Heya! One thing before I start:
1: There's no time difference because he was de-hydrated, so he was in a 'suspended animation' type thing.
I open my eyes a second later, slightly wet. After a few seconds, I exhale. Well, that was weird… Where the heck am I? I look around.
I'm in a large, wide area that looks kinda like a cargo bay. Or something that's big enough to be one. Almost every other experiment's here, give or take about 40 or so.
They look wet and confused as well. We must have been re-activated at the same time. People start calling out for each other.
"Odd?" I hear from one area. I turn and wander towards the sound. I shove past 173 and see 014's back.
"014?" I ask her. She turns, grins, then suddenly, she's at my side, hugging my neck.
"Odd!" she says, squeezing me. "What's happened to us? Where are we? Where's 550?"
"(If you could just let me breathe I could clarify…)" I choke out, my knees buckling under her added weight.
"Oh, sorry Odd." She apologised, releasing me from her vice grip.
"Anyway, in order:" I say, rubbing my neck.
"1: We got stormed by soldiers from the Galactic Federation.
2: I think we're on a ship or in another base.
3: Probably in here somewhere."
She thinks a few seconds, working it out.
"Well, let's find him." She says, grabbing my arm. "Exhale." She warns me. Uh-oh. I breathe out quickly. Suddenly I'm moving at hyper-speed, completely blind, deaf and dumb.
As suddenly as it started, we've stopped, and I crash into 014.
"Owee…" I moan, rubbing my muzzle.
"Now you know what it feels like." She smirks. She nods towards someone. 550's sat there miserably. His eyes are slightly bloodshot with blue and he's looking at his hands.
His claws are stained red.
"550?" I ask, walking to one side of him, 014 on the other. "550, are you OK?"
"(…I just went mad…)" he says quietly, not moving. "(…I couldn't help myself…)"
"550, what're you talking about?" asks 014. He looked at her, away from me.
"…Back home…" He says. "Three guys had cornered me… They said I was too dangerous to capture, so they were going to kill me… Then… I thought something…" He fell silent, his shoulders shaking.
"What did you think?" asks 014 quietly.
"I thought…" he says. "I thought…I-I should… (kill them first…)" He stops, closing his eyes as tears leak out of them, bowing his head.
014 gasps quietly, quickly realising what he had done.
"(My programming took over, forced me to do it. Why was I programmed to do this?!?)" he asks all three of us, looking at his shaking, stained hands, his breathing shallow. "(Why was I programmed to kill? I don't want to hurt anyone…)"
He glances at us both, shuddering breaths escaping. "(Wh- what if I can't control myself? What if my programming takes over when I'm with you two? I could…)"
"(Look.)" I say, putting my paw on his shoulder. "(We're your friends. We know what the real you is like. If your programming takes over, we will hold nothing against you. Nothing. We'll know the real you would never hurt us out of his own free will.)"
"(…Really?)" He asks weakly, shivering slightly as he looks at me. I nod, smiling slightly. He looks at 014. "(And… you?)"
"(You even need to ask?)" She whispers. She kneels down and kisses him on the cheek. He smiles weakly, letting us help him stand up.
"I bet you would hate me now if I said 'Joke', huh?" he says, wiping his eyes on his arms, seeing his fingers are covered with blood.
"Oh yeah!" says 014, smirking at him.
"Most definitely." I say, punching his shoulder.
"Especially after that peck on the cheek(!)" 014 says, looking 550 up and down. "Why don't you wash up?" she says, pointing to the corner. "There's a sink over there." He nods, and then walks off. 014 turns around, looking round.
"Y'know," I say, glancing at 550. "That kiss on his cheek might be getting lonely…?" She turns to me, confused.
"What're you talking about?" she asks, frowning. "Are you saying he likes it or something?"
"Well," I say, "Not just the kiss, but maybe…" I stare at 014. She looks behind her, then back, puzzled. I keep staring. She blinks, surprised. She slowly points at herself, a 'me?' expression on her face. I smirk. She blushes slightly, looking away.
"Wha-?" I say, blinking at her. "Y-you…?" She blushes heavily, nodding ever-so-slightly. "Whoa! Go you. Should I… tell him?"
"NO!!" she says quickly, glancing round. "I mean, er, no. I, er… Want to tell him by myself."
"May I be having your attentions, please?" a voice yells from the far wall. We look around to see Jumba in a white lab coat, hands in his pockets again.
