AN:

Neo: Well, I had an interesting thing happen to me on Friday… At the end of 8th period (yes, we have 9 full periods, 10 if u need extra help…) being Chemistry AP (Advanced Placement, step above Honors) we were in the lab doing an experiment. We were watching water boil to 80 deg Cel, then drop down until it hit zero (we used ice cubes to speed it up ^^). Well… at the very end of the period, since I just barely finished, I was cleanin' up, n guess what happens?? I slip on some water (2 idiots were squirtin' water at each other) with a 1000 mL beaker in my hand (about a foot tall beaker…) n I crashed to the ground with it in my right hand. Well… about half was still whole in my right hand, so my right hand was fine. However, my left thumb, for some reason unknown to me, got sliced open. (it goes pretty much the entire length of the top digit of ur thumb) n I had to wait in the stupid nurse's office until my mom took me to the hospital to get stitches. 10 to be exact, cuz the dumbass doctor not only miscounted, but almost sewed me up with a small piece of glass still inside.

Well… I'm doing OK for now, n for some odd reason I'm really happy n energized. Don't ask me why… I also found myself runnin around the school showin it to ppl who were interested n givin the thumbs up to ppl. : D I don't know… but anyway, here's chappy 15 for ya!!! Hope ya enjoy it!!

15: The Tempest Brews

The dawn brought about the awakening of the world, calling all who inhabited it to awake to its glory. Stirring lightly, the sunlight appearing a reddish tint behind his eyelids, Rouche began to obey its calling. Mmmmm... Dawn already? Groggily standing up, he walked towards the bathroom, seeing as how he desperately needed to relieve himself.

After a few minutes, he walked towards the window, opening the drapes to allow the incoming light to open his senses and enlighten his soul. Hmm... It's been just a couple weeks, but it seems like I've been here for years; known the others for so long... Well, today should be the final day of planning. Hopefully, if everything goes as planned, we should be able to get the job done in tomorrow night. Within his mind, he thought of the other people involved in their plan. Truly they are strong fighters. They should fit well with your little scheme Rouche.

At first, he thought that maybe he was hearing things. He then chuckled to himself, knowing in his heart that he knew who was speaking to him. So you've not retreated completely ehh? The inner beast chuckled as well. Well.. it seems that you have not forgotten about my presence completely then, have you? I sense that you are near to completing your plan. I shall lend my assistance when it is necessary.

Placing his hands in his pockets and closing his eyes, he formed the image of their designated assault location. Yes, all should go well. They seem like a lively bunch of people don't they? Yes, very much so. Heh, well... assuming that nothing complicates the situation too much, we should be in and out in no time at all. Then we can set up for the next mission.

Opening his eyes slowly, averting his eyes from the now glaring sun, he surveyed the near lifeless city before him. And I also thank you for all the help you have given me, as well as the help you offer in the near future. Think of it as nothing, the beast replied. I am merely glad to see how far you have progressed in this ordeal.

I only have one question in mind Draedgo... Why did you evolve so? Or rather, if I was originally supposed to become a basilisk, why did you evolve to make my form that like a dragon? Strangely, the beast did not answer quickly. It took some time for his response to surface, Rouche wondering what he could be thinking of.

Continuing to stare out the pane of glass set between him and balcony, awaiting the response of his beast, he noticed a ragged figure walking through the light mist of morn. Have I seen him before? He wondered, wishing that he had a better view of the person. Snapping his concentration suddenly, Draedgo finally answered his question. Truly, Rouche, your form may be that of a dragon, but it is only half-complete. I have not finished evolving completely, so you are only at half of your true form. When it is complete, you may or may not become stronger, but your bestial form will be far superior to that which you have now. Do not worry though, it shall become finished by the time you have your little plan underway, and I am fairly sure that you will be very much in satisfaction with its results…

Rouche had to smile to himself. Always surprising indeed… Giving a chuckle, he removed his hands from their warm retreat, walking towards the dresser for a change of clothes. After changing into more decent clothes, he left his residence and began walking down the streets of the city, feeling that he should search for the ragged figure he had seen earlier. I swear I've seen him before… But where?

