutter open, and the world changed. It was so bright, and I glanced around. I slipped into the water, and somehow knew how to swim as a freak of nature. The other alligators swam with me, and I really didn't pay attention much. When the sun was between noon and sunset, I got out of the water. The next question, how do I turn back into a human. I tried thinking key words, like Go human, fourty-two, Banana, no more gator? Nothing worked, and I just thought about what I look like. I felt like my spine was pushing in at that point, and that I was growing a toe. I couldn't focus because of the head, and after the pain was gone I was a person. A naked person in the middle of a swamp, not sketchy at all. I found my clothes and treked back to the garden. James was sitting in the garden, and watched as I came in. He smiled and motioned for me to sit down. We quietly sat in the garden for a while before he spoke, and this time without an accent. "Charley got you, didn't he?" I looked up, and James sighed. "Well, can't let you get even like this. Come back here tomorrow, and we start training." I left quickly, still confused about the whole matter. This night I didn't wake up or have a nightmare, so I felt great when I got up. I walked to the garden and James was sitting there. The sun wasn't out. I plopped on the ground, and James smirked. He explained his story. Charles and James were best friends, and both were leading scientists in their field. They discovered a new technique and were intending to use the DNA from animals to save people with various illnesses. Charles, however, wanted to make an army. James realized Charles's intention, and James stole all the research data. James ruined the data and fled the city. James now saw that Charles rediscovered the technique, and was attempting to use it for the army. James then stated, "I can't stop him, I'm just a person. But you..." I laughed at the thought. James only stared, and said, "You need to master your new skills. I can teach you a few fighting moves, only because I did learn from the best thanks to Charley. We learn now." I then began a long process of training. Wake up, eat, water the garden, then practiced boxing against trees till noon. I'd eat again, and then practiced with James, and for the last few hours I'd focus on changing. I'd eat supper as an alligator, and then practice changing a few more times. Now, when I say boxing with trees, this is what I had to do: I would keep punching a tree, or kicking. It was a pain to do, and probably the worst part of my day. The urges for eggs came most at this time of day. After a while when I changed, I would go quicker and have less pain. One night, however, I gained a new ability. James didn't like alligators, but slowly he would be more friendly with them and finally became friends with one. He would talk to the Alligator (and it replied, but he didn't know that, and the Gator didn't know what he said), and would watch me change a few times. One night, when I was about to change back, my heart felt like it was being stabbed. I collapsed, and my legs started to change. They swelled, and started to shift. Most of the pain was there, but some was in my throat and my chest. James rushed over and asked if I was okay. Instinctivly, I replied with yes. But I actually said the word yes. I stood up, and could actually walk on two legs. My head throbbed, and I didn't understand what was going on. I glanced down again, looking at myself. I looked like a hybrid of some sort, and James laughed. "Now you're ready. This was a theoretical state we thought of, me and Charley. Instead of having just two forms, you now have three." He made me go to sleep in this form though, and I was frustrated since I hadn't been a human for a few hours. My dream was odd that night. I dreamnt about Jessie, but this time she was running to me, and I tried to reach out to her, but she couldn't reach far enough. I woke, in my new form and James wasn't in his bed. The sun hadn't rose yet, so I left for the garden, changing back into a person while I walked, alsp putting on clothes. James sat quiet again, waiting in the garden. I asked if he was okay, and he handed me a letter. It was to a Mr. Alligator and James. I opened the letter, and it read, To a Mr. (my name) and a Mr. James, I'm impressed you two found each other so quick. I'm sure by now James taught you some Martial Arts moves he learned while studying in Tibet. Our building is being guarded by the best, most who are masters FROM Tibet. You probably didn't understand your gift I gave to you, and never will Mr. Alligator. But I must go, as we are preparing to finish the expiriments and apply the new serum that will work, instead of not affecting the subject. And that vial you smashed, alligator, contained a toxin that will kill you and me shortly. I, of course, took the antidote. Charles Mary James sat quietly, and sighed again. I asked how we would stop Charles. "He's bluffing," James replied, "It's most likely a serum that can't be made in large quantities. The toxin, however, is true. I've already gave you the antidote, during coffee