Welcome back, Tiger. We've been waiting for you. Where have you been? And why are you so frightened little man?
Disclaimer: I do not own Animaniacs. Yakko, Wakko and Dot and all of the other characters belong to their own respective owners. I only created Tiger and Caress and a couple of extras. I claim no rights to any of this. This was made purely for entertainment. No profit is made off of this.
Just An Experiment
In a small abandoned warehouse in Burbank at midnight 12 days later...
"Not good."
Zenny was sleeping on an old cot near the window. Well, trying to sleep. His old scar on his right foot was bugging him. Plus, he hadn't been so close to getting his family out for years now. Getting his family and Dot out, that was always his first priority. He knew a little warner couldn't grow up being an experiment, they'd never have a normal lifespan. They would be tame and normal, something a warner shouldn't be. He turned on his side. He didn't want to fake his death and escape, but it was his ONLY chance! He couldn't raise a family in some lab, that wasn't possible. No, he needed to get everyone out. And now, he was close. He was close, he could feel it.
"Not good." The Brain looked back at Zenny. He had been with the warner long enough to know he didn't sleep that much or sleep that hard. "Not good." He said louder, trying to get the warner to stir.
Pinky was starting to mumble in his sleep..."Bang...zoom...straight to the moon." He giggled in his sleep.
Brain kicked him awake. "Wake up Pinky. I've done it."
"Huh?" Pinky slowly started to wake up. "Done what Brain?"
The Brain frowned. "I found Dr. Fay."
"You found her?" Zenny was instantly up as he jumped over a chair, bounced on an old couch, and showed up right by Brain's side. "You did it? Really?"
"Do not get excited." The Brain frowned. "This is not going to be the best news."
"What do you mean?" Zenny asked. "Did you find her or not?"
"Yes." The Brain repeated.
"Okay. Well, where is she?" Zenny grinned wide. Finally, he would be able to get his family back.
The Brain gave an exhausting sigh. "Which one?"
"Which one?" Zenny asked confused. "What do you mean which one?"
"When I went into the satellite, I found some disturbing files. The most interesting was Dr. Fay. She is in fact a warner," the Brain replied.
"Heh?" Zenny looked completely confused. "She can't be! She's an evil, heartless-"
"warner raised to become Dr. Fay." The Brain pointed to the computer. "Dr. Caress Fay."
"What?" Zenny stared at the screen. "I can't read this? Huh?" He scratched his head. Warners were zany, but they did have a powerful intellect. Especially for other languages. A warner could learn about any language there was to master in about a year, no matter what it was. Their minds were always unlocked, flexible in capability for learning languages. "I can't read one word."
"It is an old language." Brain did not seem happy. "It has not been spoken for at least 10,000 years." He looked back at the screen. "Not good."
Zenny didn't like the way the Brain sounded. "What do you mean?"
"It's a loop, an endless loop. I am at a loss to explain it." Brain pointed to the computer again. "Time goes by, children are bred and raised in a lab, parents are returned without memories, children are then trained to become doctors. When they learn the trade a millennium later they are given their own ship and run their own experiments."
"What?" Zenny looked at the mouse like he was completely nuts! "Okay." He pointed at him jokingly. "Back to an all-cheese diet for you."
"I'm serious." The Brain frowned. "The children are bred within the facility to carry on the legacy."
"Uh huh. Sure, yeah. My kids are gonna be observers." Zenny blew his tongue out at him.
"Gee Brain. Why would kids do that?" Pinky asked as he yawned.
"Yeah! And besides, she doesn't look like any warner to me," Zenny added. "Something's bogus in there. Does not make sense Mr. R. Besides, if there were more doctors, we would have heard of them."
"Not if each of them is a doctor named Dr. Caress Fay." The Brain replied. "I am not kidding you, it is an endless loop."
"Why?" Zenny smiled. "Got an answer there yet?"
"...I believe a visit to the Warner Brothers is in order." The Brain frowned.
"Huh?" Zenny looked out the window. "It's past 12:00 fella."
"Knowing warners, they are still awake and this is important." The Brain frowned. "Come Pinky!" The Brain jumped down from the computer. "We do not have time to dawdle. Pinky?"
Pinky was already fast asleep again. The Brain tried to hit him, but Pinky only woke up a little bit.
"Fine." The Brain groaned. "I'll go do it myself."
Water Tower in Burbank...
'Oh! But Yakko, I want to share the responsibility evenly!' Yakko mocked Wakko in his head. 'Well Mr. Even Steven, who's up again tonight, huh?' They had only gone to sleep an hour ago, and here he was, up again with Caress.
