On the way to Gen-U-Tech, Thailog had phoned Sevarius about wanting to research the lizard he managed to grab. Sevarius seemed terribly interested on the phone with Thailog, always eager to look at any new freak of nature.

Thailog landed at the building, Sevarius greeting him at the door, though looking nervous of the clone too.

"Ah, Thailog. I have the money you need in exchange for this… creature," he said, holding up Randall's unconscious head with his gloved hand. Thailog accepted the money, grinning.

"And I'd be willing to help with your research, and to 'chat' with him." he said with a little sneer. Sevarius though was curious of the scars while bringing the lizard inside.

"Are those gargoyle scratches?" he questioned.

Thailog frowned. "He won't say who they're from. But the shapes do look like mine, but not mine. Put him in there."

Sevarius opened one of his glass cells, chaining Randall to the floor and wall with the help of his coworkers and locked it. Now to wait for him to wake up.

….

Randall groaned, head feeling dizzy, but not feeling blood coming down his face anymore, for it had clotted up. He looked around his surroundings, which seemed to be a glass cage.

What… happened? Where…? He thought numbly, gazing out of his prison that looked like some kind of scientist lab hallway. It made him swallow, remembering what had occurred, touching his scratches.

Is this the price I pay for not telling them sooner…? Did I lose the only friends I ever had? Again? Randall questioned despondently, suddenly hearing a voice.

"It seems you've woken up, Lizard Boy," sneered a British accented voice. Just hearing that nickname caused Randall's blood to boil, seeing who was talking. A strange man in a white lab coat stood there with a smug smile on his face, and another figure emerged from the shadows. It was his kidnapper.

Randall's back hit the wall from pushing himself away. "Get away, let me go!" he shouted, tugging on the cuff around his neck and ankle.

Thailog shook his head. "Oh no, you are our permanent guest since the clan had casted you out it seemed from those scratches. Had it been my old father?" he said smoothly. Randall cringed, painful memories arising.

"Leave me alone, I don't want to talk about it still," he said, voice growing soft now, curling up in his prison. Thailog knocked the back of his fist on the glass, making Randall jump.

"Simple lizard, we won't be leaving you alone anytime soon. Me and the good doctor wish to study your behavior, your body, anything. And then take some samples…" he taunted.

Randall felt his face coloring, covering his body. "Y-you won't carve me open! I won't let you!" He shrieked, looking angry and frightened.

Sevarius shook his head. They had to get the lizard's guard down to agree to their tests. He used a remote to have gas fill the cell. Randall looked up at it, petrified, and tried to escape the gas, but it swirled all around, making him dizzy and cough. "No… uh… won't…" he slurred in a delirious tone, collapsing to the ground, out cold.

Thailog shook his head from how pathetic Randall looked when falling. This lizard really was worthless. But it would be quite fun exploiting his secrets and depleting his sanity. He turned to the doctor. "Do you have any shackles of any sorts?"

Sevarius raised his brow. "Quite a few I believe." Thailog smiled sinisterly. "If he's ours now he would need… an accessory of sorts. Do you agree?"

That made Sevarius do his own smile. "Ah yes, good thinking, Master Thailog. We will be able to punish him if he's naughty." Sevarius then ordered two of his men to retrieve a shackle for their little creature from his storage.

He opened the cage door too, instructing the men to hold the lizard in case he woke up. Randall moaned softly but didn't flinch when the shackle was placed around his stomach. It would squeeze or burn his skin should he misbehave.

"Wonderful, Sevarius. I already like him better with this on. He should wake up the next day, but we will be the ones to do it. And to ensure he's healthy for our tests, I want to feed him too."

Sevarius studied Randall. "Of course. But should he resist and refuse our offerings, we can force feed if necessary."

That made Thailog cackle softly. "Oh, how lovely. I can't wait to explore his body. But until then, let him have his dreams." he said, eyeing the snoozing Randall with his new shackle.

Any other suggestions from my readers for the next chapter would be helpful. On pause for this story at the moment because of slowing in ideas.