Welcome to Gaia! ::

Her fear was intoxicating, embolding Richard even further. She pressed her body into Mercedes' even harder. A sandpapery tongue tasted Mercy's neck. It was so tempting to just bite down on it, save her from all the pain that would come. It be almost a favor.

But no, some little part of Richard's brain wouldn't let her go that far. Wouldn't prove this woman right. Instead she whispered into to Mercede ear. "Three weeks after anyone arrives here it happens, you'll wake up with an injection mark and then you'll change. It hurts, you'll scream. Maybe if your lucky it might be four weeks. But your find yourself with fur or worse before long. What will you do then?" She accent her little speech with a growl.

"Think about it. You'll have to tell me what you think of yourself in a month or so." Then the pressure disappeared then one of those inhuman hand clamp down on the back of Mercedes' neck. The door was opened, revealing the brightness of the outside world. Then Mercedes was pushed into it and the door slammed behind her.

rp with Newt

Who's side am I on?

It was the day after Richard had "written" her message. Richard sat at her desk, considering options as she stared at the intercom button. There were so many elements to this she didn't know. She wasn't completely sure Jordan had been under the influence of a loyality serum per say, he had been under the influence of something and the influence appeared to have been broken, stretched beyond its limits appearently. Jordan was being frustratingly vague on the subject. Moreau seemed to have let the dogman go for now. Had the experiment been a failure? Would Moreau try again? Either with Jordan or a fresh islander? Richard made a note to watch any new islander for strange behavior.

So she couldn't prove it, yet she certainly had enough evidence to get some one who valued what independence afforded to them to get interested and paranoid. Richard reasoned that was what this was really about, this was the first opportunity she had gotten to sow seeds into the cracks of the monolithic labs. It was of course a risk, Sabin could be in on the project but brain washing seemed to be antithetical to a man that loved imagined creatures so much he would twist men into mockeries of them. He was a wild card, Richard had no doubt the man was evil, but he appeared to have human qualities, unlike Moreau.
Richard mentally prepared herself like she would an interview. Pushing her anger below the surface, steeling herself against the invetiable jabs regarding her gender. Still a certian smugness seemed to creep into her features. After all she knew something He didn't. Her tail lashed with anticaption as she hit the button.

Richard was funneled through the normal channels: an overly bored sounding secretary, and then an obscenely long hold time before finally, the voice that she had sought projected crisply over the intercom speakers. That voice, with the hint of a French accent and equal parts mirth and irritation that could belong to none other than Dr. Sabin Duvert.

"Ahhh, Richard. I was wondering when I might hear from you again. I see that you received my care package." Sabin had tuned the moniter on his desk to the video feed from Richard's duplex, where she was making the call. This should prove to be just the distraction that Sabin needed right now. Richard, unlike some of the other islanders, had an inquisitive mind, however, and was not above trying to throw his - well, her weight around in an attempt to mimic a station of authority, and asking some probing questions. But just like everyone else, Richard had big buttons that could be pressed. And of course, she sported the trappings of one of his custom-designed serums. And was well on her way in her development.

Richard smiled toothily in return. She'd play along for now, she was curious to see what Sabin might volunteer. "Yes I got your package, and some of the items are quite useful but I was wondering about the status of the actual order I placed was." She could really use some more pants, she only had about three pairs she could consider wearing and the more frequent trips to her tree weren't helping.
"The 'actual' order?" Sabin pressed with a bemused tone. "We delivered as you requested. And more!" He leaned back in his chair and propped his feet up on his desk.

Richard's tail flicked once in some amount of annoyance but kept her face neutral. She had fully expected this after all. "Not that I don't appreciate your attempt at humor Sabin but I would like the other items I placed on the order form. Such as a descent suit jacket and pants."
"Humor? Well, alright, I Suppose that there might have been a joke or two in there at your expense, there was plenty of wearable clothing! And there was a perfectly nice suit set. Besides, wouldn't a skirt better fit your new anatomy? No need for a tail hole in a dress!" Sabin grinned to himself and laced his fingers.
Richard's upper lip twitched as she fought against bearing her teeth at the speaker, she didn't notice or prevent her claws from digging into the desk however. "Irregardless of my current... anatomy." The word dripped with bitterness. "I prefer to wear pants."
Sabin rolled his eyes. "Picky picky picky! And apparently four or so pairs is not enough to get by. Well, very well, I'll see about some more." He dropped his feet back to the floor and went to make a few notes on his file once more, his fingers striking the keys with a fluorish that could even be heard over the intercom.

