Authors Note: As you can see I have completely rewritten the previous chapters, and posted some new ones too. Please let me know if you think I am keeping people in character, as I am worried I may be a bit off with some of them.

Chapter 14

As Dinah walked up to the SPLAT shed, she was more nervous this afternoon than she had ever been about a SPLAT meeting. As well as updating them about the information Red Dragon had given to her, she had to tell them about how much she had changed. The last part was something she was decidedly not looking forward to, as she would have to reveal what had happened earlier, and what Red Dragon had done. Sighing, she knocked on the door.

"The man who can keep order can rule the world!"

That was Lloyd who had just given the passphrase, and by the tone of his voice he was in a bad mood. Dinah winced. She had a feeling that this SPLAT meeting was going to produce some arguments, and if Lloyd was in a bad mood to start with, it would make things much worse. Unhappily, she replied with the answer to the passphrase.

"But the man who can bear disorder is truly free"

The door was abruptly wrenched open and Dinah quickly darted through, sitting next to Harvey in an attempt to keep out of Lloyd's way. Lloyd scowled at Dinah as he shut the door of the shed, before sitting back on his box with a huff. Dinah did not give him the satisfaction of showing how much his bad mood was annoying her, and merely raised an eyebrow, inviting him to open the SPLAT meeting. Reluctantly, Lloyd accepted her unspoken invitation, and sat up straight on his box, attempting to look businesslike. Ingrid giggled as he puffed himself up, while Mandy was half-heartedly attempting to quiet her, while simultaneously attempting not to laugh as well. Lloyd rapped smartly on the floor and said sharply,

"I call this SPLAT meeting to order!"

Ingrid and Mandy attempted to look serious as SPLAT focussed on their Chairman. The effect was rather ruined by the fact that Mandy was frantically biting her lip in an effort not to laugh, while Ingrid was still shaking with silent giggles. Lloyd resolutely ignored them and began the meeting.

"Dinah says that she's had contact with Red Dragon again, and that she is also involved in that explosion that happened earlier. I think we should hear what she has to say before we make any decisions or change anything. Any objections?"

As SPLAT shook their heads, Lloyd gestured for Dinah to start her account. Dinah did not start speaking right away. Instead she took out six printouts from her bag and passed them round, keeping the last for herself. Finally she began her explanation.

"The papers I just handed you show the message that Red Dragon sent me just today. I didn't want to just quote it, because what she says is so strange, I wasn't sure if you would believe me if you didn't have the evidence in front of you. So read the message, then tell me if you have any questions. Once I answer them I'll tell you more".

They nodded, then fell to reading the message she handed them. It was easy to tell when they reached Red Dragon's most bizarre claim, as they all stared in complete disbelief at the paper in front of them. Ian was the first person to break their silent disbelief.

"How do we know that what she claims is true?"

Dinah, who was grateful she was dealing with the more level-headed Ian, instead of Lloyd or Ingrid, answered somewhat excitedly.

"Because I saw her myself!"

At her outburst, everyone eagerly waited to hear her explanation, although she could see that they were still somewhat sceptical (especially Lloyd).

"She was running on all fours when I first saw her, and she had claws on her fingers and toes. Her eyes were also completely inhuman, slitted like a cat."

Everyone blinked at this. Dinah waited to see if SPLAT had any more questions about the message, but they seemed to have forgotten about it, as they wanted to hear more about what Dinah had seen. This was confirmed by Ingrid, who burst out with an impatient "Tell us what happened then!"

This was the part that Dinah had been dreading, as up to this point SPLAT were guarded about Red Dragon, yet she feared what their reactions would be when she revealed what had happened that afternoon. Reluctantly, she began to narrate what had happened. For the most part, they seemed to take it in their stride when they heard what had happened to Red Dragon's family. All of them, even Lloyd, were horrified when they heard how Red Dragon had been too late to save her sister. Very reluctantly Dinah told them what Red Dragon had done next.

There was complete silence when she had finished as they were all stunned by such a brutal event. Dinah studied them carefully as they collected themselves. As she had expected, Lloyd and Ingrid were looking worried and slightly disgusted, while Ian seemed to be thinking things over and Mandy appeared sad and sympathetic. Dinah was starting to get irritated, as she wanted any arguments out the way so that they could plan what to do next.

Eventually, Lloyd broke the silence, as he addressed his next remark to Dinah, in a sickened tone of voice. "I knew it wasn't a good idea to try and get information from one of the Headmaster's cronies. We can't keep using a killer; she could end up killing us!" Ingrid added to this firm remark with her own shrill contribution:

"I don't want to go anywhere near her!"

Dinah sighed, while Mandy added a soft, decisive comment to what had already been said, looking very unhappy at the harsh statements which had just unleashed by Lloyd and Ingrid. "I think that's really unfair! The poor thing has just been changed into a half animal and then witnesses her family getting murdered!"

