"Alright people, we haven't got all day here!"
The dram club of the university was getting the props and the students who were acting were practicing for the upcoming play. Dr. Paradigm was there as a special guest for the rehearsals and he was clearly enjoying himself.
"I hope this musical will draw in a huge crowd this year.", he commented to the director who was in charge of the whole thing.
The pianist was running through some of the musical songs that were going to be used completely unnoticed by the other cast members. Paradigm looked at the huge plant they were working on when an idea came to mind.
"Mr. Director, how would you like me to make a personal contribution to the production?"
The director looked interested.
"What kind of contribution?", he asked.
Paradigm smiled.
"I can create a special plant that will be perfect for this production and will not need a voice behind the scenes to make it live."
The director looked more eager.
"Bring it here tomorrow and we'll see what it looks like."
Paradigm nodded and headed out of the room. When he got into the hall, he looked to see if anyone else was around. After confirming nobody was, he walked to a nearby locker and tapped twice. The door slid open and became a door large enough for him to enter. He stepped in and the secret elevator activated as the door closed in front of him. After a couple minutes, the door opened again and he came out to see Slash and Killamari pulling out another tank from the back.
"So what does this one do anyway?", Killamari asked, "It makes my suckers cringe just to look at it."
Paradigm smiled.
"All the more reason to use it in this production.", he chuckled, "And we're making sure the sharks are in the play."
Slash looked confused.
"You want the sharks to know about it?", he asked.
"Of course I do.", Paradigm answered proudly as he put a hand on the side of the tank his seaviants had brought out, "Once I get this little mutation on that stage, the whole campus won't even know we'll be gene slamming the whole event into my new unstoppable and obedient army."
Paradigm cackled like a madman with his seaviants joining in as an evil chorus that didn't reach the upper floors, but rang clear as day throughout the room.
/
Dr. Bolton continued working on a personal project while his sons hung out at the hideout.
"So what do you think Dad is building now?", Streex asked as he posed in front of a mirror.
"Beats me.", Slammu answered as he lifted weights while Jab spotted.
Dr. Bolton finally turned around and presented five strange looking watches which grabbed his son's attention.
"What are those for Dad?", Ripster asked.
Dr. Bolton smiled.
"After recalibrating Paradigm's original idea, I've designed a special device that will help us blend in better during the day."
"How so?", Streex asked.
Dr. Bolton fastened one of the watches on his own wrist and turned the dial a notch to the left. The device lit up and Dr. Bolton buckled and clearly looked like he was in pain as his shark features began fading. His dorsal fin slid back into his back, his shark teeth withdrew and he shrank as his shark scales became pale flesh. The sharks watched in awe as Dr. Bolton continued changing and eventually stood before them the exact way he used to look before he got mutated though he was bare chested and wearing jeans.
"So how exactly is this gonna help?", Ripster asked as Streex and Slammu helped Dr. Bolton get a shirt.
"I got a call from the school.", Dr. Bolton answered, "They say you all need to head back and repeat the school year you all missed."
The sharks groaned clearly not liking the idea.
"We were saving the world and were mutated at the time.", Jab objected.
Dr. Bolton frowned.
"No buts.", he said firmly, "Besides, this thing works both ways."
He turned his watch a notch to the right after taking his shirt off and after another set of painful looking shifting, he stood in his shark form again.
"So it looks like we're going back to school?", Ripster asked.
Dr. Bolton nodded as he took up a flier.
"Also, I'm looking forward to the school play coming up."
The sharks eyed the flier.
"The play this year is "Little Shop of Horrors"?", Streex asked.
"Which would make it a perfect way for Paradigm to gene slam the whole school.", Ripster put in.
"Exactly.", Dr. Bolton answered, "And my watches will help us get closer."
A beep came up and the sharks gathered at the computer to see an e-mail from an unknown address.
"Now what?", Dr. Bolton asked as he checked it, "Well it looks like we're invited to the play as special guests."
/
A while later, the director of the school play was walking outside deep in thought.
"Okay, so Paradigm is preparing me a state of the art plant prop he says will be worth it, and now I need to get my cast together to be sure."
The headmaster of the university was outside as well and looking a bit annoyed.
"I expected the Bolton family to meet me here at this hour. So where are they?"