one morning. I knew he would play dirty." James then told me what we would do next: destroy the building. I asked if we could find Jessie first, because I was very worried about her. James said get some sleep, and destroy the building first. We would find Jessie after that. I couldn't rest well that night, I had the same dream about Jessie. The next day we headed into Miami, and James said the plan as we rode in a Taxi. I'm pretty sure he still had people in the city because that driver didn't seem to mind at all. As we approached the building, the driver pulled to the curb and let us out. James thanked him, and we headed to the nearby hotel, next door to Charles Mary's lab. The plan was this: wait until night when Dr. Mary would be alome in his lab. I could go to the roof of the hotel and scale the building to the 20th floor while James would distract at the front desk. James had a friend coming in to help, so I wouldn't have to worry. After I reached the 20th floor, I would smash the window to Charles's lab. After confronting him, I would plant the explosives which would be ready. I would take Charles and signal James, we would retreat to the house that I used to live in. The sun set, and it was Nine o'clock. James left, and gave me the signal to go. I started to scale the building, and quickly reached the 15th floor. James's walkie-talkie was left on, and I could hear the argument in the lobby. I scaled the last five floors and made it to the lab, when I jumped thru the glass window. I saw Charles, clapping. The fight downstairs was raging, but I left my Walkie-talkie on also so James could hear me. Charles merely smiled and clapped. "I'm impressed. Even though you had the toxin, and your body was rejecting the serum you've managed to get this far. I thought I would have scared you off, since James knew I hired the only person who could beat him to guard me." Charles explained further, "But now, he's got a friend and it's only a matter of time. Here, follow me." Charles went through a door, and I followed. We entered a room filled with chemicals. Remembering the explosives were already set, I approached Charles after hiding the explosives in the room. "Hiding them? It's okay. I know you'll attempt to stop me, even if you stall.". Charles laughed, "So what's your plan?" He hit me in the gut, and pushed me back. "My serum is ready, all I need to do is distrubute it. Ten subjects already passed." Another door opened. One person walked in, and Charles chuckled again. "This is Number 7. The rest are spread out, throughout the world, doing jobs I asked. The serum, you see, is in this room. So please, come and get me." Charles's guard started to run at me, and I prepped. I punched him quickly, and he responded with a kick. Another kick from me, and he lost balance. "You've forgot one thing Dr. Mary," I said, blocking a punch and hitting 7 with a hard knee to the rib. "What's that?" He asked. I smashed 7 with a fist to the face, and he fell over. "To train your 'army'." I replied, and started towards Charles. I felt a paw on my shoulder and I turned. 7 apparently liked bears, and was now towering over me. He started to thrash at me, and i was barely managing to avoid him. Charles asked, "Why not join me? James can't save you, and I've almost obtained an invinsible army. I've got all the cards." I continued to fight, slowly wearing down 7. Charles continued, "You can't win! Give up, and return to me. You tried to resist us, and you only made it outside into the swamp." I hit 7 in the head, making him dizzy yet again. I realized that, from Charles's comment, they didn't mean for me to leave the city and meet James. "7! Get out, and I'll deal with Subject 0." The bear quickly quit fighting and left out the door. I turned to Charles. I stared him down and mirrored his steps. Charles then started attacking me. He was vicious, and i could barely keep up. My walkie-talkie beeped, and James's voice could be heard. "Gator, get out! It's set to explode in-" Charles broke the Walkie-talkie with a swift kick and I fell to the floor. "You're done." Charles laughed as he towered over me. I then started to chuckle, and finally transformed. Charles took a step back as I towered over him, and smirked. "Maybe not." I replied with a gruff voice, and lunged at him. I beat him to a pulp before I realized an instinct had kicked in, and he was almost dead. Charles coughed, and smiled. "You... I didn't fail." He spat out as I put my leg over him. He would bled to death before I could get him help. "Hehe... I'm done. I give... you one last gift before... Before I go." He jabbed a needle into my foot and I recoiled. "I'll make your life hell for ending mine......." Charles stopped talking and the timer on the bomb beeped. James was sitting nearby as he watched the building for me to jump out. Then the bomb blew up, and James jumped in suprise. His friend whispered, "James, Charles is dead. The serum is gone. It's over." James started to cry as the police cars, firetrucks, and ambulences rushed to the scene. "Look!" He exclaimed, as a little dot flew out from a second explosion, and the