"Thank you. Now, Experiments. I am explaining the situation. Our home was discovered by the Galactic Federation, who didn't want me creating you in the first place, so have decided to 'shut me down', as they put it. I have asked sanctuary from my associate in science, Dr Mercy. This is his home. Now, you are free to wander around, but we will behave by his rules, and we will treat his house-! Er, better, than our own. In other words, Obey Dr Mercy. What will we do?"
"Obey Dr Mercy." We say in unison.
"Very good. Now, if you could be waiting a little longer, we will sort out sleeping quarters for all of you." He walks out, talking to someone just inside the door.
"Well, that's different." I say, getting up. "Hmm. Wonder what Mercy's experiments are like?"
"How'd you know he's got experiments?" asks 550, wiping his wet hands on his chest fur.
"C'mon, He's a friend of Jumba's, what do you expect?" 014 says.
"Good point. And speaking of…" he says, looking up. I turn and see two unfamiliar experiments peer down from a railing above us.
One's about 4ft, bright blue with orange spots on him, ears wide and tall with three antennae. But the other one…
She's about 4ft 3", a bluey-green colour, actual hair the same colour with four antennae that hang around her head in an alluring style…
"(Wh-whoa…)" I stammer, fixated on her.
"(Da-da-di-ditto…)" I vaguely hear 550 say. I can't tear my eyes away. Her glistening eyes, her silky hair, her-
"AHEM!" I hear a voice say. I shake out of the trance and see 014 frowning at us, arms crossed in annoyance. "When you two have put your eyes back in-(!)" She growls through bared teeth, tapping her foot. Somebody's twe-eaked!
"Er, sorry…" I apologise, leaning away slightly in case she hits me.
"Me too…" says 550, blushing blue. He gives her one last check, then frowns, turning towards me. "Odd?"
"Yeah?"
"Is that one next to her Male or Female?" I stand on my hind legs, sniffing the air.
"Male, I think." I reply, going back on all fours. "Why?"
"Well, it looks like he's, er…" he pauses, unsure what to do. "He's… Checking you out."
"Say-say what?!?" I stutter, double-taking 550. I look up at him, and sure enough…
"Oh, Man!" I say, shaking my head clear. "Aw! Argh! Bad mind pictures! Get out!"#
I hear 014 giggle.
"Oh, Haw-haw-haw(!)" I say nasally, checking the experiment. He's gone, thankfully. It's just the thought that's a little creepy.
The others experiments are relaxing now, exploring the area we're in.
"Hey, what's that place?" I ask the other two, nodding towards an area. They shrug. "Wanna see?" They shrug.
It's a long, deep area with lots of stools about. Inside, there's a long, wooden wall kind of thing, where all the stools are. Above the opening to it, it says 'Bar'.
"Heya Strangers!" A Mercy experiment says, standing behind the wooden wall as we sit on the stools. I mean, I stand while the others sit. "What'll ya' have?"
The experiment is about 4ft 2", Tan-coloured fur, wide ears, tiny antennae, wearing a belt with two knives in it and a poker dealer's cap.
"Sorry, have?" 550 asks, puzzled. The experiment blinks, nonplussed.
"Don't tell me you children of Jumba've never had Alcohol before?" 014 shakes her head.
"Alright, seeing you've never had it, your first drinks are on the house. By the way, name's Charlatan." Says the experiment, filling two glasses and a bowl with liquid. "Scotch." He adds, seeing our puzzled faces, pointing at the bottle. He hands the bowl to me and the others take their glasses.
"Hey, I'll try anything once." I say, putting the bowl on top of the wooden wall. It smells… Unique. I lap some up at the same time as the others drink up.
Hmm… Not bad. A taste I don't really like in there- but- I wheeze suddenly, coughing as my throat burns. The others take on similar reactions.
"Hoyayayayahhh!" 014 gasps, closing her eyes a second.
"Wha-whoa!" growls 550, grabbing at his head, turning a Royal blue. Charlatan chuckles.
"Yeah. Strong stuff, huh?" He laughs. He shakes the bottle slightly. "More?" We shake our heads, rubbing our throats. He laughs again. "Alright, see ya' around."
"(Note to self,)" I gasp. "(Never go there again.)"
"C'mon, let's find somewhere to sit." says 550.
"How long is that Blubber-butt going to take with those rooms?" I grumble a few minutes later, lying down on my stomach as 014 and 550 sit by a table on chairs. I absentmindedly stick my tongue up my nose. Hey, it's an instinct! Our nose-mucus helps us calm down in times of stress. (Even though it is disgusting…)
"Hey, lay off." 014 says, looking round. "Other people seem to like it here. Just look at 435! He's lovin' it! So is 512!"
