4: Insatiable Hunger
Daybreak sounded the beginning of the world, as both humans and zoanthropes awakened to start the new day's tasks. Through the slightly opened window, a cool breeze nudged Rouche, persistently attempting to rouse him. To no avail, the breeze crept back along the path it had entered through, seeking more willing people to bring to into consciousness. Come to Rouche, the day is trying to greet you, Draedgo said. Responding to his friend's advice, Jack forced his crusted eyes open, allowing them to adjust from the darkness he had once been in. Groggily he lunged for the clock, noticing the time to be a quarter after ten. Well…, he thought, time to eat and then begin to set the plan in motion. He felt a strong craving for a good steak, and he knew a small restaurant nearby that would satisfy this hunger.
Leaving the warmth of slumber, he made his way to the bathroom for a hot shower to further awaken his senses. As steam gradually began to envelop the room, he stepped into the cramped shower, far too small for his size. Well, you can't always get what you want. Quickly lathering his hands with the punitive soap bar, he cleansed the dried drool and dirt from his body from the night before. The heat felt good on his body, relieving stress, and unknotting his tense muscles. He was the type of person who enjoyed HOT showers, leaving the cold on just a nudge before the off position. After he shampooed his hair, he stepped out and proceeded to dry his body, reddened from the intense heat. As he opened the door and stepped into the hall, not wanting to leave his warm retreat, he moved over to the dresser to get his clothes. Rifling through these, he grabbed a pair of dark blue jeans and a crimson red T-shirt. Leaving this desolate place, he put his hands in his pants pockets, and slouched his back so that he seemed like anyone else. The ground held his gaze intently, though he would glance up at sounds that seemed intriguing. One such sound was a loud rustling in a grayish alley to his right. He slowed his pace and looked inside to see a female with the mark of a zoanthrope visible being harassed by a man clearly a foot taller and easily a hundred pounds heavier. Clearly she was at a disadvantage in her human form, so Rouche shuffled inward desperately trying to not draw attention to himself.
"Come on baby, how come your playin' hard to get so suddenly?" he inquired of her.
"You don't seriously think that I'm gonna let you take advantage of me, do you? You still don't realize who your messing with, do you?" she yelled viscously.
"Do you think it really matters to me? I don't care who you are, so long as you cooperate with me here." he retorted.
"You obviously don't pay attention to the news enough, because if you did, you would have learned to not corner someone like me." she said, lowering her tone and making a devilish smile cross her face.
"And how is this gonna affect me, huh? You can't deny the fact that I have you at a disadvantage baby. So tell me, how in the world do you expect to beat me?" he replied, mocking her smile with one of his own.
"Don't say I didn't warn you. Just be sure you have good insurance…" she said, with a light laugh accompanying her smirk.
Although he began to laugh heartily at her remark, that laughter was soon halted as she began to glow and change into her zoanthrope form. Searching his eyes, Rouche felt fear welling up inside this poor fool. As fur covered her slim figure, he could see the muscles attempting to rip her clothes, much like his had those three years ago. He witnessed her ears shift up to the top of her fur-covered head, as well as a snout elongate from her human features. Through this transformation, he also saw a tail sprout from her pants, pushing bone and muscle from her shrunken human tailbone. As the light faded from sight, she obviously had the form of a leopard. This is unmistakable Jack, Draedgo murmured, she is the daughter of Gado, Jane. She is powerful indeed. Do not attempt to cross her path unguarded, he warned.
With this knowledge stored in his mind, he watched as she began to attack this man unmercifully. She obviously had taken major offense at his words, as she left him no recourse but to endure the pain she was inflicting upon him. Blood splattered against the walls as she tore at his body, shredding skin with well-developed, razor sharp teeth. His screams were drowned out by the city noise around them, and it only proved to foil his vain attempts at some sort of rescue. I want to jump in and help this poor fool, he thought, but it would only have her attack me instead, mistaking me for an enemy rather than a curious civilian. So he watched the carnage rage on, as it seemed that she would not give up.
Minutes seemed to crawl by as she relentlessly pounded his carcass until all Jack could see was a limp body covered in blood, sinew and bone meeting the scant air that filled her ravenous lungs. Viewing his body with an icy stare, she let out a heavy sigh and reverted back to her human form. She glanced near the street and noticed Rouche's shadow splayed upon the wall behind him. Oh great…, he thought, now she knows I'm here, and that I saw everything. How can I explain this one out Draedgo?, he inquired of his beast.