dot fell in the river. James glanced, and realized what happened. He quickly got in a taxi with his friend and sped off. I fell into the river, and quickly reached the surface. My alligator skin withstood the explosion, but was black. I swam to the shore, and went under the bridge nearby. Shifting back, I got changed and climbed onto the road. James was in the nearby taxi, and we all met up in the taxi. I woke up back at my old house, lying on the couch. I saw James sleeping in my bed, and I sighed. I woke James up, and we went back into the dining room. James's friend was there also, making breakfast. "Listen, I think I know what was in the needle that he injected you with." James told me, and I was suprised because I hadn't told him about it. "Do you not remember the taxi ride? You look confused. Anyways, the needle. There was DNA in it. Jellyfish DNA, the one that can live forever. Charles said he'd make your life hell. You can't die now." I stared at him, shocked at what James said, and he continued, "You're cells regenerate faster than you can kill them. Even if I shot you in the head, you'd regenerate. The wierd thing, you'll keep your memories." "What about Jessie..." I asked, trembeling. James sighed, and answered, "My agents haven't found her yet." I swore to myself and quietly went back to bed, ready for a good night sleep. James called me to come back out, and i trudged out. "You know we're just beginning. You have to take out all ten, no matter what." He told me. I just glared, and told him, "I just killed a man, am probably going to get pressed charges about blowing up a building, and can't die apparently. Let me sleep in peace for a night." James smiled and nodded, so I finally went to sleep. I woke up hearing sirens. James was standing over, and laughed. He mumbled something, and I heard go so I hopped out of bed. The police surrounded the house, stating something about how I ate myself? Gatorman blows up building and eats local resident. Blah blah blah, under arrest, come quietly. Might as well play it off. James already went out a back entrance they didn't know. I put in the entrance in case of a fire, and Jessie thought I was paranoid. I changed into an actual alligator, and waltz outside. The police screamed, and started to shoot. It was really dumb to change into an alligator, but I can't die, right? Well, bullets still hurt. Anyways, I made it into the sewers (one cop remarked alligators are now in Miami's sewers) and eventuay wandered out of town. I returned to James's cabin, and found a note. I've already located two of the ten changers that Charles Mary made. One is in Indonesia and the other is New Orleans. Since i'm pretty sure you can't get to Indonesia, I'll get him while you look for a girl named Samantha Lex. Her clients call her a tiger of a woman, so I'm pretty sure you can guess her animal. Get her on our side, and if all else fails then you know what to do. After your done, call me from the phone on the counter. You'll get to train in Tibet so you're prepared. It only gets harder from here, remember that. -James And that's where I started earlier in my story. So maybe it shouldn't be called suffering, but I mean hey, don't knock till you try it, i guess.
Alligator Man - Samantha Lex I paused as I pulled the car over. New Orleans, huh? Big city, Cajun Food, fun times, and lots of girls to- I paused, suprised at the thought. It must be another urge, just like the raw eggs. I pushed the thought away, still focused on Jessie. But she was out of the picture for a while, and I was sure these girls maybe new a few tricks. I was first and foremost hungry. I went to a store and bought frozen food and eggs. When I left to get in my car, I glanced around. Placing the bags in the car, I sped off to a park and ate a few eggs with chicken. Now I could focus on the mission. Samantha Lex, Tiger girl. What did she do was my first question, and I sighed. Why didn't James give me a hint or something? I heard a nearby announcer say somethig about a tiger show. Knowing that was my new hint, I thanked karma for hearing my plee and I went over to the show to get a ticket. It looked like a very sketchy circus tent from the outside, but a sea of people were going in, so it must be entertaining, right? The ringmaster threw a hoop in the air, and two tigers seemingly appeared in midair, going through the hoops. "Welcome to the show!" The ringmaster stated, "My name's Samantha, the Tiger girl! Are you ready for a show?" She winked and I could have sworn her costume's cut line lowered. As the show progressed, I was mesmorized. At the finale, she picked an audience member to help in a disappearance act now. I, of course, was picked. The only thing running through my head at the time was how awesome she was. As I was loaded onto the platform, she put a sheet over me with the tigers on both sides under the sheet. She got under also, and said, "Alakazam!" I woke up in a hotel room, all alone. I scanned the room, and the two tigers were sitting in the corner furthest from me, watching intently. Samantha Lex (who I refered to as Sam during the experience) came