The Hunted

[Shush Muppet]

Chapter 2

She awoke to the smell of antiseptics and bright lights shining in her eyes. The room was bare and white with minimal decorations, and for a moment, Mira was unsure if she had died or simply been knocked unconscious. She tried to move and found her arms and legs were bound by thick leather straps. Then a shadow fell across her face as a needle stung her right arm.
Wha-? She cried out groggily.

So you are finally awake, the voice sounded unusually tinny. Good. I am glad to see you are undamaged. Once I have finished and the last of the drugs wear off, you should be well on your way.

There on the right side of the metal operating table, a good five or six foot tall, stood a hybrid. He had the powerful hind legs and majestic tail of a wolf, as well as the facial features of the animal. What portions of his body werent covered by an old jumpsuit were covered by sleek, jet-black fur that was slowly graying with age. Sharp canine teeth clicked together and glinted with saliva when he spoke. Just beyond his snout were two blue-hued eyes that shone in the light.
He held up a small syringe of bluish-purple liquid and tapped it with his clawed finger to help it settle. Then the needle was inserted into the IV line and the strange fluid raced down the tubing and into Miras vein. It burned terribly.

Aaaghhhh! What are you doing?!? she cried.

Liquid cardimine, the graying hybrid explained in a subdued tone. Soon the burning will fade and be replaced by a false sense of euphoria. Dont fight it.

Miras eyes watered as the fire in her veins raced through her limbs. Then abruptly the sensation cooled and became an unpleasant tingling sensation before fading into a sort of liquid sunshine. The warmth pulsed and glowed with her heartbeat and slowly melted away the tension in her muscles. She didnt understand what was happening, but instinct told her to be patient; that an explanation would be forthcoming shortly.
You arent the hybrid from the ship, Mira slurred.

No, I am not. the graying hybrid fixed his cool blue eyes on her face. That was Kotha.

Oh. So whore you?

I am Dorgo.

What kind of name is that? the drugs made everything incredibly funny, and Mira swallowed the urge to laugh.

It is a name, Dorgo frowned. And a name is better than a number.

You had a number? Mira gazed sideways at the wolfish hulk.

Yes. All the hybrid experiments did. I was Specimen Zero-Zero-Three. Kotha was Specimen Two-Nine-Oh.

So you are older than Kotha? Mira probed.

Yes, by about thirty minutes. All of the hybrids genetic codes were modified to increase the rate of aging until the subject reached adolescence. However, since I was one of the first, my genetic coding was more of a prototype test, thus the accelerated aging process continued slightly longer for me and the other ten specimens that were created first. That is why I appear to be years older than Kotha.

You dont seem as aggressive as he was. As long as Dorgo continued answering her questions, she decided to keep asking them. Why is that? Dont you hate humans too?

Dorgo sighed. You must understand the entirety of what we have been through to understand Kothas unquenchable anger.

Mira knew shed hit the motherload.
The graying hybrid padded over to a rack of test tubes. The galaxy is a large place, with many dark corners. Corners where people can disappear and never be found if they so choose. There was a group of extremist researchers in a covert lab located in one such dark corner. They were attempting to better equip the human race, as they believed the process of natural selection had been rendered moot by humankinds growing dependence upon technology. So they decided to force the system and intervene in what they saw as the rapidly deteriorating evolution of humankind. Their goal was to successfully combine different desirable animal traits with humans and produce a viable hybrid, capable of reproduction. Kotha and I are the result of attempts to splice a wolfs sense of smell, hearing, and ability to sense fear with a humans physical structure. The physical alterations were an unavoidable byproduct of the splice, and considered undesirable by the scientists. Thus I and the entire wolf-hybrid group were to be discontinued. Unfortunately for them, Kothas sense of hearing was much keener than they had anticipated, and he overheard their plans to dispose of us. During the night, Kotha escaped from his cage and slaughtered the science team in their sleep. We stayed on the research station for a few days, during which I taught myself to pilot the researchers X-shuttle. Then I loaded up as many of the other lupine hybrids as I could and set course for settled space.

Our first contact with the humans came in the form of a bounty hunter who received our automated distress signal and came to help. He scanned our ship of refugees and opened fire when he discovered what we were. We lost five refugees to wounds from similar encounters. Another three died of starvation; their corpses providing food for the survivors. Eventually, only I and Kotha remained.