"Hey, you're boyfriend's back(!)" says 550 sarcastically, pointing towards the door. I look round to see that orange experiment from before.
"Hoo-ray(!)" I cheer un-enthusiastically, watching him. He tries to get people's attention by shouting.
"Yeah, like that's ever going to work." Says 550, looking the other way.
Huh? The guy's staring at his hand as if he wants to fry it or something! A ball or something's forming in the middle of his palm. Once it grows to 1ft-cubed, he lets it float. He then puts his hand behind it and clicks his fingers.
"AAAARRGHHHH!" I yell, grabbing hold of my ears, along with everyone else. A huge explosion of sound just resonated out from the ball thing. "OW!"
"Now, if I could have everyone's attention over here for a moment." He says, looking at us all. Well, you got it now! Waddya want?
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Sonar. I am an angel of Mercy and I am here to send a message to the children of Jumba."
Children of Jumba? Yeah, right! Like I'd ever call Fat Boy 'Daddy'!
"Your worries are over. 552's reign of terror will fall to an angel of Mercy named Psyche!"
"Angel of mercy?" I ask 014, raising an eyebrow. "Who does he think he is? A saint or something?"
"552?" says 014, shocked. "This 'Psyche' is going to get rid of 552?!?" her face breaks into a happy grin. "YESSS!!!!!"
Everyone cheers at the news of 552, but 'Sonar' waves his arms about again.
"Do not celebrate just yet! Psyche cannot be harmed by 552. So, her talents have come at a price. The message I bring you goes out to all the females who are mated. Take your mates and make sure they are on short leashes."
Short leashes? What does he think we males are, Trogs?
"Jumba has promised Psyche any male she chooses."
I'm listening now.
"So, there is good news for those who are mated to weaklings."
Fine, insult us!
"She is only looking for a strong male."
Well, that might include me…
"And ladies, don't be so sure your male won't go to her if she asks. She is very voluptuous and very persuasive. There, you have been warned. She is coming soon." He runs off.
"He has low self-esteem, huh?" I ask 550, smirking at him.
"Uh-huh." He says, distracted.
"What's up? Thinking about that 'Strong Male' position?" I ask him, sitting up. "Well give up. That position's taken by Moi."
"Hah!" says 014, glancing at us both. "She's looking for strong males!" 550 blushes slightly. I give her a withering look.
"You're just jealous." I say, working on my coat, licking it clean like an Earth cat. "Me and 550've got as much chance as anyone else." (I've got a lot of Earth animal habits, haven't I? I even scratch my ear with my hind foot… Ok, too much detail.)
"(I'm not even sure if I want to go for it or not!)" Whispers 550, glancing at 014. "(I mean with…)"
"What're you two confiding about?" asks 014 suspiciously.
"Hey, calm down!" I say, glancing at 550. "I'm just saying that I'm the only one around here with enough talent for her."
"Uh-huh?" says 014. "So do the other 240 males."
The doors behind us open. We turn to look.
Standing in the doorway is that Sonar guy, along with that… Focus!! That experiment from before. She must be Psyche. She looks around as the room goes quiet.
"I was running! Gotta stay in top shape!" says Psyche in a whiney voice, glaring at Sonar. "You lying sack of-" She slaps him around the head. "That's the last time I trust a mangy little fairy like you!" She grabs Sonar's ear and begins to twist it.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! Psyche, stop! That hurts!" Sonar whimpers, trying to tug away.
"(That's the point…)" She whispers cruelly. Ooh, she is nasty! But nice… She looks up as the bartender waves at her. "Charlatan!" she says happily, dropping Sonar.
"(What got under her skin?)" I mutter, looking to 550 as the pair sit down at the wooden wall.
"(I dunno, but I hope it isn't contagious!)" 550 says, looking anywhere but at 014.
"(Speaking of contagious, why're we talking in whispers?)" Asks 014, giggling a little. "C'mon! Let's talk about something!" she adds in a louder voice. I look at 'Psyche'. She's laughing at something, Sonar winking at Charlatan.
"Hey, the 'Ice-queen' has emotions!" I say, nodding towards her. I spy out of the corner of my eye (Something beginning with(!)) 435 talking about something. "Anyway," I say to the pair, getting up. "I'm off for now. See ya'."
"What?!?" they say in unison, glancing at each other. Hah! That'll force 'em to talk to each other! I walk away, smirking.