through the door with two plastic bags. She dropped them to the floor and her 'cats' came over for her to pet. She stroked her cats, and then slowly pulled off her coat, revealing a sparkling dress. I remember doing a cat call, and she laughed. "Oh big boy," She replied to the call, "You haven't seen what this kitty can do." I remember letting the Alligator instinct slip over again. I woke up in the same room, around 2 A.M. I glanced to my left, seeing Samantha Lex. "Sam..." I called, and she rolled over. She mumbled some words, and we both went to sleep. I woke up in a car, much later in the day. Sam had, excuse me, I meant Samantha had her arm all the way around my neck. She murmed, "Hey, you wanna be my big and strong papa tiger?" I started to make a move, but she pushed me off. "Hold on, you've got some bite, and I like you. Let's not just make this a short deal. Marty, drive to the hideout." She turned to me and smiled, "I've got an offer." The rest was a long and boring speech, as she talked about being special but alone. I pretended to care, but at this point my focus was keeping the Gator instinct of hoping in the bed at bay. I merely nodded at the end, and she smirked. After a short ride, we reached an abandonded warehouse. It was so stereotypical of a villan, but I said nothing. Sam just led me to the center box. "A special friend gave me this. It takes your DNA and combines it with an animal to give you the ability to change into it. See, watch." She slowly shifted into a tiger, shredding her clothes, and growled a bit. I took a quick note, they most likely hadn't had their powers a while. She changed back, this time naked and behind a box. She complained about how she couldn't morph with her clothes on and they would stay. There must have been a change behind a box, and Sam came out in a dress. "The stuff he gave me turns anyone into a tiger unless they already got a serum shot. The two tigers I have are merely people who crossed me. I can control all tigers, mind you. This is one of the few batches he made. Are you ready?" I think the original person that has the animal genes inserted have a dominant gene that allows control over others, like an Alpha Male. "Your friend was Charles Mary, right?" She was shocked by the question, and nodded her head. "He was a good man, but he ruined me." "No!" She shouted, "He wouldn't do that! Never!" I shook my head in disgust, and Samantha screamed louder, "You're a liar! Charles wouldn't do that, he wouldn't betray anyone!" Samantha started to shift into a tiger again. "He lied Sam! He played you, and now he's dead. He was going to kill you after you made him an army." Sam screamed back, "He wouldn't! He couldn't control them!" Her transformation complete, all she did was growl. I glared her down, and charged at her. The tiger wins against a person, and she gashed my side hard. I only chuckled, and changed into the Hybrid form very quick while she lunged again. I grabbed her half jump and threw her back. She quietly laid on the ground for a second before getting up. The fight became an endurance game as each side took more blows. Her two tigers came in and attempted to help, but both were recked by friendly fire and my tail. She was scared at this point, and I was beat. Samantha charged one last time and I countered. After we both stopped, she collapsed from my final slash. I sighed, and tried to find a match. I quickly got Sam and her two tiger buddies in a pile outside the warehouse, and found a lighter. I lit the box with the serum on fire, and drug the 3 tigers outside. No suspicion at all. Giant Lizard carries tigers out of warehouse, nothing to see. I dialed 911 on a nearby phone, and quickly left for the sewers. I dialed up James on my phone, "Ready for a pick up." He retorted with some dumb comment, and hung up the phone. I changed into a full alligator and fell asleep. As we rode the plane away from New Orleans, i asked James a few questions about his "friends". James answered all questions, and explained what I would do in Tibet. He said there would be no tree boxing, but I would be required to be an alligator in the morning, a person in the afternoon, and a hybrid at night. It would be like the training sessions, but much more intense. When we walked off the plane, I was expecting a car ride to the monastary where the monks lived. James, however, wanted to walk. My legs almost gave out before we got there. It was a quiet monastary, at the bottom of a valley where the sunrise and sunset could be watched. The first day was rough. They took away my clothes snd gave me a robe. One of the stereotypical orange robes with a white belt. I felt degraded. I had to strip everytime I changed, only so they wouldn't have to pay for extra robes. It was embarassing standing naked infront of grown men. The masters were very smart. I had three different masters for a day, and each taught a valuable lesson (except the toilet duty day). My skills were continued to be honed while James worked on finding Jessie. It was three months from when I started, and I had already beat two of my masters. The final was in the