What you do not realize is we were all created from the same donor DNA. Despite our surroundings, we came to consider the other hybrids our brothers and sisters. Over the few months that we were maturing to adolescence, we developed a bond as close as the siblings in any normal family. To see our brothers die before us Dorgo paused, fighting back emotion. An inhuman howl echoed up from within his frame and rang in the small room's acoustics.

After regaining composure, He grimaced and continued in a low growl. It was agonizing. They were the only family we had.

Now Kotha seeks to repay the human race for what was done to us, by causing as much pain and suffering as he can. That is why he sells human slaves to the Outcast. In his mind, forcing a human to suffer under the lash of another lasts longer and causes more pain than killing them outright. And he is correct in his logic. But it doesnt bring understanding. If anything his methods simply deepen the scars.

Mira shuddered. So why did Kotha bring me here? It doesnt sound like you are going to sell me to the Outcast, and you havent killed me yet, so

The graying hybrid scribbled some additional notations on a complex calculation before answering.
Kotha has turned you over to me because he believes I will inflict more pain and suffering on you than he could with his methods. In a sense he is right, and in another he is wrong. You will experience agony and sorrow, but it is ultimately your choice how long the pain will last.
The hybrid turned back toward her, The scientists at the research facility created their hybrids by splicing genetic code into human eggs, growing their experiments from infancy with genetic modifications manifesting themselves only after adolescence was achieved. Naturally this took time and patience, even with the accelerated growth-rates. They never did figure out how to genetically alter a human adult, as the existing genetic code usually rejected the splices thus causing the subjects immune system to attack and destroy the introduced genetic alterations. What they lacked was a catalyst. Something to speed up the process and force the body to ignore, and even accept the genetic alterations.

An unpleasant suspicion began to creep into Miras mind. What exactly are you saying?

I found the catalyst. Dorgo stated with dry amusement. Cardimine produces genetic mutation among users, but what few people realize is that these mutations can be controlled if certain criteria are met. Refine normal cardimine into its more potent form, liquid cardimine, introduce stem cells doctored with the desired genetic traits, and you have the catalyst plus the genetic alterations in one small package. Of course, there is still a lot of numbers and chemicals involved, but the concept itself is solid.

Miras face became pale as she looked from the IV in her arm to the wolfish face that grinned down at her. What did you just do?

You are about to be reincarnated. the grey hybrid calmly explained. I gave you a cocktail of liquid cardimine and genetic code not unlike my own. For the next few days you will undergo a metamorphosis of sorts; changing from the ignorant, xenophobic human you now are, into something better. And your eyes will be opened.

Why why are you doing this? even with the liquid cardimines calming presence, Mira was beginning to panic.

Because simply killing and enslaving humans doesnt bring understanding; something that Kotha will never grasp. While he enslaves many to other masters, he does nothing to strengthen our numbers and increase our odds of survival. While I truly wish the events surrounding our conception had never occurred, I have learned to embrace what I am. And as such, I wish to see that my race does not die out. If this works as I hope, you will be the first of many to join our ranks.

No. No, this cant You didnt Mira stuttered, her eyes wide in horror.

Yes, yes I did. And before you ask, there is no way to reverse what I have set in motion. You will learn to see the blatant hatred of the human race unmasked, and in turn, you will learn to hate them. We will become your brothers and you, our sister. Then together, we will open the eyes of countless more.

I won't let you do this! I'd rather kill myself! Rrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaagggggghhhhhhhh!!! Mira was bordering dangerously close to hysteria. She strained against the vicious straps that held her to the table and bared her teeth at her captor.

Dorgos face was stone. Your choice has nothing to do with it anymore. You are now on a path that will show you the true face of cruelty, and force you to confront your deepest fears.
He turned his back to the table and picked up another syringe, this one full of a silvery liquid. The needle plunged into the IV tube and sent a shimmering stream of brilliance into Miras vein. She began to convulse violently as brightly colored swatches of light danced before her eyes. The world faded in and out before darkness overtook her.

---

Characters:

Cory Walsh - Unknown
Ari Kova (Yaroslava Ivanov) - Active
Declan "Owen" Quinn - Active
Agent 1854 - M.I.A.

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