"And was there anything more? Or did you need to speak to me personally for me to play secretary for you, Ms. Harrison?"
Richard was surprised that had worked and her face reflected the fact. She let the last dig slide. Then she smiled, this counted as a small victory in her book. Unfortunately it appeared Sabin patience for that game had run out, forcing Richard to come to the real reason she had called. "Thank you for that. I just wanted to mention that I had a most interesting walk yesterday afternoon." She smirked, a clear cat like amusement playing out over her features.
Sabin paused, lifting an eyebrow though the gesture went unnoticed with the lack a visual communication. "Oh really?" Sabin took the bait with his inquiry, though tried not to let too much of his piqued curiousity show, though likely not succeeding as much as he would have liked.
Richard hid the smirk by licking the back of her handpaw once, "Oh yes. I think you might be interested in the particular path of my journey."
Sabin paused, his curiousity certainly aroused, wondering what his displacer beast might have up her sleeve. And why the cryptic method of delivery. Perhaps the feline nature was sinking more into his...her? DNA. Or perhaps Richard merely wanted to toy back with him and waste his time. Regardless, his innate curiousity wouldn't let him leave it alone.

"I See..." Sabin responded, but Richard could already hear fingers on a keyboard again, accessing the files for his chip's activations of the cameras for that afternoon. There were a lot of camera logs and it would take a chunk of his time. But Sabin had been moderately caught up on his duties - and his pleasures - recently.

"And was there anything else?"
"No I don't believe so Sabin." There was a slight purr under the voice, her tail swayed behind her like a contented feline. "I'm feeling a bit hungry, perhaps we will talk later." She rose some her chair and started for the order with that high heeled like gait.
An intrigued "Hmmm" was Sabin's only response before the intercom cut off. He had found a long segment of file where Richard was meticulously tracing a path through the village. The conversation was almost forgotten with the puzzle placed before him. He settled down to make himself comfortable again as he began pouring over the recording.
*
*
*
About twenty minutes later, Sabin was scouring the cameras for Richard's current location. With a scowl, he noticed that she was still busy in the cafeteria. Impatient, he radiod the guard patrol in the village and send some quick orders to escort Richard to the labs.



Richard looked up at the guards that suddenly loomed over her. A bloody steak in her hands, a chunk in her mouth. She swallowed, stifling a chuckled, pleased to be a figure of importance, then she licked her hands free of the juice.

"Lead on then." She told them, trying to act as if this was an everyday occurance, but her tail tip twitched rapidly back and forth. It would appear Sabin was taking this very seriously.
And indeed he was. He had certainly considered that this was just a ploy for a meeting. Or to get his concerns riled, or any number of ploys to get close for God knew what reason. But suddenly Sabin's demeanor had shifted from prodding and mirthful to dead serious.

Richard, meanwhile, was being driven, albeit cautiously by the pair of guards, to the labs with not much in the way of conversation beyond "Duvert wants to see you." Although Richard's more acute hearing would pick up their sniggering hypotheses from the front seat as to just what Sabin might want the "fat cat chick" for.

Richard was taken into the gates, and then escorted by one of the pair through the lobby and sterile hallways that he hadn't seen since the day he had arrived on the island, still human. This time, however, when he was taken into the elevator, a different floor number was spoken aloud than the last time he had been in the same elevator. Down a small length of idential hallway... until they came to a door with an unmistakable placard set into it "Dr. Sabin Duvert"

The guard gestured to the closed door, and stepped to the side, taking a position beside the door.
Richard's sense of importance allowed her to ignore the cass comments from the gaurds. She considered all sorts of retaliations against the gaurds, whom she had associated with dogs from the moment she'd seen them. Still her tentacles remained in a striking position the entire trip, tracking whichever guard she was looking at the time. They quivered when they got within three feet of her. As they led her down the hall, she flexed and relaxed her claws in an uncertain fashion, betraying her nervousness.