Hybrid form, and I hated the form to fight. It was too slow for the master I was up against, and I kept trying. The lessons got tougher and everything seemed abstract. James had a link on Samantha Lex and her escape from prison, and left to go deal with her. I was very frustrated at this point. I yelled at the master for not being far after one spar and left for my room to meditate. After sitting down in my room, I began to think of how he fought. This is was an eye opener, and O felt prepared for the next day. The monks said if I would defeat all courses, then I would be ready. I practiced my other forms during the day, and the final test was about to start. I hopped in the ring, transformmed into a Hybrid. The master quipped something about my skills, and I replied, "Come at me Bro." The challenge, like all others was a slow losing battle. Then i moved my plan in motion. I quickly shifted into my human form and (while I was naked) managed to overpower and defeat the master and completely embarass him. James had made it back, after working on the Lex Lead, and watched the last match. With the training complete, I was free to go. Quickly packing up my things, I left the Monastary with James. We loaded onto a plane later, and chatted about our next move. James reported no finds on Jessie, but Samantha had disappeared after the warehouse burned down. Until last week, he stated, when people would disappear after meeting with her on a special 1 on 1 session. "So i'm guessing you'll scheduel a session with her and myself, right?" I asked. James replied that she would immedietly recognize who I was. But she would do anything if someone suprised her in a session, and James had done just that. He then is making her to Alligator wrestle in the Everglades. That's where I came in. I would be the alligator, and trap her. I'd attempt to lure her to our side, to try and get information out of her, and if worst came down kill her. I woke up after the flight was over, only having a few days to go into the Everglades and prep. James and I headed to a swamp, and I transformed into a gator. Waiting there was very boring. I tried tree boxing, but my knuckles were bleeding by the end of the day. I heard voices a few times, only dumb kids. One group I did scare off, managing to steal their food, but that's another story. "So James..." Samantha's voice spoke as they approached the spot. James and her had a chat, and I heard a few kisses. "You want to just ditch this place and get a drink? I heard Miami's wine is the finest." James replied no and lead her out into the clearing. I saw him, and watched the couple intently. "Just one?" She chuckled and asked, then cracked her knuckles. Sam jumped in and started to swim. I started to get close, when she transformed after saying, "Show time!" I bit her and she scratched me, we were in a deadlock, until I drug her underwater. Apparently cats can't swim, and she lost conscious quick. I brought her above water, and we carried Samamtha Lex back into the cabin. When she woke up, James stood behind her. It was a classic interogation scene, with one light, a table, and her tied to the chair. James first asked if she was working for anyone. "Damn you, you're with Subject 0. I don't care if you want all the vials, mine are destroyed. You burned them down, remember?" I asked about the disappearances, and she replied, "How do you feed two tigers? Honestly, i just want to be left alone." I prompted two choices to her: Either she could join my team and not have to face the harassment of the police constantly, or be in state. "You killed Charles." She spat at me, and I sat her down. I explained my story, and what Charles was really planning to do. "You're a liar, and I'll feed you to my cats!" She screamed at me, and attempted to transform. I did a headbutt, and Samantha's head just slouched. I asked James who we would get her over to the Penetentary, but he already had a plan. He would get her tigers if I put in a police station with a note. James signed the note and sealed it, then handed it to me. I put Samantha in a car, and sped off. All around the city, there were posters with my face on it. I kept my head low and prayed not to be caught, only thinking of the mess I would make if they saw me. After pulling up to the police station, I picked up Samantha and carried her in, recieving odd looks. I left her at the front desk (I further learned the man was on a lunch break) with the note and got out. I drove away and called James. He told me to go back to New Orleans and wait in a hotel for him, he found a new lead on another person. I pulled into the hotel parking lot and left for the room. I remember a door bell interuptting a meditation session, where I practiced subduing the Alligator instincts. However, I peeped at the door and there was a peculiarly dressed woman standing there. I opened the door and asked who she was. The last thing I remember a kiss before instinct kicked in. I woke up strapped down to the bed, with the lady making a phone call. "Yeah," She stated, "We've got another freak. That's the third one, including Catwoman and that