Just as Lloyd was about the reply with something very rude, the irritation that Dinah had experienced from the beginning of this meeting abruptly bubbled over and she crossly thumped Lloyd in the arm. This action halted what he had been planning to say as he and the rest of SPLAT stared at Dinah, very surprised by the way she had reacted. Dinah was normally so calm and collected, and for her to actually thump Lloyd demonstrated that things had gone too far, something that even Lloyd himself recognised. Waiting for SPLAT to focus on Dinah properly, he motioned for her to speak.

"I know you all have opinions about Red Dragon, but the brutal fact is that she is the best asset that we have. Without Red Dragon's information, we will have no idea what the Headmaster plans to do, and therefore we will not be able to counter it. We've been lucky before, as we've always managed to find out what he's up to, as there are clues. It won't be so easy now, as he knows we will try to stop him, so he will be a lot more careful. Lloyd, what do you think we should do?"

Lloyd looked very solemn as she finished outlining where things stood. No matter how much he may consider Red Dragon to be nothing more than a savage animal, he could not argue with what Dinah had said, as it was perfectly true. They needed the information from Red Dragon if they were going to stop the Headmaster. Catching everyone's eyes, he said strikingly:

"We must all take a SPLAT vote now. Who believes we should still make use of Red Dragon, even after everything we've heard?"

Reluctantly putting his own hand up, he looked around the shed to see what everyone believed. Dinah had put her hand up at once, with Ian following a few moments later along with Mandy. Harvey put his hand up afterwards, while Ingrid was the only member of SPLAT who voted against the idea, as she stayed slumped on her box, looking sulky. Lloyd counted the votes and declared,

"As there are 5 votes to 1 in favour of using Red Dragon's information, we will continue to do so. I think we should go back to my house and have a proper look at the news; I want to see if we can spot anything else the Headmaster did when he was at the source of the explosion."

SPLAT seemed in agreement about this activity at least, as even Ingrid nodded, and they all stood up as Lloyd officially dissolved the meeting. As Dinah followed Harvey out of the shed, she felt very relieved that they had agreed on some form of action. She would have to send another message to Red Dragon soon, to see if there had been any new developments.

As Red Dragon had been hoping, the sleep the Headmaster had placed her under did not produce the nightmares that she was dreading, and she was able to feel sufficiently well-rested when she woke from it. As she sat up, she spotted a note on her dressing table. The message was written in the Headmaster's familiar precise script and gave her detailed instructions:

'Red Dragon,

After yesterday's events, I have increased the security for the laboratory as much as I can so that no one can cause you harm while you are within this building. You are to come to the Security room as soon as you are ready, so that I can continue showing you the layout of the laboratory. It is now even more essential that you learn the areas of the laboratory you are permitted to enter, as you are now here permanently, and I also do not wish you to be near certain areas when you lose control. This way, you should have time to move away from those areas, and nothing vital will be damaged. I refuse to have days of work ruined by your carelessness when you have an 'outburst'.

When this has been achieved, we will begin research into the creature. The DNA sample was recovered from a specific area, and I will be sending out some of my staff to determine if any more can be located. As this will take time, we will also be working together in order to determine any weaknesses that you possess. It is best we discover them now instead of discovering them after they have caused you to be harmed. Before you go to the Security room, you are to create a list of any weaknesses that you yourself have observed. Fail to complete the list and the research will be conducted in your room, as I will lock you in. Your well being is of the utmost importance to my plans.

Be as prompt as you are able'

Red Dragon felt some of the uncertainty she was experiencing drain away as she processed the content of the note. She was glad that she would be kept busy, as the last thing she wanted to do was have time to herself in which to brood over what had happened yesterday. Swiftly getting herself ready, she found that the Headmaster had stocked her desk with studying materials, and brought out what she needed to make the list. She scowled as she sat down in the desk chair, glaring at the paper in front of her. She disliked thinking that she had any weaknesses at all, but she knew some existed. She did not want to list them on the paper, as that would make them a lot more real. On the other hand, she did not want to be locked in her room, as she had been there for too long without being able to explore.

Reluctantly, she began listing as many weaknesses as she could recall, growing more and more irritated the longer the list became. It shamed her to think that there were so many things that the organisation could use against her if they discovered these weaknesses. Snarling softly as she wrote the last item, she shoved her pens and paper back into the drawer, slamming it shut when she had finished. Seizing the list, she headed for the Security room, almost stamping as her frustration leaked out through her movements. Before entering the room, she fought to mask as many traces of her anger as she could, as the Headmaster would not appreciate having to wait for her to calm down before he could assess her list. Finally achieving this, she slowly entered, seeing the Headmaster studying a bank of screens on the far side of the room.