The director didn't feel like being around so he headed off. The headmaster sighed as he adjusted his starched collar of his suit. Before long, he looked over his shoulder to see Dr. Bolton and his sons come up to him.
"Mr. Garcel?", Dr. Bolton asked.
Mr. Garcel raised an eyebrow.
"Dr. Bolton. It has been a long time.", he answered before noticing the rest of the family, "Oh yes, the famous Bolton boys if I recall."
Ripster looked a bit nervous.
"We just want to-"
"Zip it!", Mr. Garcel snapped sharply, "As your headmaster of this university, I have taken the liberty of arranging a special course for you four to take. Pass and I'll have you graduate with honors."
"That's nice.", Slammu said.
Mr. Garcel frowned.
"However, any of you strike out, you're all out of my campus and you all receive the lowest grades I can name for the remainder of the school year."
Dr. Bolton sighed.
"Understood sir."
Mr. Garcel smiled.
"Splendid. Have your sons report to room 34 of the North Hall building for enrollment. I expect you to be in your class by eight in the morning on the dot."
He walked off leaving the family alone.
"Well he's charming.", Streex said plainly.
"Forget it.", Dr. Bolton answered, "Let's just get this enrollment underway and we can do some investigating."
A while later, the secretary was looking over the files of each Bolton and handing back some student passes that were used on campus.
"John, Clint, Robert, and Coop.", she said pleasantly, "Welcome to the program."
/
After the sharks got into the classes, it was clear that they had their work cut out and by the time the lunch hour came along, they were in the cafeteria feeling worn out.
"I can't believe our teachers gave us homework on the first day.", Jab complained as he dug into his sloppy joe(the lunch for the day).
"Tell me about it.", Slammu added, "I was about to go shark in gym class, but thought it would be too risky."
Ripster sighed.
"I really miss the hideout.", he admitted, "There we could be ourselves."
Streex placed a few of his fries on the side looking a bit glum.
"I miss my new name. It had a ring."
Dr. Bolton showed up and seated himself with his sons.
"So how is the program?", he asked.
"Terrible.", Jab stated firmly, "Can't we just admit this was a bad idea and we go home as what we really are?"
Dr. Bolton looked reassuringly.
"Well luckily this program is only for a couple weeks and then you're out of here."
"You're gonna stay?", Streex asked.
Dr. Bolton gave his sons an understanding look.
"I have to provide for this family don't I?"
Before he could get an answer, a sound came off that made them all jump.
"No way! The Bolton boys are back!"
Before the whole family could have a say, about twenty other students were around the table eagerly asking questions.
"Party at my house Friday. You game?"
"Coop! Long time no see! You gonna try out for the football team again?"
"John I have some trouble with my tech homework. Could you lend a hand?"
Dr. Bolton got to his feet.
"Okay people.", he said silencing the crowd, "I know the boys are thrilled to be here and I'm sure that they'll help when they can."
The crowd dispersed as a bell rang signaling it was time to get to class again. As the sharks followed, they saw sign up sheets for the school play. They each wrote their name before heading out.
/
Slammu adjusted his shirt as he looked in the mirror. It felt strange to see his human face again along with his old name being heard, but he wanted to get a good role in the play and his brothers would help too. Before he headed out, something caught his ears in the hall.
"I thought making props was in my soul. I thought these fake things were so cute. And though I tried to toe the line, Mr. D gave me the boot."
Slammu looked around a corner to see a girl about the height of his shoulder wearing a pair of white boots, jeans and a navy blue shirt beside a closet which he guessed was filled with stuff for the play.
"I could've made a lot of plays happy.", the girl sang on giving her natural blonde hair a twirl, "I could've made an alter or two. I could've made a lot of plays happy, but they tell me it just won't do."
The girl looked bummed as she held a fake vine in her hands.
"Why's life so hard on a girl who wants to see her things come through? Just when you got your brand new scenery, they splash on something that's new. You know what I mean."
She paused a minute to take a breath.
"I could've made a lot of plays happy. It's always been the root. I could've made a lot of plays happy, but they tell me it just won't do."
(A/N: The song being sung is based off the one Audrey sings in "Little Shop" episode "Air Junior". I claim nothing.)
She then noticed the young man in her presence and looked a bit shy.
"You..heard me?", she asked.