Indonesian guy. Hold on." She walked over to me, and backhanded my face hard. "Who do you work for?" I replied no one, and recieed a more brutal punch. "Who is James, and why did he kill Charles Mary?" I smiled, and replied with some kinky phrase at just the right time. She gave up and picked up her phone, "He'll crack later. But for now..." The agent, i presume she was, continued to chat. I saw only one chance to break from the ropes. I change into a hybrid. The agent barely turned before I had a hand at her throat and chest. "Stop the call." I ordered in a chilling voice. After the agent did so, I interogated her. I learned five facts: the government is involved (just great), they planned to recreate Charles's idea, they had no vials of the forumla, the research to get the technique would take centuries at best, and finally that the government knew the location of seven "shifters" (only two were from the original ten). I picked up the agent's phone only after I knocked her out. The recent call list was not restricted, and I called the last number. The voice on the other line began, "Anyways Wanda, you need to-" "Wanda's busy. You better not come find me, or else I'll ruin you." I replied, and hung up. Snapping the phone and changing back, I left the hotel. James tried to call me during the interogation, but I didn't answer. My phone rang again as I was driving outside the city again. He wanted to sit down and have a long chat, and I was to meet him at St. Louis. I sighed and asked where, and quickly headed towards St. Louis. I eventually found him talking to his friends in a coffee shop. They glanced at me, then at James, and left. I plopped down and started to drink my milk and listen to James. "Listen, I apologize. First off, Samantha escaped again. She is running a circus show, and has quite the number of customers. No disappearances on stage, but workers seem to drop like flies. Others are happy to volunteer, so she doesn't have to worry. We've got to stop her this time, and we'll keep her locked up. "Second, that agent that hit you earlier is apart of a small cell of corrupt agents within the government, nicknamed Black Eye. The group is attempting a coup, and will stop at nothing to get their hands on DNA tech. "Third, everything she said is true, except about Samantha. Your phone was on and I heard the whole 'conversation'. Lex was also close to being captured and moved to a top prison, but the one they have is an actual tiger. Go figure. "Fourth, your training with the monks isn't over. I've schedueled you for many sessions, so we'll see if you can keep up. Also, I have news about your... Condition. "Charles didn't insert any jellyfish DNA, but used a certain type of cancer cells that can't die. You would have regressed into a child after you turned 80 and repeated a cycle otherwise. The cells reproduce and live forever even when they are isolated, even if you're an alligator." I paused, and thought again. The forever condition was a tough problem, and couldn't be solved at this time. My question was, and still is, will I lose myself? "It's a lot to take in, I get it, but let's get Sam first." I nodded, and followed him to a Taxi that was waiting outside. We rode for a while, and then made it to some makeshift circus tents and an outside carnival. I pushed through some lines before James and I reached the main tent. After buying tickets, we sat in the far back hoping that Samantha wouldn't recognize us. She didn't, and we watched the show. At the very end, she was offering a position to work with her Tigers. Seeing my chance to get close, I stayed after with a few others to talk with Samantha Lex while James prepped our escape plan. She still did not recognize me, and I chatted for a while with her whilethe others left, seeing they had no chance surviving. Once alone, however, I cut the crap. I asked about how many vials she still hid, and Samantha laughed. "i thought you were Mr. Alligator, but I wasn't for sure. And to answer your question before I kill you, zero. I know how to make them though!" She started to change at that moment, and I attacked. Samantha couldn't handle the pressure and was forced to bring in her cats. While she did so, I shifted into a hybrid. The tigers lunged at me, but I could get out of the way and take chuncks out of them flying by with my hands. Samantha hit me while I wasn't paying attention, and she punctured my side. I kicked her aside, and then there was a scream in the backround. Someone must have come in the tent, and now was going to go call the police. More people started to come in, and Samantha also realized this, and she attacked viciously. We took swings at each other, and I was slowly getting the advantage. In a lunge, Sam didn't pay good attention and missed. I finally did a body slam into her ribs, and she laid still. There was a lot of chatter, and I glanced for an exit. Not seeing one, I ran straight. People screamed and jumped out of the way, and I barely escaped the tent. Where ever I went, people squeeled. I evetually found a sewer hole and entered, and snuck out of the city. James must have