MUTAGEN – X

Techno Global Research Industries or TGRI was started by the Stockman Family one generation ago. Before he died William Stockman had two sons with his wife Victoria Stockman. The eldest son Michael Stockman has a head for business and his brother Baxter Stockman is a brilliant scientist. His latest creation Mutagen-X was about to revolutionize modern biological warfare.

"Michael!" Baxter yells calling his name as he walks across the lab floor. The two brothers do not get along and always butting heads.

Michael rolls his eyes, as sometimes he hated dealing with his brother. "Bax."

"Don't call me that! You know how I hate that name." As always Baxter is agitated.

"I'm sorry…What is it?"

"How dare you schedule a live test without my consent!"

"We have a lot invested in this project and it is time to see results. Mutagen-X is ready for animal testing."

"Fine, but I insist on implementing the serum."

"Good morning Professor Stockman." Professor Shannon O'neal says entering the lab with an assistant who is pushing a cart with a rat in a cage on it.

Baxter has a crush on Shannon O'neal. "Pro…Pro…Pro…Professor O'neal…Good Morning."

"I'm glad you are here for the test."

"My brother will be administering the live trial Professor. I hope you aren't offended."

"Of course not. This is rat 19…Subject shows the highest intelligence of all the specimens."

"I don't like rats…Why not a dog or cat?" Baxter asks.

Michael pulls his brother to the side and whispers to him, "We are going to use the Rat…Cause any problems and I will have security escort you from this lab."

Baxter yanks his arm away and walks over to the cart with the Rat in the cage. He puts his gloves on and then fills a syringe with 25 units of Mutagen-X. Then he places the needle beside the cage and opens it. He takes the rat out of the cage and with his free hand he picks up the needle. Baxter stabs the rat in the stomach and pumps the serum into it. The rat shrieks in protest as he carries it to a glass room that is 12by10 with a fifteen, foot ceiling. He places the rat in the center of the room and backs out.

Over the next few days the rat mutates, it doubles in size, its front legs become arms and its back legs get longer. It's body becomes more human like. After eight days the rat is now humanoid, its fur brown and eyes yellow. From within its glass room it observes the non-fury creatures outside.

"What do you think its thinking?" Michael asks.

"Probably trying to decide if we are food or not…" Shannon replies making her notes.

"Professor the food is here." An assistant says.

"A bowl of fruit, a steak, a piece of bread, water, and some cheese. I thought we agreed to feed it dog food."

"I want to see how responds to normal human food." Shannon replies. They place the tray of food on a turntable and spin it towards the inside. They watch as the Rat walks up to the tray and sniffs it. Then it starts eating the fruit, then the steak and bread, finally the cheese. It drinks the water last.

"I want to begin the education phase tomorrow." Michael says. Two days later Michael returns to the lab. "Well."

"He is learning at a fast rate…He knows his letters, consonants, vowels, grammar and how to make sentences. Subject MAR001 (Mutant Animal Rat) say hello to Michael Stockman."

The Rat nods, "Hello Mister Stockman."

"He speaks…Can he read?"

"He is already reading at a tenth, grade level…Today we are introducing numbers…"

"I want to implement the training phase."

"But sir." Shannon says protesting.

"Training Phase won't begin until I find someone to train it."

"Excuse me sir. Shouldn't we give him a name?"

He stops and stares at her, "Names create sentiment Professor O'neal…We are grooming R to be a living weapon…Not a pet." He goes to his office to call a favor in to a friend in the CIA.

YOSHI

Yoshi sits in car as he is driven to the TGRI research facility in Philadelphia. He accepted the job to train someone in the art of Ninjitsu, not for the money, but for the challenge of teaching a student. His CIA handler is with him. When they reach the facility, two men and a woman are waiting. "Mister Stockman…My name is Agent Link and this is Ninja Master Hamato Yoshi."

"An honor to meet you Master Yoshi." He replies offering his hand.

Yoshi bows, "An honor Mister Michaelsan."

"Hamato is his family name…Yoshi is his first name. Yoshi is Japanese they do not believe in shaking hands."

"Oh yes apologies." Michael says bowing.

"No apologies necessary."

"This is my brother Professor Baxter Stockman and Professor Shannon O'neal." They drive to the main building via golf carts. After signing some papers and getting badges they take Yoshi to the lab. "We are conducting a special project here called Mutagen-X…

We've developed a serum that turns normal animals into humanoids."

"Ha! I find that hard to believe."

"They say seeing is believing Agent Link." Shannon replies. As they walk up a hall. She looks at Yoshi, "Anata wa America mataha nihon de umare ta Yoshi…"

He looks at her, "You speak Japanese?"

She smiles, "I went to Japan for my High School Graduation and fell in love with the language and culture."

"Nihongo mo hanase masu." Baxter says trying to impress Shannon.

When they enter the lab both Yoshi and Link stare at the Rat creature walking on two legs and solving math problems on a chalk board. Michael taps on the pexi-glass wall. "R…This is Hamato Yoshi…He will be your training instructor."

"It is good to meet you Hamato Yoshi."

It takes a few minutes for Yoshi to find his voice, "The honor is mine…Um…What is your name?"

"We haven't given him a name because…"

"I shall refer to him as Splinter."

"Mister Yoshi…We have a strict policy on this matter…No names."

"Then find someone else to train him."

"Call security and…"

"Wait!" Link says interrupting and pulls Michael to the side. "Allow him this. That man has a one hundred percent mission success rating…You won't find anyone near here his skills…You want him on this project."

"He's that good?"

"Better."

Michael agrees and Yoshi is given a room on the grounds of the research facility.