A bird in a cage

[Mariel Moon]

A mrrow of laughter came from Mariel. NC113F was exceptionally uninteresting to her. She knew that any experiment who tried to excape would be roughly intersected and torn at by her. The fact that she could only switch between the Tiger and a human so... slowly was rather annoying. But it was better than being a cat person. "Moon." It was a calm reply, but even so it held a fiery edge towards Crone. She flexed her claws briefly, then decided to change into a Siberian Tiger- her hybrid animal. It would be best to have that around if either of them made a break for it.

In a way, it would've been good for Mariel to spend her life as a tiger. She meandered, thoughtlessly, through the heavy door to make her transformation. Her hands were already tiger, so that left preeetty much everything else. She concentrated.

(Actually, yes. Mariel is a hunter of Avian-hybrids and anything else they sic her on.)

[Crone (NC113F)]

Crone suppressed a groan of disgust as Mariel slowly shifted into a tiger. His eyes however, visibly rolled. Who cared if she could shift? She couldn't do it fast enough for it to help her in an emergency. He had everything he needed already-- natural claws and fangs, along with exrordinary senses. He possessed nocturnal eyesight and, as he had proven in tests, could climb any surface. That and he always landed on his feet.

Always.

She could shift.

What extrordinary talents.

Not.

But what Fusion had said... that was intresting. It was a sudden change, and, NC113F would admit, that he was slightly taken aback and disturbed. There had been reasons that they hadn't let him loose like Mariel. Crone questioned things. Hell, he had tried to escape!

The panther cross breed flicked his tail in contemplation. He hadn't said anything to the Fusionist yet-- and, he was sure, the doctor knew he had hit a nerve. Crone would give anything to be free. Anything He'd trade the life of anyone for his freedom. But to have freedom and something to hunt? It was bizarrely perfect.

The lean bodied experiment grew closer to the face of the cage, his fingers entwining with the bars. His olive knuckles grew pale as he gripped them tightly, out of hope that fusionist wasn't lying. NC113F wouldn't put it past that sadistic bastard to be pushing his buttons.

More like Bird Man and Wolf Girl. He remembered Wolf Girl. She had pushed his buttons, and he had never paid her back for it. This was his way of doing that. Capture her, and return her to captivity. Return her to experimentation.

He hoped they broke her legs.

Bird Man, across the way, had made an off hand comment about killing the doctor when he was released-- but Crone wasn't as stupid as most would think. He'd never had formal education, even less than the other experiments, but he did not lack in common sense. If he killed fusionist, he wouldn't escape. He wouldn't be free.

His lips curled into a haunting smile-- the two rows of razor fangs gleaming. His soft voice carried suprisingly well across the room as he addressed Xel. "What is this we, bird boy? There is no we. Don't you know cats eat birds for breakfast?"

Crone's dark eyes slipped from the caged form of his fellow experiment to the doctor. Along with the glimmers of hope that had sprung there was the feral madness that belonged to a truly unnatural animal. They could have sent Mariel for the wolf girl, but would she have succeeded? It was unlikely. There was a reason that NC113F was the 'alpha' of the 'pride.' And it wasn't just because he was the oldest.

"The hunter becomes the hunted. It's the oldest story in the book." This comment was directed at Dr. Fusion and, it was apparent in his voice, that he was talking about Wolf Girl.

[Dr. Fusion]

Dr Fusion smiled when he looked upon NC1134 with one of his most sinister of grins. He was now officially intrigued by the Panther Boy's enthusiasm. In truth the man was absolutely elated that the cat wanted to help him recapture his experiment as well as other experiments from the lab. Fusionist was truly an evil genius as he glanced at Xelious's cage with a devilish glint in his eyes.

"Looks like your mate will have someone else to watch out for, won't she?" Fusionist asked with that evil smile of his.

Oh yes Fusionist was going to have fun with this due to the fact that primarly he wanted to retrieve the pride he had lost when one of the two Lovers had escaped. The good thing was that Fusion knew almost exactly where the wolf girl was hidden, though he would not tell that to the cat experiment. Oh no, Fusion wanted to see if he could find her on his own.

Besides this Fusionist was far more enjoying his sudden feeling of triumph, imagining thousands of experiments being brought back as well as the wolf girl, dragged by a leash to be brought into his hands. Maybe if he was lucky the flock would be found as well and he could suggest to the other scientists a new experiment procedure with them.