Caress cuddled up to her Uncle Yakko tightly. She had another bad dream that night. She couldn't help herself, it scared her! When she woke up, her Uncles were smiling down at her. She grabbed onto her Uncle Yakko's trousers and couldn't help but cry. She didn't remember her nightmare, but it was scary! Her Uncle Yakko picked her up and went to get her some water. Now, he was trying to comfort her on the couch again.
"Come on Caress, it was just a bad dream." Yakko smiled at his niece. "Your Uncle Yakko and Wakko's always here, aren't we? Heck, anything that wanted to attack you would probably be scared of us!" he grinned. "If he wasn't, we've always got an extra pet of your mom's."
"Momma never mentioned pets." Caress cuddled up closer.
"Yeah, your mom never talked about a lot of things for some reason." Yakko shrugged his shoulders. "It's fine though, alright? You need to get these bad dreams out of your head."
"They just feel so real Uncle Yakky." Caress sniffled. "They scare me."
"Well, if ya can't remember them, I can't help ya much kid." Yakko smiled sadly at her. "It'll be okay. Now, ya need your sleep. We've got an exciting day of going to some random places we never go to and do something spur of the moment."
Caress nodded her head. Even in the middle of the night, her Uncle Yakko never forgot someone was watching them. He never missed an opportunity to give someone a headache. She laid her head back down but noticed something peculiar in a corner. "Uncle Yakko? What's that?"
Yakko turned his head and looked in the corner she was staring at. 'Cheese? Hiding in the dark?' He thought for a moment and got up. "You go back to bed. I'll come back and tuck you in later. I just need some fresh air alright?"
Caress nodded and watched her Uncle Yakko start to go out the tower.
Yakko climbed down the tower aways until he saw the mouse. "Did you find her?" Yakko grinned.
"Come. Zenny is waiting-" The Brain was interrupted as Yakko picked him up.
"Which direction?!" Yakko asked happily. Heck, he wasn't gonna walk side by side with a mouse for blocks on end! "Left or right?!"
"Right about-" Brain didn't even get time to explain more directions. Yakko was already on the run.
In a small abandoned warehouse in Burbank...
In a few minutes, Yakko was running up to the old abandoned warehouse. He smiled at Zenny who was smiling. "Well fellow warner, what did you guys find?"
"I don't know!" Zenny grinned. "Mr. R wouldn't talk without you first. Well, that much. What I do know doesn't make a whole heck of a lot of sense."
"What do ya mean?" Yakko asked.
"It is an endless loop." The Brain started to explain.
"Different races are kidnapped, bred and dropped back off after 3 or 4 kids, then the kids are turned into the scientists." Zenny blurted out. "Is that nuts or what?"
"Kids? Scientists? What?" Yakko scratched his head.
Zenny joined him in scratching heads.
"To carry on the experiments through the years, fresh doctors must always be used." The Brain started to explain. "Otherwise, they grow old and die."
"Grow old and die?" Yakko looked over at Zenny. "Eh?"
Zenny shrugged his shoulders.
"It is a loop." The Brain was trying to explain but warners were not the easiest being to explain things to. "Every Millenium new scientists are bred to take over the experiments."
"Wait. Are you telling me Dot's kids are supposed to become scientists?" Yakko blew his tongue out at him.
"Oh, that's not the half of it," Zenny laughed. "He says the doctor was actually a warner."
"She is. She has been changed into something-" The Brain tried to continue.
"PPpppFFfffTTttt!" Yakko and Zenny both blew their tongues out at him and then started to crack up laughing.
The Brain wiped his face. "...thrilling. I am not kidding."
"Then what's really going on? You don't go running experiments and creating new docs 'cause you're bored." Yakko smiled. "You go out and run around and meet people."
"You said it," Zenny grinned.
"Warners aren't serious." Yakko informed the Brain. "Thought you figured that out. If we are, our lives are-"
"Cut short, I know!" the Brain growled. "Sit down. This may take some time to explain again..."
30 minutes later...
The Brain tried to explain everything from the experimental cookies they had discovered to the endless loop of experiments over the milleniums. Then afterwards, Zenny translated his stuff so Yakko could actually understand.
"Okay, weird but okay." Yakko agreed. "Why?"
"Don't know. Mr. Rat won't tell me yet." Zenny looked over at the Brain. "Alright, Yakko's here now, can ya tell us what the big deal is now?"
"The experimental cookie was in development. According to this information, it has been in development for longer than I've been around." The Brain frowned. "That would, of course, mean it is older than you."
Yakko and Zenny looked at each other, then back at the mouse.
