2: Dreams of Things Past

Nine days went by and still Rouche was passed out. The scientists couldn't figure it out. How was it that one man, though turned zoanthrope, could stay out this long? What thoughts lie dormant in this mans mind? They checked on him periodically, checked his pulse, brain waves, and human-zoanthrope synchrosis. They all checked out, so the only thing they wanted to know, they could not attain. What could bring this man down after countless hours of intense training and mental stabilization? After the next check up, they left him to dream and rest, for they knew that his will power alone would have him strive to complete the goal that was hastily snatched away.

Images flared throughout Jack's head. Through blood filled eyes he saw the horror stricken faces before him. His human senses told him that they were in fear because of him, but his animal instincts told him that this was his territory, and he needed to claim it from these intruders. Now his animal instincts were not like the ones Rouche had learned about in his younger years. Those were because of fear of takeover, being shoved down on the domination ladder. His was because of pure anger, rage, and hate for these humans who had violated his rights. He tried to control his inner animal side, but its strength was totally new to him, and he couldn't seem to control this newfound power. Surging through his body and mind, his bestial form forebode strength and power born anew inside him, kindling the burning inferno raging inside his heart. Muscles plowed forward, bursting with energy. Senses heightened. Hearing grew sharper than he knew he could experience. Sight grew as well, illuminating the darkened room in such a way that shocked his human brain. Thereafter, his body began more drastic physical changes, as it changed into the bestial form that others called zoanthrope. Hair grew thicker, flowing freely in the breeze from the vents above. By the time his face began to change he knew something was wrong. The power soon began to fade. At first he thought it was a fluctuation, but then it took on exponential speed. His human form had expended all its energy, but the beast within wanted to keep going. It attempted to retain its growing control, but the strength failed where will stood firm. With that, the human form tried to revert, but it all ended in chaos. Hair shrank back, but shrank back too far as it took skin with it. Muscle became exposed, and on other parts tendons and even bone, were exposed. In his fury, he let out a bloodcurdling scream, high pitched enough that it rang throughout his mind, haunting him with its echo. Off and on these would flash through his thoughts, starting and stopping at different places. The outcome was always the same though, and he knew that only awakening would free him from this seemingly endless torment that he knew was placed for him to endure.

Two more days passed until Rouche awakened. Under normal circumstances he would have enjoyed a rest like this, and would have also enjoyed the indescribable feeling of pure power surging through his body. The scientists had no reasonable explanation for his fail in the transformation, or for him sleeping so long. However, they did know how he could increase his ability of success when trying to transform again. His endurance surely had been depleted, so to compensate they would have to inject heavy amounts of steroids and other muscle and organ enhancers. Dangerous only because they had never expected to use it on this type of subject, Rouche would have to do as the test subject. Quickly he agreed so hopefully he could return to the real world. He had other reasons though, as his animal side also agreed that he must complete this transformation, or insanity and pain would accompany horror and suffering. Already the state he had grown accustomed to was affecting his mind in ways incalculable. Though they didn't know it, he had grown accustomed to his bestial insanity, and would do anything to bring out his full potential. Next time failure would be oblivious to him.

After a little over a week of intense training and massive amounts of injections, paling in comparison to his original tests, the scientists were quite sure of his success and constantly urged him to try again. He felt obliged not to disappoint them. So yet again he was placed in the darkened room that felt so familiar to him. Yes, he could remember it all now, as if in some distant dream. But this was no dream, and after the countdown he began anew to unleash the beast buried deep within him. Again his body surged with power, and again his muscles burned forth with insurmountable strength. He could see the world melting away before his eyes, dripping onto the floor unto which his gaze was set forth. But this new world stank of wretched souls, of death, sorrow, decay and yes, even fear itself. We are almost at the peak, the beast raged, just a bit longer and we will complete the cycle and show these pitiful humans the true meaning of power. Could this really be happening…? Rouche thought, is this all a dream, some sort of twisted reality drawn up to seize my identity? Or could this be reality showing its true self in my face, daring me to contradict it? He ran this through his head, as the transformation was almost complete. The scientists were ecstatic once again as success was once more at hand. This time they knew the outcome, and their grants from the government would be pushed away no further. As two minds soon became one, the beast finally showed its true form to the people before it. Now that man and beast were finally one, Rouche felt somewhat complete inside. So this is what completeness feels like, he thought. Yes, and now that strength and mind are fused, we can show the world that zoanthropes will NOT be taken lightly anymore. But who is this?!? I am your opposite, as these humans call me, your inner beast. But I will provide so much more than just power, as you will soon realize…

With his beast showing itself to the scientists, they couldn't figure out one simple thing. They had injected into him the DNA of a basilisk in order to find its capabilities in combat. But this DNA had evolved into something totally different. Though still retaining somewhat of a lizard form, it had grown far larger claws, and somehow, wings had appeared. Glistening in the darkness, his darkened blood red eyes shone, only gazing at the floor before him. It appeared that his breathing had increased near the end of the transformation, presumably due to stress, but had stabilized so quickly that the white coats were baffled. What is going on in your mind? wondered the head coordinator.

"The snout has elongated, the overall muscle structure has been completely reformatted, and the bone structure is off as well. We have no known data on this hybrid yet sir," responded one of the data analysts. "Though we will keep a close watch on him, Rouche might have changed mentally, in more ways than we can comprehend."

"Very well then, instruct Rouche to release his energy and revert back to human form," replied the head coordinator. We shall see how much you have changed Rouche, your sudden change shall serve us far better than we had anticipated. With the halogen bulbs radiating light off his glasses, he faced the beast before him. Intently he studied his specimen, and after a quick analysis, he pivoted on heel and left the room to his subordinates, leaving them to handle this newborn creature. Yes Rouche, you will indeed serve us well, in more ways than you think. With his snickering booming into dark laughter, light was drained from the room, and Rouche found himself shrouded in darkness once again.