"As Head of the Department of Project Control I Hereby send this Experiment on the same mission the rest of the Feline Experiments have been sent on." Fusionist then unlocked the cage door for the cat male with a smile on his face still. "However, my dear boy If you are going to play with the experiments, make sure to bring them back alive and not to damaged. "

[Crone (NC113F)]

Slowly, ever so slowly, Crone pulled himself out of his cage. It had been awhile, and, when he straightened up to his full height, his spine popped and realigned in a loud and painful manner.

NC113F loved it.

Now standing, he was an entire seven inches taller that Fusionist, and over a foot taller than Mariel. His dark eyes blinked a few times, the disturbing smile still plastered to his thin lips. With a flick of his dark tail, he rattled the front of Xelious's prison. Crone was out and Bird Man was in.

How ironic.

"Wolf Girl chose you as a mate? I knew she was pathetic, but I didn't know she was desperate." He made a 'tsk' sound a shook his head ever so slightly, his grin widening. Once upon a time there may have been an era when he would have helped them; when he would have banded with them. But that time passed when they had left him to torture and escaped themselves. Crone had changed since then. And, arguably, for the worse. With that, he winked at Xel. What would he do to Wolf Girl? NC113F hoped that Xel would have a panic attack thinking about it.


This was great. He was out of his cage, and, in a few minutes, he was going to be outside. And outside he would stay. Crone would bring back the experiments. They'd be locked up, and it was sad.

For them.

But Crone would be free. Vaguely, he wondered if they realized that they'd have to kill him before he'd be locked up again. He stood there, clad in a medical frock and draw stringed pants, not really knowing what to do. Was it really that simple? Was he really free?

No. He was subject to the whim of some ridiculous man who tortured things for a living-- of a man who made people like him. Crone wasn't a human, and he wasn't a panther. He was some terrifying mix of both of them. He was the the fabric of a child's nightmare or fable.

He'd call the fusionist out some day. He'd make him pay. But not yet. Now wasn't the time. Crone had things to do, and people to exact vengeance on. They'd come back whole-- but unto unharmed. At least, not emotionally. He'd make them suffer.

Especially the wolf girl.

[Xelious]

Xel just lay in his cage, taking in the exchange.

Fusionist... he didn't expect anything more from him. He'd do whatever he could to get both of them back in here. The old man had his pride, twisted as it was, and he'd do anything to mend it.

NC113F, or whatever the hell he called himself, disgusted him. Oh, yes. I'll take my freedom at your pleasure, Mr. Fusionist. Would you like a reach-around, too? Emerald had beaten him before, she could do it again. He'd make sure to warn her that she was coming.

The only thing that worried him was that Emerald was completely alone, knowing her. There were plenty of experiments out there to capture, but most of them were banded together. They'd been loners, not really knowing about any of the other experiments, but now... well, he knew Emmy, and she wouldn't have changed that now that he wasn't there to look out for her.

He took a deep breath. She'd be fine.

Xelious despised killing. Some people, though, were too dangerous to be around. Fusionist was one of them. These two cats seemed to be, as well. Pity, really, that they seemed so broken to his will. He had the theory that Fusionist's successes must have stopped with himself and Emerald, since only they seemed to have enough mental strength to not rationalize away doing what Fusionist wanted.

[Dr. Fusion]

Dr Fusion could not hide that evil smirk playing on his face when Crone accepted his offer. This was probably the best day he would have in weeks, perhaps the recapture of the wolf girl would help as well. It was just to good to be true and he loved it far to much, this whole event made him let out an evil laugh, one that could send a chill up anyones spine.

Now, all the Scientist had to do was put his trust in this experiment, but his trust was not in the experiment himself. Oh no, Fusionist's trust was in the blood lust of the Experiments brain. This twisted man knew that this boy would no doubt want revenge against all of those who left him behind and then all of those who hurt him. Fusionist thought a few steps ahead however and was ready for this experiment if he tried anything funny.

"Now my dear boy, I want you to go ahead and go find these experiments. However, if you wish to enlist the help of someone you may, but I would think you would prefer to take down my wolf girl own your own." Fusionist explained, a wicked gleam in his eyes. "Besides I have a feeling that you want to damage her before you get back."