"Millenium after millenium the cookie was worked on. This millennium though, the cookie has seemed to be perfected," the Brain finished.
"Oh...you mean the cookie you said couldn't possibly work...does?" Zenny asked in shock.
"Okay, Time out!" Yakko held his hand in a time out position. "I..." Yakko's voice slid in confused. "...I don't get it! Are you sure? An endless anger cookie?"
"Yeah." Zenny couldn't believe it either. "Just a tip, but I'd try to never anger Caress."
Yakko had a funny expression on his face. "...yah."
Zenny gave a deep sigh. "Alright, so the big wig is actually some very old creature. Yikes!" He crossed his arms. "Okay, let's get our families out, A.S.A.P! Where are they?"
"Yes, we can get them but we must find a way-" The Brain began.
"Find a way to get them out!" Zenny grinned.
"There are multiple ships." Brain reminded him. "The cookie is being perfected. If it really-"
"Look. We ain't big universe savers!" Yakko bluntly told him. He grinned. "We're warners! We're gonna go get Dot out! Do what you want about the rest of the stuff! Now, where is she?"
The Brain shook his head knowingly. This was out of his hands. Whoever was truly behind everything, behind the experiments, behind the doctors, behind everything was clearly on another level. Who knew how many ships were really out there? Was there any way to even save the universe anymore? He just looked at the warners who were blissfully smiling. 'Figures. End of the universe could be around the corner and they're only thinking about their soon-to-be freed families. Hmmm...I will need one of my best strategies ever created to even-'
"Helloooooo?!" Yakko shouted. "Dot's location?"
The Brain sighed. "The ship with your family is on it's way to a planet named Turyip. It is breathable and spacious, and there is room to run. Like every other time, little warners will be set free. The warners who least act out will be taken back and kept for future examinations. The rest will be left to defend for themselves."
"Little warners? Left to defend for themselves?" Yakko shouted. "No way! They can't defend themselves!"
"After the chosen warners are taken away, the original kidnapees will be dropped off on their planets again, their memories of the last ten years erased." The Brain frowned. "A different planet for different species has always been used in the past. It is only scheduled for warners now." The Brain was still trying to get the dangerous point across. "The little warners will either perish or be turned into observers for next time. If there is indeed need of a next time." He tried to reaffirm himself again.
"Well, I want Dot back," Yakko replied. "We kinda need her whole family though, so I guess we're going on a little trip!"
"Yes, one more trip before the universe is doomed. That would be nice." The Brain grumped.
"Yep! I'll finally get everyone out!" Zenny shouted happily.
"Yes, right before the universe is controlled by complete evil." Brain added again.
Yakko groaned and nodded his head. "Look, as MUCH as you think everything is wrong, it's not!"
"Yeah! Warners just CAN'T be changed!" Zenny agreed. "We're wild, we're rambunctious, we're zany! Besides, Dot's kids probably have a temper. There's no end of the world yet, everything's fine!"
"If they become very, very angry." Brain tried to explain again. "The cookie-"
"Is a freaking cookie!" Yakko laughed. "Oh come on. You think the end of the universe is gonna be because of a cookie?"
The facility...
Dr. Fay was walking quietly from cage to cage. The sound of her feet padding on the hallway floor was louder than usual. All the experiments had been given knockout gas. It was time to continue the second part. She looked at the cage of Polka Dot. She would be getting a rude awakening very soon. "Observer." She looked over at Dot's cage. "Hmmm...observer." She went over to Jill's cage. Watching a human's interaction with the warners was very interesting, but there was no more need. All ongoing emotional experiments not pertaining to warners did not matter anymore. "Dispose." She started to walk off while other observers went into the cages and took the little warners with Polka Dot and Dot as well.
Turyip...
"Awaken."
Polka Dot's eyes slowly opened as she yawned. When she saw Dr. Fay, she instantly stood up. She looked around very alert. She was no longer inside her cage. In fact, she was no longer inside! She was trapped in a huge glass bubble with over 400 warners. "What is going on?"
Dr. Fay stared at her from the outside of the bubble. "The most curious specimens will find a way out and escape. Do not stop them, you may only observe."
"What?" Polka Dot growled. "What's going on now? Is this another emotional experiment?"
"Affirmative." Dr. Fay replied. "In doing so, you may get your offspring back."
"Tiger?" Polka Dot started to grin. "My Tiger?"
"We are no longer observing you, you are the observers. We will come back in one week. If you have tried to keep any specimens in against their will, your offspring will be punished. This is an isolated planet, you will not be able to make contact with outsiders." Dr. Fay stated. "We shall be back." Dr. Fay looked at the right of the bubble. "10 other specimens are here to observe as well. If they do not comply and attempt to interfere with my experiment, their offspring and yours will be punished."
