Nanaki awoke in the middle of the night, with an overpowering sense of drowsiness. He could barely open his eye; it felt as though it was being weighted down. His ears perked up slightly, and he listened intently to his surroundings. There were strange hummings - from machines, no doubt. Bubbling of liquids.. Where was he? The creature tried recalling his last moments.
There was nothing out of the ordinary in the desert that day. Nanaki had been roaming the area surrounding Cosmo Canyon, his home, during the whole morning, and it was nearing afternoon. He remembered how spacious and beautiful the desert was - he was free to explore with no interruptions. However, while nearing the outskirts of the desert, the last thing Nanaki had seen was an object flying toward him.
It must have been some sort of tranquilizer, Nanaki thought, as he lay still and quiet in the peculiar room. He was weary of opening his eye; in fear of what he might see, or what might happen if he was 'awake.' Voices were heard, none familiar.
"What are those markings on him, sir?"
"Some tribal thing, no doubt. What is his number?"
"Thirteen."
"Mm.. The other twelve specimens didn't last too long. Hopefully this one will at least have some longevity."
"Are there any others of this species?"
"No, unfortunately. I am quite the lucky man to have him. All those stories of the desert's red beast turned out true. How quaint."
"Shall we mark him?"
"In a short while. I'm sure he won't mind another tattoo."
The words spun about in Nanaki's head, as he felt himself once more drifting into a dreamless sleep. He had failed to notice his movement, from cage to table. There were people in lab coats hovering over him, and without notice, he was given another dose of tranquilizer.
"Don't give him too much," a man growled, pulling on latex gloves. "If you kill him, you'll be next on the table."
"I.. I'm s-sorry, Professor Ho-Hojo," a young man stuttered, lowering his head.
"Right. Here's something easy for you, you little git. See that gun over on the shelf behind me? Yes, that one. Bring it here."
Hours later, Nanaki awoke, only to be met with a sharp pain in his left leg.
There was nothing out of the ordinary in the desert that day. Nanaki had been roaming the area surrounding Cosmo Canyon, his home, during the whole morning, and it was nearing afternoon. He remembered how spacious and beautiful the desert was - he was free to explore with no interruptions. However, while nearing the outskirts of the desert, the last thing Nanaki had seen was an object flying toward him.
It must have been some sort of tranquilizer, Nanaki thought, as he lay still and quiet in the peculiar room. He was weary of opening his eye; in fear of what he might see, or what might happen if he was 'awake.' Voices were heard, none familiar.
"What are those markings on him, sir?"
"Some tribal thing, no doubt. What is his number?"
"Thirteen."
"Mm.. The other twelve specimens didn't last too long. Hopefully this one will at least have some longevity."
"Are there any others of this species?"
"No, unfortunately. I am quite the lucky man to have him. All those stories of the desert's red beast turned out true. How quaint."
"Shall we mark him?"
"In a short while. I'm sure he won't mind another tattoo."
The words spun about in Nanaki's head, as he felt himself once more drifting into a dreamless sleep. He had failed to notice his movement, from cage to table. There were people in lab coats hovering over him, and without notice, he was given another dose of tranquilizer.
"Don't give him too much," a man growled, pulling on latex gloves. "If you kill him, you'll be next on the table."
"I.. I'm s-sorry, Professor Ho-Hojo," a young man stuttered, lowering his head.
"Right. Here's something easy for you, you little git. See that gun over on the shelf behind me? Yes, that one. Bring it here."
Hours later, Nanaki awoke, only to be met with a sharp pain in his left leg.