[Mariel Moon]

Mariel watched, tit for tat, as Crone stepped out of his cage. A fresh wave of suspicion came over her. Fusionist knew she loved missions. A look on Xelious's face made her want to yowl (she's good at reading emotions), he looked at her almost as if she were the scientists' pet. It made her want to annoy the wretched thing himself, stupid scientist. They liked to beat the experiments before they brought them back.

So did she.

For some reason, Mariel felt respect for Xelious, he was defending what seemed to be his mate as much as possible, in a cage. The comment about escape proved that to Mariel. It was some-what ironic. Crone looked like he was too eager to go. Well, of course he wanted to get away, but was there not something else in this equation? It annoyed her even more not to know his plans. That could be found out later. Time to find out more about the bird experiment, but first she had to be able to talk, instead of just growl. She stepped into one of the many, many, other rooms.

[Crone (NC113F)]

The smile stayed on his lips, but his eyes grew dark as the doctor smirked. His eye gave a small twitch. Crone would give his tail to score the doctor's face with his abnormally coloured 'claws.'

But he'd have to wait. If he did it now, he ran the risk of losing his freedom before he was even free.

And that would not do.

Not at all.

Everyone around him irritated him. Fusionist and the torture he had caused; Xel and the indirect betrayal and idealism he represented; Mariel and the sheepish and unquestioning personality type.

At least Wolf Girl had guts. She had taken him on a few times. Hell, she had even won once or twice. NC113F was man enough to admit that-- though, he knew, he had won just as many times. They were pretty evenly matched. But she had escaped and he had almost destroyed his arm. She had chosen the feather brained idiot in the cage over him.

And for that, Wolf Girl would suffer.

He wouldn't kill her. No, death was too good for her. Actually, it was too good for everybody. Suffering and pain built character, and death erased all that life worked so hard to create.

It was a major step backward in evolution.

His thin cat's eye pupils focused on the doctor-- his tail, long and thin, whipping around in aggitation. This pathetic excuse for a man thought he knew him? Ridiculous. It was true, he would work alone. And it was also true that he would 'damage' Wolf Girl. But not in the manner, nor for the reasons he expected.

NC113F's smile, though it remained on his lips, convoluted into a half sneer half smirk itself as he glared down at the doctor. "I'm less of a boy that you think, doctor." Crone wasn't a boy. He was more than that. And to be treated as inferior when he wasn't was something that he wouldn't, and couldn't, stand for.

With that comment, he stood, awaiting dismissal or, atleast, directions to get out of this god forsaken building.

[Xelious]

Xelious rolled his eyes, still looking up at the ceiling. Oh, yes. Crone was such an independant thinker. "That's it, go be a good pussy-cat for the doctor. Maybe you'll get some extra milk with your dinner for it," he said dryly. 40% human, 10% feline, 50% freaking sheep.

Where had the other feline gone? If he'd read the body language right, there were dominance issues going on here. It was worth taking a closer look at, at least. At the very least, it was one more feline he could get information on to warn Emmy about. But no... right now he was stuck with the psychotic doctor and the self-important sheep-cat.

[Dr. Fusion]

Dr Fusion was slightly surprised at the Cat Hybrids sudden defiance and couldn't help but glare at him. It was quite annoying to see an experiment almost defy him in such a cocky manner. If anyone had the right to be cocky it was Fusionist himself. Besides, he was the one with the control here, not The Bird male, not the cat male, him, Dr Percy Fusionist.

The Scientist reached into his lab coat pocket and pulled out a map, handing it to Crone. The ways out of the lab were clearly marked and he merely shook his head over at Xelious. He calmly walked over to his cage without saying anything up untill he kneeled down.

"Be careful what you say Xelious, I have planned farther ahead then you might think. As soon as some experiments get recaptured they will be all part of this labs master plan. I would suggest you keep your head down until then." Fusionist told him

The Mad scientist then walked slowly and dilebrately out of the labratory, long lab coat trailing behind him.

[Mariel Moon]

It was rather hard for Mariel not to, some what, admire Crone. He seemed to have as much pride as possible for a cat in a cage, being jabbed by needles every time he turned around. Her brown hair bounced lightly at her sides as she plodded back into the particular holding room. Ugh, it was a stuffy as a snail shell in there. Her tiger form would've been even worse. At least she wore something light. It could be interesting if she gained Xelious's trust, especially if he escaped. She guarded her thoughts, not letting them flow into her emotion.