* * *

Walking down the barren streets, Stun stared at the ground beneath his clawed feet. What does this world have to offer me? I have nothing to give it in return, for my days seem to be growing shorter and shorter… Releasing a heavy sigh, he slowed his pace as he was approaching a crosswalk, a driver in a cab apparently not caring whether he stopped or not. They care nothing for me, nothing at all. He felt as if he had been in the world for ages, each 'year' revealing that he was not meant to exist in the world that bore him.

Raising his head after the car had passed, he continued his trek across the city. After a couple blocks more, he turned into an alley, feeling a presence near him, making his nerves stand on end. Who could be following me at this time of day? I have done nothing wrong, and no one knows who I am besides the others… Turning his head over his shoulder, he peeked out of the corner of his eye to notice a man walk past him, his footsteps growing softer with each passing second. Just someone out early, nothing more. Feeling a sense of relief wash over him, he continued down the alley towards the opposite end, finding the junction where it met the street once more.

He sensed another presence approaching him, but he dismissed it quickly, taking it for another of the early people who sought to avoid the morning traffic. He became sadly aware that it was not one of these commuters as another approached him from the opposite side of the alley. Seeing that he had no way out, he noticed that they bore dark suits on their bodies, the dark glasses only confirming his suspicion of who they might be, or who they might be working for. They must be either government or working for Hajime in his new facility… I feared that they might find me once again.

"Whhyyy dooo yoou stoopppp meee?" He asked in a low tone, hoping that it would hide who he really was.

Giving a snort, the man in front of him responded to his question. "You ask that question as if you don't know who we are, Mr. Goldberg."

Hmm… They must belong to Hajime, they're too casual to be government.

"You are to come with us without resistance. You know very well why are to take you to the facility." He continued. Nodding his head slightly, he removed his arms from their crossed position behind his back.

Changing his stance to that of a fighter's pose, Stun stood ready for their supposed onslaught. He was fatally wrong though, as he only faced one man. Taking advantage of the situation at hand, the man behind him jabbed a tazor into his husk-like body, the massive amount of electricity flowing through his body sending the insect to the ground in convulsions.

"Good thing he told us to up the setting. He might have posed a problem had he transformed." The man from behind said.

"Yea, your right. Looks like he's not totally incompetent like the others call him. But we gotta take his carcass away from here before anyone else notices. There, take that half, lift from his armpits, it'll be easier." The front one ordered as he proceeded to lift the unconscious Stun's legs.

Tossing his limp body into an unmarked black van, they proceeded to drive off, making sure that no one traced their direction.

* * *

Walking down the still barren streets, Jack suddenly heard a loud sizzling sound accompanied by some rather loud shuffling. Jogging to the alleyway, he noticed a couple of men in suits throw a bluish body into the back of a van. As he ran towards them, they peeled their tires in fear, Jack not being able to read the license plates.

What the hell just went on here? He wondered, hunching over as he regained his breath. Huffing out his exasperation, he straightened his posture and stood in the street wondering as to what had just happened.

Walking down the street once more, following the burnt rubber as far as it would allow him, he recalled the images still fresh in his mind. There were two suits and a bluish body… But… who was that person and why did he do to get thrown into a van? His eyes returning to their original state, he found that the tire marks had faded to nill, finding that he had no other way of finding them in the vast city. Hmm… I guess I should check with the others to know if they know of that guy…

* * *

Ugggghh… Where am I? Inside a darkened room, finding himself in a straight jacket, Stun surveyed his room with dull eyes. The damn air only weakened his state of mind, causing his body to shiver involuntarily. The only bit of light that entered the room was that from a small slit in the door in front of him. Sooooo cooldd… W-why am I bound like this?

Through a loudspeaker mounted in the upper corner of the room came a voice, its booming volume causing him to turn about in fright. "I see you're awake. Hehe!!"

From the first note, he knew why he had been captured. "Haajiimmmee…" He spat.

"Well, well, well… I'm surprised you still recognize me!! It's been an awful long time since we've had the pleasure of seeing each other." As he paused, Stun could imagine the sickening smile he threw upon his hideous face. "I'm guessing your wondering why I took you in again. It seems you have something in your deformed body that could be of some use to our institution. You see… we've made another form of Bakuryu, but he's twice as deadly, but requires a special type of sustenance. You require the same type of sustenace, but you have something in your genes that will stop his cravings."

