Title: It's alive! Chapter One
Rating: G/K some mild language though
Description: The primeval teams have seen some freaky stuff, but those were all made by nature. Until now. They meet a true freak. This one was made by man.
3099 words, total, but 1199 this chapter.
Author's Note: One more Halloween story. This one starts with the action, so its not so wordy, still though, over 3000 words! Anyway, this one's theme is more geared toward Abby and Connor, so they lead the action. Not as much B/J as usual.
It's alive! Chapter One
"What the hell is it?" asked Becker.
The team looked over the monstrosity on the table.
"It looks like several creatures," said Matt, "rolled into one."
"Actually," said Connor. "I think it is. These are definitely smilodon paws and claws, but the legs look like wolf. Dire wolf to be precise... The wings and eyes look like megopteran, but I don't know what creature the rest of the head is."
"It's gross," said Jess over comms.
"This isn't natural," said Abby.
"No, it's like Frankenstein's monster," said Connor. "Which should be cool, except it looks so…wrong."
"Indeed," said Emily. "It is not wise to alter the natural world."
Connor looked closer. "I can't tell how they combined the bits, must have used future tech."
"Yuck," said Jess. "Why would someone do that?"
Suddenly there was a hissing sound, and the wings on the thing twitched.
"It's alive!" cried Connor.
Becker instinctively aimed his weapon at it, moving closer, and gesturing the others back.
"Wow! This is incredible! Again, in a wrong, horrible way."
"Connor, your enthusiasm is disturbing," said Matt.
"It may be gross and yes, very unnatural, but it's a scientific marvel. It really shouldn't be alive. Wow!"
"Guys, there's a man coming up on your position," Jess informed them. "He'll come out of the bookcase behind you."
"You're kidding," said Becker.
"Nope. There's a small door located behind it."
"A secret passage?"
"Sure Emily," said Connor. "We have a monster, this place screams creepy lab, so a secret passage makes perfect sense."
Becker stared at the monstrosity struggling to get free. "Nothing in here makes sense, Connor."
"Well, one thing is for sure. This thing was made by a deranged but brilliant person," said Matt.
"Yeah, a mad scientist," said Connor.
"And this guy coming up on us is probably our man," said Matt.
"You guys handle the mad scientist," said Becker. "I've got…whatever the hell this thing is."
"Be careful," said Jess.
"Don't worry. If it twitches I'll blast it."
Becker kept the monstrosity covered, while the others went to surprise the scientist. He walked through the opening secret door and they grabbed him.
"What? No!" he cried. He looked at the team and then saw Becker. "No, please! Don't shoot! My creation…No!"
He made a dash at Becker, but the others subdued him.
"No! Don't you realize what I've done! I've created life!"
"Yeah, just like Frankenstein," said Abby. "That didn't end well. Nature shouldn't be mimicked. It knows what it's doing."
"So do I," said the man defiantly. "Look at what I've done. I've taken the fiercest, deadliest, strangest creatures and created a super predator."
"Yeah, um…why?" asked Connor. "Regular predators kill well enough."
The scientist smiled. "You can't understand. That is the burden of genius. No one understands. It's a miracle, what I've done and all you can do is fear it."
"You're insane," said Becker. "This thing needs to be put out of its misery."
The creature twitched and the hisses became like strangled moans.
Abby shook her head. "These creatures were living beings. Predators yes, but living the way they were designed. You've made…a perversion. This is disgusting what you've done."
"You just can't fathom what has happened here," said the man.
"I can," said Connor. "You created something new. You took parts that didn't exist together and created a new life form."
"Yes!"
The others stared at Connor with disgust.
He laughed. "Oh, don't worry. I think he's insane too. I can just appreciate the scientific part, that's all."
The others chuckled and shook their heads.
Connor turned back to the scientist. "I created something new too. I didn't hear the warnings, mate, and because of me and my creation, people died. In fact, I almost destroyed the world. You seriously need to step back from this and get some objectivity. Is this," he said, pointing to the creature, "really a good idea?"
The man looked sadly at Connor. "Yes, it is. Of course it is." He shook his head. "I thought you were a kindred spirit, perhaps you were once, but I see that you've been broken. How sad."
Connor scoffed and shook his head. "Yep, he's behind a brick wall, a special mad scientist kind of wall. We won't break through."
Abby took his hand. "You tried."
The creature shook again, causing Becker to tense. His face was focused and his fingers were ready to shoot.
"No! Don't shoot!"
"Matt, can I please shoot this monster?" asked Becker. Then he looked at the scientist. "Either one of them."
The man scoffed. "Now I'm a monster, huh?"
"Yeah. You may be the scarier one," said Matt.
"Matt, I'm getting some readings I don't like," said Jess. "There is a serious build up of electricity in that building. It's reaching dangerous levels."
"Of course," said the scientist. "I need electricity to not only to power my creation, but to open anomalies to harvest creatures."
"Wait," said Abby. "What did you mean harvest?"
"Oh my God," said Jess. "I've hacked into the internal monitors at the site. Guys, there are loads of caged creatures in the basement."
"You've got a supply of creatures? How much experimenting have you done?"
The scientist smiled smugly. "Enough."
"You're sick," said Abby.
The doctor shrugged. "Genius isn't always pretty and pleasant you know." He turned to Connor. "Is it?"
Connor shook his head. "No." He then left the others to take a good look at the equipment in the lab.
"Wow. There must be hundreds of creatures," said Jess. "I'm sending more teams."
"Good," said Matt. "How did you get them all anyway?"
The man sneered. "That would be difficult to explain." He laughed derisively. "Let's just say they came through a light."
Connor laughed. "Wow, that's incredible," he said with mock, sarcastic awe.
Becker laughed too.
Matt moaned. "You have access to an anomaly creating device?"
The scientist seemed surprised. "You know of them?" he asked. Connor nodded. "No matter. Even apes can learn to finger paint."
Abby laughed at the jab.
He smiled smugly. "Yes, I use the devices, although I've improved them."
Connor's eyebrows rose up. "Improved? I'm offended."
"Connor, can we send them home?" asked Abby.
"Not with this stuff," he said. "You know, when you start taking things apart you discard a lot of pieces that may not seem important but really are."
Abby nodded. "That applies to creatures as well."
Connor nodded. "Jess, make sure my latest equipment upgrades are brought here."
"Copy, Connor."
He smiled. "We'll get them home."
The man laughed. "You all amuse me as you try to pretend that you have the slightest idea what is going on here."
Connor smiled.
Abby looked at the patchwork creature. "I wish we could do something for this poor thing."
"Imbeciles," said the doctor. "Visionless, limited imbeciles."
"Yeah," said Matt. "That's us. Let's find the anomaly and shut it down. Then we'll take apart the equipment so no other creatures can be taken."
The doctor sneered. "Oh, you will, will you? I'd be interested to see that. Show me your genius."
Connor smiled. "OK."
The others, including Becker, all laughed.
End of Chapter One