She sniffed at them before turning that handle, memorizing their scents. Richard entered the room with what she hoped was a bemused expression but if one understood feline body language the tells that she was nervious were there.

The room, unlike most of the lab rooms was warm in its decor. Natural wood furnature crammed the space; old, hardbound books filled the shelves traversing subjects from science and anatomy, to mythology and folklore, to pop variations like gaming books and fantasy novels. Fantastical statuettes decorated the shelving, and physical papers appeared to have been quickly shoved to the side of the desk where they sat in uneven piles. There was the obligatory desktop computer, perched on the hardwood desk as well, though it seemed far less used than the notebooks and looseleaf papers covered with notes and scribbles.

Sabin had been a cat owner long enough, and someone fascinated with making people uncomfortable since long before, to recognize the telltale signs of anxiety all over Richard. And Sabin's eyes didn't leave the poised tentacles attached to her back. He knew their range, and he knew that if she really tried, she could do some nasty damage with those claws by the time he could buzz her out. However... some extention of trust was required in this situation, though his cold steel blue eyes glittered warningly as Richard entered the room.

Sabin gestured first to the seat across from him - a plush cushioned armchair, and spoke in a dead serious tone. "I do hope that you do not have any bright ideas about this personal meeting, Richard. There are very few individuals who have had the priviledge of meeting me on such... informal terms. And if you choose to abuse this, then I will make certain that you will live to regret it." There was no jovial tone in his voice this time, and his voice was a dangerous, low growl. Even his accent seemed diminished in the gravity of his statement.
While Richard didn't have nearly the control over her features as she once did, her emotions seemed to lie far to close the surface now to hid them entirely she walked into with some degree of professionalism. Her eyes breifly scanned the room before locking on Sabin's eyes. Her own predatory orbs matching his. She did not flinch and did not not look away. She advanced on him slowly, with deliberate steps. This appeared to be a very different Sabin than the one given to witty banter, this was a rival predator, to be treated with a caution, respect and violence if necessary. With each step the feline nervousness seemed to covered a more predatory posturing. This was a challenge to Richard and she wouldn't take it standing down. After all, Sabin was only human. She stopped right outside of tentacle range. There was rumble, not quite a growl nor a purr, an acknowledge perhaps. She cocked her head to the side ever so slightly, "I'm not interested in short term victory Sabin, I doubt violence here would accomplish much." It was true, Richard did see Red when Sabin and involved. That was reserved for Ginvera and Moreau himself.

With a nod, Richard settled in her chair.
Sabin's entire posture seemed to indeed match the predatory aura that Richard portrayed. He did not balk from her green-eyed stare or flinch at the grace that belied her heavyset frame. "Just so you are aware" Sabin continued. "We are being watched by individuals in the monitering room. Even if I cannot speak to buzz you, they can act quickly if need be. However" Sabin lifted a finger dramatically for a moment before setting it back down on the smooth desk surface. "They are not listening. We have confidence. Furthered by a fact that I will disclose to you - Moreau is not currently on the island."

He nodded briefly as Richard took a seat across from him, settling his laced fingers on the desk before him. "Now.. I am sure that you are in fact aware that you have caught my attention. And this meeting should be viewed as a privilege. Cryptic messages in the 'sand' aside, what are you referring to. 'Loyalty Serum'? Who mentioned this? In reference to what?" Sabin was still dead serious, though there did not seem to be any recognition in his eyes as to the matter.
Richard smiled as she probed his eyes with her own. She inhaled deeply attempting to detect any clue to Sabin's emotional state, give that he was purposely exposing himself to someone who could hurt him or even kill him, he seemed very trusting and wanting an alliance of sorts. It could be that the idea of a loyality serum might have terrified him. Was he planning something? And Moreau not being here, that was interesting.