"Whaaat arrre yoouuu geetttttingg aaaat??" He demanded of the deranged scientist.

"I'm so glad you asked!! Hehe!! Well… we're planning on splicing some of your prominent genes into his body, thus stopping his craving. However, you might die in the process, but that's not my problem, now is it?"

"Yoouuu thiinnk that I wwillll lleeet yoouu tteeesst onn mmeee aagggaiinn?" He growled, fury raging in his eyes. He began to test the bonds of his restraints, finding them very resiliant to his efforts. They might not break now, but when I transform they'll be easily broken…

"You think you have any voice in this matter?!? Ahh, I see that look in your eyes.. You must be thinking that when you transform you'll break those bonds. Well… I've already taken the measure of preventing that from happening. You see, there's a little band around your neck. When your energy increases as you transform, it'll trigger an electrical shock a liiiitle bit higher than the one you received from my men. I'm sure you remember them…"

Bastard… So that idea's down the drain. Lowering his head, staring at the floor, he began to think of other ways to make his escape.

* * *

"It was Stun??" Jane shouted, shock registered on her face.

"Umm… Who exactly is Stun?" Rouche asked.

Jane turned around to him swiftly, her eyebrow quirked. Well…. I guess we didn't tell him of everybody.

"Why are you looking at me like that? You never told me about anyone named Stun…" Rouche responded.

"You never told him, huh? Well… he has the right to know." Gado replied.

Sighing, Shenlong stepped down from the table he had been sitting on, moving his head towards the others. Heh, he has much to learn… A smirk developing on his face, the cloned tiger slowly walked towards the others, only his pant legs making noise.

Pivoting towards the noise, Jane noticed the man stop and lean against the wall. "So he doesn't know about everyone huh? Guess he doesn't know about me then, right?" He asked.

"What are you doing here?" She asked in a low tone.

"Merely watching you fools as you bring him up to speed. You spend sooo much time trying to be normal that you forget about all the others like us. Hmmpf…" Moving his hand through his hair, he paused to let her unleash her anger.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!? If you're saying that we're weak, then I'll gladly take you on anytime!!"

"Ohh, I know that. See, you have too much of a hunger for battle running through your brain. You can't think clear half the time. It's your major flaw… Everyone's got one, even your new friend. What's your name, huh? Speak up."

"Jack Rouche. And who might you be?"

"I am Shenlong Shin, said to be the clone of Long Shin over there," He said, pointing to the solemn tiger sitting on a chair. "Though I'd like to say otherwise… But that's all in the past, and I've come to bear with it by living in the moment, as I think everyone should. But they're all nothing like me, and I don't expect them to be… You wanna know what happened to Stun?"

"Yes we wanna know, now spit it out!" Jane roared. Gado moved towards her and placed his hand on her shoulder, his eyes commanding her to watch her temper; She immediately calmed down.

"Don't get all pissy about it… Geez." Laughing to himself a little, he continued. "Well, it seems that Busu-freak has a new assassin out and he needs something from Stun to fix up his little mistake. And to answer your next question, no I don't know what that mistake is."

"And how'd you find all this out?" Jane asked of him.

"I've got my sources…"

"That's all nice and everything, but I still don't know who Stun is." Jack said, his tone fringed with annoyance.

"Stun was originally Stephen Goldberg, a scientists with Hajime Busuzima, another zoanthrope. Busuzima used Stephen as a test subject and transformed him into a zoanthrope. Unfortunately, the process wasn't fully successful and Stephen requires either human or zoanthrope blood to sustain his body. The blood has some key component in it that is missing from his new form." Long explained. "And, since his DNA was changed, so was his human body. It has turned a bluish color and he resembled more of a insect humanoid than anything else; claws, an insect mouth, and surprising strength."

"Hmm…" So it was Stun, err… rather, Stephen Goldberg. "What's stopping us from going and rescuing Stephen?" Jack asked.

"Well… for one, we don't know the facility he's at, and two, we don't have enough power right now to overpower his little military unit." Shenlong explained.

So now we have to not only destroy the facility I was changed at, but rescue another zoanthrope from an evil scientist zoanthrope before he kills him… This changes everything…