"Hey you!! I know your behind those trash cans, so just stand up and come and explain yourself. Don't try anything funny, or you'll end up just like this guy!" she yelled, seemingly infuriated that there was a witness.
Jack obeyed her orders and shuffled over in her direction. While approaching her, he got view of her full figure, and he liked what he saw. Her well-defined figure was appealing, and the fact that she could hold her own with someone far larger than she intrigued him. Maybe if this goes good, I might be able to persuade her into some sparing, he thought.
"Do not look on me as an enemy. I was merely passing by and thought that you might need some assistance. However, you obviously have displayed that you need no such help." He said in a calm tone.
"Don't give me that bullshit talk in your serious tone. I don't like people who talk down on me. Now, who are you." She demanded of him.
"My name is Jack Rouche, and I see that you are intently staring at my zoanthrope mark. Yes, I do know that you are a zoanthrope too, and that is why I'm not as scared as I realize you would seem to like me to be. You are Jane Gado, yes? Daughter of Alan Gado?" he asked.
"Hmmpf." She replied, with hatred streaking across her face as she looked down at her victim. "I see someone watches the news. To answer both questions, yes, though in battle I prefer to be known as Shina." She stated, proudly lifting her head as she said her battle name.
"Well, Shina, I can safely tell you I will not utter a word of this if it is your wish. What welcomes you to these parts anyhow?" Rouche asked.
"I'm here following a source's lead about some renegade zoanthropes causing havoc. You know as well as I do that my father wants to end their idiocy, and I'm sure you know now that I enjoy a good battle." She remarked.
At that, they both began to laugh heartily, as both knew she was indeed right. The need for battle had been embedded in her brain since she was a child, as she was widely recognized for her outstanding combat skills. After the laughter had subsided, they both agreed to first, leave this man to recover, and second, get something to eat, as Rouche had not eaten yet and Jane needed to recover all the energy spent on her quarry.
At the restaurant, Rouche and Jane got to know each other better. He learned that she was not actually Gado's daughter, but adopted. He learned much about her, but had little to offer her in exchange. She did find the fact that he was zoanthrope-born from an experiment highly interesting, though. The only thing he couldn't actually tell her was what type of zoanthrope he was. Though he had the mark instilled on him, it had been far too distorted to be recognized. Through the mutation of his original basilisk form, Draedgo had taken on a different form. All that he knew was that it was larger, of higher intelligence, and stronger than the original form. He remembered it having large glistening wings, far larger claws, a snout filled with teeth destined to inflict suffering, and a long sleek tail designed for added balance as well as a weapon. He also seemed to remember it only seeing in red, but the scientists seemed to be a brighter form of red. The only conclusion that Jane could draw from this was infrared vision, and she knew of all different sorts of lizard zoanthropes, and none saw this way. He must have mutated into a far more advanced one if he could detect heat traces. Why is he shaking so violently?, she wondered, his transformation must have caused such a horrible trauma for him. I know I shouldn't intrude, but I still feel like I need to help in some way.
"Is something wrong Jack?" she asked of him. His shaking had turned more violent, and she feared he might be going into a seizure. If that were so, then she would take him to the hospital where Alice Tsukagami worked.
Jack had crouched over the table, eyes glazed over, with his hands clutched to the sides of his head as if not wanting to let go. Wide-eyed and oblivious to the outside world, his vehement shaking was uncontrollable. Draedgo!!!!, Rouche screamed, fear in his voice, what is happening to me?!? Why am I shaking like this? This, Draedgo responded, I can only explain as a synaptic relapse. Give it time and it shall pass.
"Can you hear me Jack? Are you OK?" Jane asked, fear and worry also in her tone.
This has gone far enough! I'm taking him to Alice now, whether he objects or not. Jane thought.
Jane pushed herself upright and stepped over to the man known as Rouche, grabbed hold of his arm and proceeded to wrap it around her shoulder, carrying him out of the restaurant. On the table lied a note, reading that she would pay the tab later. As she dragged this man toward her car, she bumped into Yugo Ogami, a wolf zoanthrope she had met from earlier fights.
"Jane, what are you doing out here?" Yugo asked, a confused look plastered upon his face. And where'd you pick this guy up from?, he wondered.
"No time for that, this is Jack Rouche and I'm taking him to Alice. Maybe you'd like to help me carry him, huh? Instead of sitting on your ass and staring at me. Get that look off your face Yugo, this guy is heavier than he looks, now grab his other arm dammit!!" Jane roared.