"Moreau leaves the island, that seems rather trusting of him." She smirk a briefly before setting her hands and handpaws into her and assuming a more sober tone. "What do you know about Jordan?"

Sabin scowled at the comment. "'Trusting' would not be my word of choice. Quite the opposite in fact. Which is precisely why your word choice out in the village ... intrigues me. And Jordan?" Sabin weighed the options before speaking again. "Jordan was brought on by Moreau. Everything seems fairly routine in his files, though for some reason he was assigned a private duplex removed from the rest of the village, as I am sure you are aware. He was awarded several priviledges from Moreau, and unlike most of the other subjects, Moreau seems to have given him a lot of personal attention. I had noted that Jordan has been progressing rather quickly through his changes, but that is not uncommon for canine serums, although his behaviors have seemed to indicate a stronger than normal canine influence in his behavior. I had assumed that perhaps Moreau was working on the psychological problems that some of the serums have presented from... well... the other side. As our attempts to minimize the psychological changes have resulted in... well.. Victor."


Richard winced slightly at the mention of Victor, a little hand strayed from her lap and pulled at the fabric of her bra, just under the second shoulder. "There is alot to be said about Victor's condition, but I'm not here to plea for a reversal in his fortunes." She breathed in and out martialing what she knew of Jordan. "When I first met Jordan, he was a typical new arrival, scared out of his wits, unable to cope with, well my appearence. He told me he was here after stealing something from Moreau. That he was told he was here to represent Moreau in the village. Sounds like a normal lie but then he changed."
Sabin nodded evenly. It was plain that Richard held his full attention at the moment. "Of course... many of the subjects were brought here under no coincidental terms. Removing problem individuals to the island has been an effective way for Moreau to 'disappear' people. You being one of those, and from what his file dictated, Jordan another. Although his crime was nothing significant in the grand scheme of things, I suppose he was easily enough displaced from his home life." Sabin gestured for Richard to continue.

Richard merely nodded in response to his disappearance. Her old life seems so distant at the moment, almost irrelevant to her now. "Jordan was wracked by guilt for what ever he did. Moreau said the island was a second chance for him, but such promises usually fade after the first change. To Jordan they became real. After that 25% change Jordan believed Moreau was a god that could do no wrong. I confronted him about it." Richard smiled at the memory of that encounter, she had terrorized the dogman and had enjoyed it emmensily. A slight purr escaped her as she continued. "There was no logic under his beliefs, he said he would die if Moreau asked him to."
A skeptical look crossed Sabin's face. "Many people cling to irrational beliefs in order to cope with stress. Perhaps Jordan was just seeking meaning in his new life here. Perhaps Moreau did show him a strange form of kindness. While it might be difficult to understand, maybe Jordan did cling to Moreau in order to try to protect himself." Sabin gestured, looking almost disappointed. "I will not name names, but there are other individuals on the island who do not hate the labs, some quite the opposite. And I can assure you that there has been no genetic tampering wiht them to yield such a result."

Richard knew of Zach of course, she had met him and steadfastly avoided him since. "You believe Moreau has the finesse to pull that off?" She gave feline snort. "I suppose that must work on people that are interested in his projects. But while one is a subject? He could only rely on fear for that, and at that point it wasn't fear that drove Jordan. From what I heard Jordan's very personally seemed to change daily. But if thats all I had I wouldn't have gone through the trouble. After Jordan's second change, he admitted that he had been forced to administer his own injections. Do you have that footage?"
Sabin's mouth thinned as he pressed his lips tightly against each other. The implications that the words 'loyalty serum' had hit Sabin like a bucket of water. Immediately his mind had spun to perhaps a project of Moreau that Richard might have somehow gotten word of. And with the situations behind the doors in the labs... with him, with Aubrey... Ssabin would not put it past Moreau to be working on something to use on them. Hell, on ALL the staff. Moreau was a control freak, and this seemed something very much like him. If it were true, it was also possibly that last push that Aubrey might need to do something, to see the immediate threat that Moreau posed, and be fodder to use against him without Sabin having to give away some vital pieces of incriminating information about her child... or even her having to reveal that she had found such a thing out from Sabin himself.... IF it were true.