"Hey, 435!" I say, walking to his table, smirking. He turns to look at me.
"Hey!" he says, waving me to come over. "Un-even! Di'n't realise you hadn't been caught!" The others in the group greet me with the same kind of responses. I sit on the floor on the right of him.
"So, what's 'bin going on here?" I ask him as the others start talking amongst themselves.
"Nothing much, except for viewing that par-tic-u-larly fine experiment of Mercy's."
"But you've already got a mate." I say, looking round. "Say, where is 512 anyway?"
"Aw, she's just gone to 'Powder her antennae' as she puts it." He says, using air-quotes. "Why don't they just say what they mean? Anyway, where were we?
"You having a mate already."
"Oh yeah. So?"
"Ooh, you're pushin' it mate." I say, laughing at him. "512'll clobber you."
"(Hey, can it!)" He whispers suddenly, looking over my shoulder. "(She's commin' over from the bar.)" I look behind me and sure enough, she's sidling over to us. Out of the corner of my eye, I see 435 pretend not to notice.
"Dude, the girl who wants a mate is coming over here." Says one of the experiments to him.
"435, she's totally coming here to see you, man." Says another.
"I don't blame her…I am, after all, the strong male in the room compared to you weaklings." He says, looking around. Everyone except me laughs. Heh-heh-heh(!) Oy…
"But what about 512?" I ask. He glares at me a second, then falls back on the calm face.
"My mate isn't here, and what she doesn't know, won't hurt her." 435 says, trying to act like he's all that.He's such a bighead. How the Blitznack do I know a trog him?
Psyche stops on the opposite side of the table to him, to my right. She leans in slightly, looking at 435 alluringly. He leans in, a smooth smile on his face.
"Hi there…" she says, blinking slowly. Ooh… Her voice sounds so silky from here… I can't help wagging my tail.
"Hello to you too…" 435 replies, un-moving. Riveting(!) She's about to speak again when she takes a breath through her nose. She pauses, sighs, then looks straight into his eyes.
"I'm sorry." She says. "I didn't realize you were mated."Huh? How could she tell? She walks back to the wood- (Bar. It's called a Bar.) 435 calls to her;
"Hey, wait!" But it's too late. She's gone. He turns to me angrily and punches me on the arm. "Idiot! She must have heard you! Now I'll never get a chance with her!"
"What. Chance?" says a steely voice from behind us. 435 cringes, then turns towards 512. She's glaring plasma bolts, hands on her hips.
"The chance to get back at Psyche!" I say quickly, smiling fearfully at 512. "She just came right over here and asked him, even though he said he had a mate! She just wouldn't listen, even when he said she could never take your place!"
"Really?" she says, her gaze softening, looking at 435. As she looks the other way, I wink at 435.
"Yeah, of course!" he says, catching on. "No-one can replace you, dear!"
"Oh, that is so sweet!" she says kindly. Suddenly she growls staring towards Psyche. "I'll teach her to ask my mate!" She storms away, a couple of other girls following her. 435 turns to me.
"I owe you one, mate!" he says, sighing with relief.
"You owe me six." I say, nodding towards 512's attack party. "She could have got them on you!"
"Good point." He says worriedly, watching 512 square up to Psyche. We can't hear what they're saying, but we can still see it.
"Anyway, I godda be going." I say, walking back to 550 and 014.
"Odd!" says 014 happily, eager to talk to someone else.
I'm about to say something when 512 is suddenly blown clear across the room, smashing into the steel wall. I snap round, staring where she's come from.
Psyche's holding up her hand, shaking her head slightly.
"My creator, you children are stupid." She mutters, looking round. "HELLO! I'M FIGHTING 552 FOR A REASON!! If I have the power to defeat him, what makes you think I can't tear you in two… like… like… tissue paper?!!!" Everyone's silent. Sonar speaks to her.
"Are you crazy?!? Why did you use your AT boundary like that?!?"
"I warned her." She says calmly.
"I think you may have killed her…" he mutters, looking towards 512's unconscious body.
"You warned her."
"Whoa…" I hear someone mutter. We've all probably toned out Psyche to see 512. She's bleeding from the back of her head, arm twisted back on itself. No-one's arm can bend like that. Not even mine, and I'm pretty flexible. Unfortunately for her, she seems to have landed on something sharp and serrated…
A/N. Whoa! That was a long chapter!
(#) 135 has never seen a gay experiment before, or even heard of the concept, so probably would react like that. No offence to anyone.