known what I would do, and he found me as I exitted the sewer as a person. He also came over with towels because of my side, which I hadn't noticed until now. There was a giant slash below my ribs and probably should have killed me by now. I woke up a few days later inside a hotel, feeling much better. I looked at my side, and realized that the giant slash was gone, but the skin hadn't grown all back. There were little patches of muscle, and I was about to touch one when James slapped my hand. "You should watch this." James told me, and I sat up and listened to the T.V. "...Lex was found dead in a circus tent, wounds appear to be a struggle with some sort of animal, presumed one of her tigers. Eyewitness accounts however, describe a different story." The TV changed view from a news room to outside the tent, with the camera focused on a man. "Here's how it happened, my friend screamed when she went to go check on Samantha, and found a tiger and a gator or a croccidile fighting. Everyone rushed in the tent, and sure enough they were in the tent, fighting. It was messed up, but the tiger lost the fight, and the other one ran. But the tiger transformed back into Samantha, and we tried to help." The TV went back to the news room, "The police are investigating, and similar claims have prompted an FBI team to also investigate. In other news..." I looked at James, and he motioned to the TV. I glanced back, only this time he went to the DVR and a recorded news cast. "... The statement 'We are not alone' may not be so false after all folks. Upon an autopsy done on Samantha Lex to describe the cause of death, they found the marks on her body to be that of an Alligator. Witnesses, who number over 50, to the murder claimed she was a tiger before dying. "The FBI are revealing they have strong evidence of another race of humans that live among us, called 'Shifters'. The FBI also said, '...to presume all shifters hostile, and that shifters can change you as well.' Governments from around the world are demanding DNA tests to find any shifters, and those who resist will be executed. "Shifter numbers are low, presumed one in a thousand. And- hold on, we have a video of a person who knows a shifter right now." The screen changes from the news room to a dark room where the person's face and body is blacked out. The voice was distorted on both ends of the conversation. "So you know a shifter?" "Yes." "Did they ever attempt to change you?" "No." "Why?" "Because he's my friend. And after he ran away from becoming a shifter, I wanted to make this public." "How do you know he was a shifter?" "I saw him shift." "When?" "When he left, he flew away. He wanted to tell me why he had to leave." "So not all shifters are evil?" "No, that's a cruel stereotype." "But they aren't people. Do you think shifters are aliens?" "They are very much people. Even if they're aliens, I think that we should respect them. Probably more considering aliens usually have a huge race and when you attack one you attack all." "What if shifters are just products of evolution?" "We would have seen them by now by their parents." "Why?" "I would take my child to a doctor if they changed into an animal, would you?" "How many shifters do you think their are?" "I don't know." "Do you think all shifters should be executed or spared, and how do you feel about DNA testing?" "DNA testing is useless, considering they can just change into an animal and avoid being tested, or kill anybody who comes to take them away. Execution is completely wrong too. Why kill people because they are different?" "But one killed Samantha Lex, and Lex fed people to her tigers." "So they are having a power struggle, or maybe the one was fightin FOR people and not against. How can we tell what they were thinking at the time?" "What if the power struggle swallows all of humanity?" "It won't. We have a predicted 1:1000 ratio of people to shifters." "And if your alien theory is true and they have an armada just waiting for us?" "I guess we'll find out." "How do you think the news of shifters will affect humanity?" "I think people will pick sides, for or against the shifters, and the world will be in world war three." "That's a little grim, don't you think?" "The holocaust killed millions of Jews and sparked WWII, so why won't another genocide spark WWIII?" "Genocide only refers to killing a group of people, not aliens." "Shifters aren't aliens. They're living, breathing humans." "So you're with them?" "Yes. One hundred percent. Are you?" The news cast shifted back to the anchor man and woman. "Debates are all around the world on the alien topic. For the latest news, please..." James flipped off the TV. I was fuming, but listened to James talk. "Alright. Here's the plan:" James explained,"You're going to go and train. The new person lead was a dead end, and the Indonesia shifter was killed a few weeks ago. Two down, eight to go. No news on Jessie, but don't give up yet." We both got up, and headed on our way to go to the airport. The plane was comfortable, and I was able to sleep for a while without being interuppted. ~~~~~~~~~PLEASE COMMENT~~~~~~~~~~~