Polka Dot growled. "You stay away from Tiger. Where is my Enchantment?"
"Within the pile of babies on your right." Dr. Fay said coldly as she turned and walked off.
Polka Dot went over to the other warners and woke them up. "Yo! Ya gotta wake up, something weird is happening!"
The parents grumbled as they started to come to.
"Whosis anda whatsits?" Dot shook her head. She grinned when she saw Polka Dot. "Hey there Polka Dot."
Polka Dot grinned. "Maybe later!" she chuckled. Never got tired of that joke. "We're off the ship everyone. Dr. Fay is running a different experiment with the children."
"Why are we in a glass bubble?" One of the other warners commented as they looked around.
"The most curious are supposed to find their way out. If we try to stop them, our offspring will be punished." Polka Dot frowned. She watched as some babies were starting to crawl around.
"You're kidding?" Dot groaned. "Can't she ever do any normal experiments?" She started to wiggle her finger around in a motion by her head. "Hi! I'm Dr. Fay!" She made her eyes roll around as she made fun of the doctor.
All the warners laughed.
"Yeah! That'd be her!" One of the moms cracked up. "Nutso in the heado!" She watched as some warners were already discovering a small hole hiding in the back of the bubble. "Wonder what this one's for?"
"Maybe she is testing curiosity?" One of the dads suggested. "After all, curiosity killed the cat. Maybe she's trying to learn how."
Dot took a quick look around. "Yo Tigey? Caressy?" She laughed. "I knew it, they're already long gone. Warner kids just can't be tied down for long!"
The warners all cracked up again. They weren't scared that anything would happen to their children. In all the experiments they'd ever gone through, the children were never hurt. Any physical hurt came on the parents. Dr. Fay's threats on their offspring did not phase them too much. They did know however, that if they did something, the offspring could be taken away for a long period of time.
They just let their kids explore. Some of the warners surveyed the outside of the bubble, but there was no danger. In fact, all the parents thought it was a good thing the kids were exploring the outside of a facility.
No, there was no danger. They just enjoyed some normal warner company and joking for once. They weren't quite comfortable enough to give away their real names yet. After all, if they were called by it later when they were back in their cells, they'd be punished.
"So Dot? Dot? This is Dot and that's Dot huh?" One of the women laughed.
"Hey!" the real Dot grinned. "I'm the real Dot!" She showed off her scar. "I love my name and I didn't want to lose it."
"Well, I was proud of my name." One of the Dot's sighed. "Thing is, I knew my brothers would never approve."
"Oh yeah, they wouldn't." Dot admitted. "I can imagine them now. 'You permanently scarred yourself for all eternity?'. Yeah, they won't be happy. But, they weren't here!" Dot said in her defense. "And it's my name."
"Yeah! I did it too!" A warner named Angora showed off her scar. "It was painful, but I'd do it again!"
"Yeah." Todd answered. "You two are crazy. I was proud of my name, but I couldn't do that."
"Here, here." Todd replied. "I think Zinky is the only other one who kept his name in our small group."
Zinky smiled. "Sure did. Hey, it's my name."
Another Todd winked over at the real Dot. "By the way Dot, I couldn't help noticing that-"
"I am not available!" The real Dot growled at him.
"Leave her be!" Polka Dot growled at him.
"Okay, okay." Todd held his hands up in defense. "I just don't have a mate so if you wanted to-"
"Zenny was the best ever! No one's replacing him!" the real Dot shouted angrily. "He even had the courage to keep his own name too!"
"Harsh!" Todd replied. "Fine." He smiled over at Polka. "Don't see anyone sitting beside you either."
"Not interested." Polka Dot said plainly.
"Well, you've got warner kids though. Three I hear. Isn't that hard without somebody helping?" Todd asked.
"I've been doing just fine," Polka Dot said firmer.
"Alright, I'm just-" Todd began again.
"Would you knock it off?" The real Dot yelled. "You'll eventually get a mate, stop trying to take my brothers female."
"Whoah, Dot." Polka Dot frowned. "Don't say that. I don't even know your brother."
"He's still your male, Polka," Dot smiled. "Yakko's great, I'm sure he'll like you. He's never been that picky."
"I've never met him. I'm not interested in meeting him." Polka Dot said firmly. "I've done very well by myself so far."
"You've seen him with Caress though," Dot smiled. "He's pretty gooo-oood!" she said in singsong voice.
Polka Dot answered in the same kind of singsong voice. "I don't caaa-aaare! I'll probably never meet him anywa-aaaay!"