But as characteristic of a thing as it seemed for Moreau to work on, and a reason for his seclusion behind closed doors on his next 'secret' project... the evidence that Richard was supplying was less than encouraging. It was speculation based on behavior, and with the serums as they were, behavior was never a constant. Many subjects never even realized themselves how much their own behaviors had changed, and it was a fascinating topic that Sabin had been investigating passively alongside his other, more prominent, research.

"There are more things than fear that a man can use to sway someone... And there is a classic psychological syndrome where an idividual sympathizes with their captors called Stockholm syndrome... combined with such a dramatic, canine shift in his behavior... this is nothing by speculation, Richard..." Sabin's intensity seemed to lessen. And it did seem strange that there was almost a note of disappointment. Be it due to a lack of evidence, or something else....

Sabin tapped his finger in regard to the footage. "Hrmm... administered it himself, though? An odd situation... but then, I've had a request from Tommy to administer his own injection.." He raised a finger for Richard to wait a moment while he pulled the keyboard closer and began typing. His brow furrowed as he ran a few more searches.... and he chewed on his bottom lip with a pointed tooth.
Then he shook his head with a furrow of his brow. "That's odd..." He murmured half to himself, followed by some more keystrokes.

"I thought that all the injections were flagged on the subjects' files... Jordan's third injection file seems to be a dead link..." He tapped a nail against the polished desk a few times before his eyes returned to Richard, giving him another look of consideration.

Richard's eyes flashed with a curious glint. "Moreau sets Jordan away from all the other subjects, pays him personal visits, not via intercom. And blocks access to his cameras, can you access any of the visits? Any exchange between them? Video of day to day activities?" Richard knew all she had was a hunch, but there was enough there that she was convinced. She didn't have to prove it to Sabin now, just convince him it was a possibility. She was fairly certain just the possibility would be enough to wear at Sabin. Although proof might give herself some currency with Sabin, which might be useful in of itself.
Sabin pondered the question. "It will be tough to search through the entire record of video files for a single subject..." He hesitated. "There are certain events that are automatically linked from each dossier... and of course we keep records of all of a subject's video files, but there is understandably a great deal of it." Sabin didn't figure that that was any great secret.

"But there is something fishy going on... of that there is no doubt. However.... some claim as significant of this, Richard, I really need something more significant if I hope to do anything." He rubbed at his temple with a thumb.

"Look, Richard.... I really honestly appreciate you coming to me with this information. Frankly, I'm surprised that you thought to come to me and didn't assume that I was involved. And I'm sure that you're smart enough to realize that because this is a surprise, that even many of us do not appreciate some of the methods that Moreau is employing, nor do we fully trust him. Many of the staff are as much prisoners here as you are. And Moreau seems to be building his leverage by the day. It would be in your best interest, as well as the rest of the island, that if this IS what Moreau is working on, that he not succeed. If Moreau were truly able to make an individual loyal to him, I am sure you can imagine the implications both amongst the islanders as well as the staff. But in order to act, I need to know more. I know that this is not an easy request. Even if Jordan was unsuccessful... then he might still have enough ties to Moreau to feel too guilty to not tell Moreau what is going on, and that cannot happen. Find out who has been interacting with him, find out if anyone else knows anything... if there is any concrete evidence."

He sighed, leaning back in his chair. If this were true, he would need to act... build his resources and protect himself somehow. Moreau was more of a direct threat than he had assumed. "I can scratch your back, Richard, if you will scratch mine. But I think that this is in both of our best interests."
Richard purred, pleased to see this window into the lab's power structure. "While I do not altogether buy that the staff are prisoners Sabin, I fear that Moreau's maddness has the potential to grow beyond the island. To be clear though, I hate what has been done to me and I detest that you enjoy doing it." She glowered at Sabin for a moment, then looked away at the last moment as her mind bought a number of advantages to her attention. Such as her physical age seemed to be... healing, the strength. She quashed the seeds of doubt, easily but they were seeds that could grow. She took another breath to clear her head. "That said I will do what I can to find your proof."