Xelious's cage wasn't all that tall, so Mariel had to bend down significantly to meet his eyes. Part of her was relieved that nut of a scientist was gone, and she was extremely curious of what the bird kid was like, falling in love-- as much as she could tell-- with wolf girl. Mariel liked having a slight feeling of power in the situation, she was more than capable of tracking down this wolf kid and warning her. Of course, that could take some fooling Crone, who probably would take his time. It didn't feel right to pick a fight with him.
"That skank of a scientist's gone."

[Crone (NC113F)]

Crone stood throughout Fusion and Xel's banter, and, though he tried to stop it, he rolled his eyes. The tension that became apparent when males of opposing forces came together was thicker that fog.

Though Xel wouldn't acknowledge it, they were all on opposing forces. Xelious, the 'good' and 'just,' the doctor, 'evil' and 'immoral,' and NC113F, the morally ambiguous one who works for the evil one until his plans and provisions allow for him to do otherwise. The panther hybrid could tell the bird man didn't realize this, which only served to raise even more questions as to why Emerald had chosen him as a mate.

After Fusionist left, and before he himself turned to leave, Crone lowered his thin frame down below Xel's cage, his dark brown, almost black eyes piercing through the metalic bars. "How does it feel?" He whispered, his voice edged with malice, "It's my turn to escape while you rot here."

He pulled himself up, tail flicking from side to side, before taking a step in the opposite direction. NC113F stopped, turned, and looked at Xelious one last time. Crone remembered. He remembered everything. Xelious and Emerald had escaped, and his arm had been cut to ribbons. The bird brain couldn't see it now, but beneath his sleeve his arm was scarred from that experience. They had escaped, and he had suffered.

Now, it was their turn.

The olive skinned hybrid shook his head one last time, before disappearing to find clothes and then be relinquished to freedom.

[Xelious]

Xelious rolled his eyes at Crone's little comments. "No more free than I am," he mused, shaking his head.

He looked appraisingly up at Moon. Her face was unreadable, which usually meant she was playing some sort of angle. That would make it difficult to figure out what she was all about... but not impossible for him. For now, he just had to keep her interest.

"Yes, and he'll be back later with something or other to inject into me, or some other little taunt about what he'd do if he had my mate, too," he said in a bored tone. He gave her a curious look. "And your part in all of this," he said, giving the whole setting an all-encompassing gesture with his hand, "Would be?" He likely wouldn't believe any answer she gave, especially if it was one that tried to sugest she wasn't a hunter or wasn't a trusted little kitty to the labs. She was, after all, on the other side of the bars.

[Mariel Moon]

"My part..." It was a part with a lie of sadness in it.She turned away, looking at one of the white tables. "Keep quiet, okay? I'm on guard right now. I don't want things to get ugly, but if they do I've got to fight. Unless I want to end up like panther freak." She hung her head, she was on her bare knees. Her black cut-offs were slightly wrinkled up. Mariel's face softened. She had to let him use her.

"They don't deserve any of this, Xelious, any human. It isn't right-- I've probably got six people tracking me every time I go out. I used to be like you- but I got their trust. Fusionist is supposed to keep a watchful eye on me." Flat out lies would let the Chimera Corporation know what she was up to. Lying was a great talent to have, if you knew how to use it. She could even double play this and get his mate's trust. Grander by the moment. Cheaper by the dozen. Some how that applied...

"I think something might have gone wrong with Crone's brain. He always acts so strange and seems to have a rather short term memory." This was meant to make her look like she had a lower IQ than she really had. She sighed and hung her head again.

[Xelious]

Xelious watched her, rolling his eyes when her back was turned. He didn't believe this 'I'm only pretending to be a good kitty" stuff. The bit about Crone having only a short-term memory convinced him that it was a sham, because he knew that wasn't true. She was trying to play him.

Still, that wasn't a bad thing. He couldn't trust her, that much was true. But he could play along, see if he could get some information off of her. It was a delicate game... but as long as he didn't put any confidence in her, it should be harmless.

"No, no one deserves this," he agreed. That part was true enough, but wasn't surprising for him to say. "And if they're watching you like that, they don't trust you," he said, yawning slightly as he propped himself against the back of the cage.