He turned as he heard the door opening, motioning for her to come over to him. She did so, offering him her list. Red Dragon cringed slightly as he read it, knowing that the list was not presented in the way it should have been, as she had taken her anger out on it while she was listing her weaknesses. Scowling at her as he finished, the Headmaster did not ask her directly why the list was in this state, he merely raised an eyebrow. She shuffled from foot to foot as the pettiness of what she had done confronted her, before reluctantly answering the Headmaster's silent inquiry.

"I was...frustrated. I know it is important to know my weaknesses, but there are more than I expected. If I have to actually acknowledge them, it only causes me to focus on how much of a liability I am"

The Headmaster frowned as he considered her answer. Although there was no excuse for such a disorderly list, she had raised a valid point. When the amount of weaknesses was studied, it did indeed seem as if she was more of a hindrance to his plans. However, he also believed that some of these weaknesses could be overcome. The more of these that could be conquered, the harder it would be for the organisation to cause her damage. Lowering the list, he considered what to do with this information. Coming to a decision, he decided it was best to share it with Red Dragon before the issue of her weaknesses caused her anger to become too strong.

"You have provided me with a thorough list, even if the presentation leaves a lot to be desired-" Here Red Dragon squirmed guiltily, "-but we will pass over that. It is essential that we devise a way of neutralising as many weaknesses as possible. Before you go to bed, you are to compose some solutions to how some of these weaknesses can be overcome. Clearly it is impossible to counteract all of them, but this way it will be harder for you to be hurt by the organisation who so oppose you."

The Headmaster was surprised when she did not attempt to protest another exercise on her weaknesses, something she would normally do in some way, even if she did not say so outright. It appeared that the shock of the hostile reaction she had faced was still affecting her, causing her to be more subdued than normal. While he was gratified that she was easier to deal with this way, it also disturbed him. If this influence increased too much, she would not be able to participate in his plans at all, and they would now only work perfectly with her input.

Shaking his head, he motioned her over to a table where he had once more placed the floor plans of the laboratory. Red Dragon walked closer, casting a curious eye over them and attempting to conceal the echoes of the horror she had felt last time she was in view of these floor plans. Spreading out the first one, he began to explain the layout of his laboratory.

"My laboratory contains three floors. The first floor contains reception, the administration offices, finance offices and the human resources office. You are permitted in these areas, although at present you have no real need to enter them."

He pulled out the floor plan for the second floor and again proceeded to provide her with a detailed explanation of what it contained and where she was allowed to go.

"The second floor contains the living quarters (where your room is located), the kitchen and the canteen, the laboratory and my office. You are permitted to enter all of these areas, but you are to knock before entering my office. The last area on this floor is the specimen section, and you are not to enter this area, as the specimens I use for my experiments are dangerous. If you enter this area without supervision you could be badly hurt. You also know the other consequences that will occur if you enter this area without my permission."

At this point, the Headmaster pierced his Prefect with a warning glare, causing her to feel uncomfortable. She was well aware of what he would do if she entered that particular section, and had no desire to provide a situation where he would do so. Feeling that he had got the message across, the Headmaster turned back to the floor plans, revealing the third and final floor. Red Dragon shook off her apprehension about the specimen section and listened intently to the final explanation.

"The third and final floor contains the Security room and storage areas. The Security room you are only to enter with my permission, the store rooms you can enter when you wish, but do your best not to disarrange the contents. If you do, you will be the one setting right what you put out of place. Am I understood?"

"Yes Sir"

The Headmaster nodded decisively, then turned to take some sheets of paper that a whitecoat had just entered the room with. Scanning through them carefully, he allowed a smile of approval to flash across his face. As the information was of relevance to Red Dragon, he decided it was best to update her on this issue.

"You clearly thoroughly read the note that I left for you while you slept. I mentioned that we would research the creature once my staff had obtained more DNA. They have managed to do so, but there is not time to study what they found at length today. Therefore we will conduct this research tomorrow, and this way we will have the time to study things much more extensively. Go and have lunch, then for the rest of today you may explore the first floor. If you enter any of the offices, do not disturb those who are working there, otherwise you will end up locked in your room. Remember to complete the exercise on your weaknesses and bring it to my office before you retire for the night. Are you agreeable to what I have outlined?"

Red Dragon scowled at the reminder about her weaknesses exercise, but grew rather excited at the chance to finally explore. This excitement was echoed wholeheartedly by the creature, which had exactly the same desire. As this excitement flared through her system, she had to remind herself to be as calm as possible in the offices; otherwise her explorations would be abruptly cut off. Almost vibrating with the excitement thrumming through her person, she squeaked: "I understand, Sir! May I go now?!"

The Headmaster snorted at her obvious enthusiasm but waved a hand towards the door in dismissal. Hissing out a hasty thanks over her shoulder, Red Dragon shot out of the room, leaving the Headmaster wearily wondering if he would end up confining his currently hyper charge to her room. He might end up doing so, judging by the amount of excitement she was exhibiting. Resignedly he prepared to deliver new orders to his office staff in case this situation occurred.