Slammu nodded.
"Yeah, you sing great.", he said coming over, "Made that up yourself?"
She nodded.
"It helps calm me down. I saw what Paradigm gave us for the play, but it gives me the creeps. I'm Diane by the way."
"Hey I'm Coop.", Slammu said taking her hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"You go to school here?", Diane asked.
"Just so my brothers and I can grad.", Slammu answered, "We kind of missed a bit of school so we're trying to make it up."
Diane then looked a bit nervous as Slammu noticed a pair of pom poms nearby.
"What are those for?", he asked.
Diane sighed.
"Okay, I used to be a cheerleader, but wasn't one for long."
Slammu smiled.
"That's cool. I was in football before. Hey, mind if I ask you to see the play with me?"
Diane smiled.
"I'd love to."
/
A couple nights later, the sharks were getting in backstage as the play was underway. Slammu saw Diane in the trio singing the opening number and the sound of her angelic voice helped him feel better about being here. Out in the audience, Paradigm was seen in the way back which made Dr. Bolton cringe. The sharks kept an eye out as they looked around for anything unusual.
"Well the costumes are fine.", Ripster reported.
Dr. Bolton looked thoughtful.
"Okay, where could Paradigm hide something that could gene slam an entire auditorium of staff and student faculty while making it look normal?"
Their eyes looked up to the lighting system where some kind of contraption as Diane started the next musical number.
"Downtown where the folks are broke. You go downtown where your life's a joke."
Dr. Bolton turned to his boys.
"Shark time."
They all activated their devices and quickly removed their shirts as their shark features came out. This time felt a bit easier than the last time the boys had shifted. Through the changes, the memories flooded into their heads for a second, but then everything came to focus and the adrenaline of their shark power thundered in their being. Luckily nobody was noticing as the play had gotten to the part where the plant was revealing it could talk. By then, Streex noticed that slimy green stuff was faintly seen in the back that reminded him of kelp.
"Guess Paradigm got busy with plant life.", he mentioned.
Dr. Bolton noticed as well.
"Rip, you take Jab and take down that light system. Slammu, Streex and I will take out that plant when the lights go off."
The moment the curtain fell for the next act, the sharks sprang into action. The plant came to life and lashed out with spiked tendrils eager for impaling the actors. Slammu and Streex got right into chomping down the vines as Dr. Bolton got to work on using a calming salve to render the plant harmless. Ripster and Jab got to the system and had just finished and got back with the others as the curtain rose and the lights came back on. When Diane got to singing "Suddenly Seymour", Slammu couldn't help but listen.
"Please understand that it's still new and frightening. For losers like I've been, it's so hard to say."
Slammu put his hand over his heart as he took her words to heart.
/
When the play ended, Paradigm looked like he was happy, but Dr. Bolton and his sons could tell he was furious that his plan had been thwarted again. They had returned to their human forms and Slammu had met up with Diane with his brothers watching.
"You were great out there."
Diane blushed.
"Thank you. I didn't see you out there."
Slammu thought fast.
"I...helped with the plant prop."
Diane looked curious.
"Than why didn't I see you when Seymour put me into it?"
Slammu blushed this time.
"It had to look convincing?"
Diane smiled.
"Works for me. Maybe we should do this again sometime."
She gave Slammu a kiss on the cheek before heading out. Slammu put his hand where she did as his face became a smile. Dr. Bolton smiled also and rolled his eyes.
"Young love."
Slammu snapped out of his daze.
"Huh?"
"Isn't it obvious bro?", Streex asked, "You're falling in love."
Slammu looked a bit embarrassed, but then Dr. Bolton stepped in.
"Okay boys, that's enough of that. We got homework and school tomorrow."
He led his boys outside to the dorm where they would be bunking to find Lena and Bends already there along with their stuff from the hideout.
"How did this get here?", Ripster asked.
"I helped Dr. Bolton make a special chute that will move us from under the ice rink to here and vice versa.", Bends answered, "By the way, what's with Slammu?"
"I met this girl.", Slammu admitted, "Her name's Diane and she's a great singer."
"Sounds like someone has a crush.", Streex said playfully, "And sealed it with a-"
Slammu looked annoyed.
"Don't you say it Streex. Don't you say it."
And guess what? Streex didn't.