How come it seems that I always get the shit jobs with all the heavy work… Yugo wondered.
With the weight now equally distributed, they proceeded to drag Rouche to the hospital where Alice worked. Alice Tsukagami was a zoanthrope herself, with the form of a rabbit embedded within her DNA. She had dedicated herself to helping others, and Jack had become no exception.
After what seemed like hours of dragging this helpless man through the streets, they finally reached their destination. After checking him in and finding Alice, they had him situated under her care for the night. Alice was more than welcome to help a fellow zoanthrope. Jack's shaking had subsided through the night, and it seemed as though he had fallen into REM sleep, possibly dreaming of his past. What they didn't realize was that the shaking was caused from the chemical imbalance that had formed when Draedgo had mutated. What Rouche didn't understand, as well as Draedgo himself, was how it was triggered.
"So how did you exactly meet this Rouche character Jane?" Yugo asked.
"We met in a restaurant…" she replied, clearly not wanting them to know how they had really met.
"Well, how'd he end up like this then?" Yugo asked, clearly wishing she would answer deeper than she was allowing.
Great, wolf-boy over there thinks that it's my fault. I didn't do anything though. Grrrrrrr…. Alice will probably have a good explanation for why this happened. I'll have to make the point of asking her later about it.
"We were talking about his past, because he was a man-made zoanthrope created through a Tylon controlled US organization. All of a sudden he just grabbed his head and hunched over, shaking violently." Jane replied.
"What?!? He's a man-made zoanthrope? Did he manage to say what kind?" Yugo asked, clearly irritated that another unnatural was born amongst them.
"He doesn't really know, but his original form was supposed to be a basilisk. That form mutated he said, and it grew bigger, mainly adding wings to the form. After that he had a relapse I'd say and couldn't say more because of the shaking." She answered. "Alice, do you know of any possible explanation as to why he would start shaking so badly?" She asked.
"Well, the kind of shaking your talking about, since you said it resembled a seizure, could only be caused by some sort of chemical imbalance. It must have triggered it when he was explaining to you about the experiment. He must have had some kind of trauma during that time or something. That's all I can gather." Alice answered.
So that's it huh? A chemical imbalance.. Those bastard scientists are to blame for this, I know it. All their in it for is the money, that's always the reason, Jane thought angrily, and that's why I'm gonna go after them and get some answers as to how to fix Rouche's problem.
As the three zoanthropes sat silently, glancing at their new acquaintance, Rouche had different thoughts. His dreams were ravenous, and to Draedgo they didn't make much sense. They were viewed through darkened blood-red eyes. What is bothering you my friend, Draedgo asked, why are in such pain. I do not understand why you are feeling these emotions. To Draedgo, emotions were only there to further express what one wished to speak or feel. Throughout the past three years, Jack had not had anything happen to him anywhere near this bad. Vomiting and nausea were there in the beginning, and questions arose that caused fear and anxiety, but nothing like this 'seizure', as this rabbit zoanthrope had called it.
While his beast was filled with questions, Rouche was fighting a battle within his mind. Though sleep had overcome him, he was still cold and filled with fear. Why did this have to happen now? Right in the middle of my plans, this bastard chemical imbalance thingy attacks. While thinking these thoughts, pain crossed his features and a groan followed not far behind. The other zoanthropes merely raised their heads, each wondering what was on his mind. All honestly wishing help in some way, they all knew that patience was their best virtue at this time. With that their only option, Yugo and Jane said farewell to Alice and left the hospital, wandering to whatever place they had made their residence.
Ooooooo… please wake up soon Mr. Rouche, Alice hoped, though it would be nice to have another zoanthrope friend with us, I still hate to see you in this condition.
Jane had other thoughts on her mind though. Dammit!, she thought angrily, I find another zoanthrope, and this happens. I can't help but feel guilty in some way. But I still want to know where this organization is, and see his transformation so I can figure out what the hell he is.
As she proceeded homeward, the sky melted, shifting from reddish orange to jet-black. Stars were not visible, as clouds had made their presence known. Droplets of water meshed with Jane's clothes, and somehow she knew this was how Rouche was feeling.
"Sleep well new friend," she whispered, "cause when you get better, I've got some questions for you…"
With that, she entered the archway of her residence, looking back once more to the hospital where Rouche stayed. Turning back, she headed inward, and darkness enveloped her form from sight.