Sanchez used one more drop on the pancreas, "Is this good?"
Dagless nodded, "Yes, I think we have finally found the perfect size for the pancreas so that we can properly investigate the organ. Go ahead and put that bottle down."
Sanchez reached back and dropped the bottle on top of the rat cage, never taking his dark eyes off of the pancreas.
He didn't notice when the bottle fell over. Landing on it's side, the bottle was open and slowly began dripping fluid into the rats cage.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
The powerful fluid dripped into the rat cage. Desperate for something to drink and fearful of the sugared water in his bowl, Snuggles held out his tongue and caught a drop. It tasted good.
Then he caught another drop. And another.
And another.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
Soon the others, Blinky and Fluffy, were at his side. They held out their tiny pink tongues.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
Each mouse drank his or her fill.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
At first, Snuggles thought he was shrinking because Fluffy and Blinky seemed to be growing. Then he realized, he was growing, too. They doubled in size.
And then they doubled in size again.
And again.
The metal bars screeched as though screaming in pain as they bent and finally broke.
The three humans turned and screamed in horror.
"Oh, dear God!" Liz screamed, clinging to Dagless and Sanchez in horror.
The horror.
The screaming.
"By gum, those rats are as tall we are and getting bigger by the moment. I must have failed to notice the bottle tipping over and dripping the enlargening formula compound on the rats!" Sanchez cried.
"And based on the rate they're growing, I'd say they've probably ingested the fluid as well as having it applied topically," added Dagless.
"That would explain the rapidity with which they're growing," Liz exclaimed as she cowered in terror.
"We've got to get out of here!" Sanchez yelled, turning towards the door. Liz and Dagless followed suit. The three of them ran as fast as they could. Dagless' legs were like iron pistons moving powerfully down the hall. Sanchez followed behind, his shining locks flying behind him as he raced. Liz fell behind, tottering on her high heels and weighted down by her ample bosom. She just barely made it into the elevator before the doors closed.
Sanchez hit the button for the top floor.
"What on earth are we going to do?" wailed Sanchez, "Those rats were enormous! We don't have traps that large. I don't even know where we could order a rat trap that big. Who would carry that sort of item? I suppose we could call Tesco's..."
"We might have to find a way to kill them, other than using enormous rat traps," Dagless quickly pointed out, "Having grown so large, the rats brains have also become huge which means that they will be smarter than humans."
"That does make sense," concurred Liz, "With all that extra brain space, they'll be able to learn things very quickly."
"By that reasoning, these rats could take over this hospital," Sanchez said with enough fear in his voice to seem not terribly manly, "In fact, they could run the hospital better. We'll be lucky to get jobs as janitors when the super-genius rats take over!"
"That's not going to happen," Dagless said with a sure and steady voice, "Because I won't let it. Darkplace is more than my workplace, it's my mission. I have been called to this ungodly place for a reason: to fight evil. These rats may have the size advantage but they haven't experienced life like I have. I've known pain."
"Actually, Snuggles has seen a lot of pain in his five years. In fact, we just murdered his girlfriend, "said Sanchez. He had never noticed it before but, upon reflection, he could clearly see the resemblance in character and bearing between Dagless and Snuggles. They had both experienced pain and grown wiser for it.
"Rat pain, Sanch, he's experienced rat pain, but he's never experienced human pain. Rats are soulless, eating machines with disgusting tails that look like worms," Dagless explained, "Whereas I am a man. A man of learning and a man of action."
Sanchez caught Liz as she fainted. She tried to play it off like she was worked up about the rats but Dagless and Sanchez knew better. She had swooned at Dagless' speech. She had gone to medical school but she was still a big girl at heart.*
Publisher's Notes from Dean Learner
*I want to make it perfectly clear that this statement is in no way sexist or misogynist. I would never endorse something that I thought was degrading to women. In my long and varied career in pornography, I have always advocated for the respectful treatment of women. Every woman has the right to express herself as she chooses and some women choose to express themselves by having sex in front of a camera. They have no reason to be ashamed, they are provided a very needed service.
As for Liz swooning and being a "big girl", it is important that Garth created a character that real women can relate to; a woman who is intelligent and capable of great passion. She is very nearly as intelligent as her male co-workers and a looker to boot.
xxx
Snuggles looked around the laboratory. He had lived in the same room for all of his five years and yet it all seemed new.
Blinky moved to the microscope.
"Look, Snuggles," Blinky called out in her cheerful tone, "There are tiny living organisms on the piece of glass. They are invisible to the naked eye and yet I can see them through this magic seeing pole."
"That's not a seeing pole, it's a telescope and it isn't magic. It's science," Snuggles corrected.
"Oh, I see. I've been so foolish to think that everything around me is the result of some kind of magic or divine intervention. Now I understand the world is run my scientific principles. How very interesting," Blinky observed.
Fluffy joined Blinky, "Oh, Blinky, you should leave the science to the men. You need to worry about making babies."
"No, Fluffy," Snuggles spoke with conviction, "Blinky is just as capable of learning science as we. Though her brain is smaller, she can still be very smart in addition to having babies. Of course, she won't be able to help long with taking over the world but, between litters, she'll still be able to help lead."
"Thank you, Snuggles," Blinky said with emotion, "Thank you for believing in me."
"You know what?" Fluffy asked, "I understand what you're saying. My previous beliefs suddenly seem outdated and foolish. I'm sorry, Blinky. Perhaps I can make it up to you by taking you out for a meal?"
"Why on earth would we go out for a meal?" Blinky asked, "We can eat inside, where it's warm and we're sheltered from the elements."
"Oh, Blinky," laughed Snuggles, "You have so much to learn. Now let's find some more rats and use this formula compound to make them as large as us."
"One thing," Blinky said, wringing her hands, "I don't want to sound paranoid but maybe we shouldn't make them quite as big as us. They might try to overthrow our regime. Their vision of an rat utopia might not be the same as ours. It might not be as pure as the one we envision."
"I'm with Blinky on this," agreed Fluffy.
Snuggles shook his head sadly. Their society had yet to be formed and it was already falling apart because of a lack of trust.
On the other hand, some rats were jerks. Blinky and Fluffy had a point.