"Okay, okay! Ease up guys!" another Dot smiled. "Let's enjoy this. We're actually getting a chance to talk to each other. Forget about males and females and stuff. Let's just hang out."
"I guess she's right," Dot agreed. "Still, I wish I knew if Wakko had kids too."
"No one's seen his number come up here," Polka Dot assured her. "If anyone has a baby with the father being 92, they'd be sure to tell."
"Yeah." Dot nodded. "But you could at least tell them-"
"-I mentioned his name once or twice." Polka Dot said in defense.
"As their daddy though?" Dot frowned.
"Look, okay! What should I tell them? 'You have a daddy you and I will probably never meet?'" Polka Dot crossed her arms. "Let 'em think what they want to."
"Well, your daughter Caress is with him now." Dot reminded her. "Never know what happens in the future."
"I know." Polka Dot smiled. "Let's get past this though. Does anybody have a paddleball? Anybody at all, or anything that might be like one?"
Dot coughed. "Did I mention he likes paddleball?"
"He does? I mean, okay he does." Polka shrugged it off. "Lots of warners like paddleball."
"I like paddleball." The other Todd from before spoke up softly.
"Like I said, lots of warners like paddleball," Polka said firmly.
"Here. Caress just came back from her playtime room hour. She still had this." One of the Dots smiled at Polka.
Polka's eyes lit up. "Oh, thank you soo much. I've really needed to get out some stress." She smiled delightfully as she started to play.
"Hey Polka? Where is your missing kid?" Dot asked as she looked around. "Did he leave too?"
"I'll get Tiger back after the experiment." Polka smiled as she continued playing.
"Are ya sure?" Dot asked softly.
"Why?" Polka stopped playing and saw a strange expression on Dot's face.
The warners all turned and noticed one of the few warners that were still in the bubble. There had been so many warners before, no one had noticed him. Now, everyone did.
His nose was black and his white areas were turning more of a grey.
"Tiger?!" Polka tossed the paddleball away and ran up to him. "Tiger? Sweety? What happened to you?"
Tiger didn't say anything. He just stared very sadly at his momma.
"Tiger?" Polka grinned. "Give mommy a big smile! I've missed you! Tiger?"
A curve of his mouth slightly went up, then back down.
"Tiger?" Polka looked at him in worry. "Mommy's here now. What's wrong?"
"What's up?" Dot ran over and looked at him carefully. "Whoah, little nephew. Something weird is going on with you." Dot touched his strange grey areas. "What's up, Tiger? Talk to your Auntie Dottie?"
Dot normally hated being called Dottie, but it actually was pretty good with the word Auntie. Without Auntie though, call her Dottie and she could get rough.
Tiger just looked over at his aunt. "..."
"Tiger? Mommy's starting to worry." Polka Dot picked him up and held him closer to her. "Come on Tigey-Wigey." She started to bounce up and down."Boingy! Boingy! Boingy with mama!"
"Yeah," Dot grinned. "Boingy! Boingy!" Dot started to bounce up and down.
All the parents started to bounce up and down, along with some of the nearby kids.
"Boingy! Boingy! Boingy! Boingy!" Polka Dot grinned at him. "Come on Tigey, say Boingy!"
"I'm scared!" Tiger finally spoke as he clung on tightly to his mommy.
"What? There's nothing to be scared of Tiger. It's okay..." Polka Dot held him close. It had been sooo long since she last held her little boy. "It's okay, Tiger."
"No...I'm scared..." Tiger whined again.
"Of what? You're nose turning black. Your different color change?" Polka Dot smiled. "It's okay Tiger, you're a growing warner. Warners shapeshift and change colors and do all kinds of things as we grow older. Your body's just learning about it. Right, Dot?"
"Right!" Dot grinned. "I'm sure that's the case. Heck, I turned pink and purple for four years. Yakko and Wakko teased me constantly."
"See? It'll be okay." Polka Dot nudged his cheek tenderly. "You're just a growing warner."
"...I still feel scared. I feel scared." Tiger clung tightly to his momma.
"It'll be fine. Don't worry, it's natural. You'll learn to accept the new changes." Polka Dot grinned. "Your home now and you are gonna be just fine."
"I feel different inside..." Tiger whined. "I feel different."
"Don't worry. It'll be okay, you're back home." Polka Dot swung him around. "It's all natural, Tiger. Your feelings and appearance as you develop might go up and down, but you are still you! You'll be okay."
"Okay." Tiger said softly as he clung tightly to his mother. 'Momma says I'll be okay...momma's smart...but...I still feel so scared...what's happening to me?'