Sabin scowled for a moment at the confrontational proclamation. "Richard, if it eases your troubled mind, I did not select you for this project, nor did I even choose to have one of my special serums used on you. And it is all Moreau who decided that you would apparently do better with a set of breasts." He waved his hand. "But I know that it is not exactly uncommon for all of us to be grouped as one. Let me just say that I think that you netted one of the best base serums on the island, though your opinion may differ from mine."

He nodded succinctly. "Please do... and as quickly as you can. I probably do not need to emphasize that acting soon will be important."

He ran a hand through his white hair.

It was about then that Richard picked up a second scent, and a rustling noise from a pile of papers in the corner of the room as a small, dark shape stretched and roused itself from a nap in an unassuming place. One other benefit that Sabin was excercizing since Moreau was off the island was giving Beastie a bit more free range around the labs. Sabin knew that the experiment's survival might very well be a sore spot for Moreau.
"We will agree to disagree on that point. Although I admit others have it worse off. What is Dee by the way?" There was a trace of amusement on that point.

Then she stopped when the new scent caught her nose, followed by the sound of papers. It smelled... Feline. Richard instantly peered at the small figure in the corner of the room. "Is that?" Richard suddenly remembered Sabin had a prototype for him.

Sabin's mouth quirked up instinctively in regards to the question of Dee. "You'll just have to wait and see. I'm not even quite sure how she's going to turn out." And that was all he'd say on the matter. She was an undirected combination - there had been a need to do more experimentation with them to see the results, and perhaps be some indication of what some of the future projects with fertility chances might yield.

Sabin peered over as well as the small dark shape emerged from the clutter, mewling and stretching before leaping gracefully up onto the desk, and then nonchalently began to clean himself. If he had noticed Richard, the tentacle-cat didn't seem to want to yet grace her with his attention.

Sabin's mood seemed to be lifting marginally at the appearence of the pet, and smiled pridefully. "Oui... yes, this is 'Beastie'. Yes, your prototype." Sabin eyed Richard curiously, interested to see her reaction.

Richard merely nodded at Sabin's explaination of Dee, she was fixated on the altered cat. Richard knelt down to get a better look. The physologist in her looking at how the skeleton was put together examining the movement of the shoulders as it walked. Richard's own tail was bolt straight, curled in curiousity. "The shoulders blades are fused." She observed. Richard actually mewed at the cat once as she shifted her gaze to examine how the tentacles were attached.
Sabin smiled proudly as Beastie finally decided to gift Richard with some of his attention. Beastie rolled his back in a langorous stretch and slowly padded each set of legs forward until he leaned over to sniff at Richard's nose inquisitvely, ears and whiskers cocked forward and tail tip twitching almost unnoticably.

He stared for a moment before subsequently rubbing his cheek against Richard's nose. And with that, Beastie was sated and returned to cleaning himself.
Richard gave a small yowl of surprise at the sudden contact. She blinked and stood back up. Then looking down at her own massive paws, the blood of how many people were on them now? "I think you should stopped at the prototype Sabin. He's far more friendly and stable."
Sabin huffed, quite obviously of a different opinion. "The feline condition is be a complicated one. He just so happened to be born with it. It will have to be something that you will need to grow accustomed to. Cats are always quirky."

Sabin plucked the feline mid-lick from his spot in the middle of the desk and plopped him into his lap. Beastie growled in displeasure and swatted about at Sabin's tie before kneading his thigh. "And some are just a bit bigger." Sabin winked.

"But... I think that you have your work cut out for you. If you call, I will have you patched through to my direct line. But I do not know for how long Moreau will be off the island, so I will strongly encourage you to both work as quickly as you can without alerting too many people just what you are trying to do. Because if this gets back to Moreau then it will be Bad. And... I will have some pants delivered to your duplex within the next couple of days."
Richard could not help but chuckle at the antics of Sabin and his cat. "Very well, I will see what I can digg up. If you have any notice he is coming, let me know. Otherwise, have a good day." Richard headed back towards the door where the guards waited. She was glad to have something to do, a role to play in this.

Sabin nodded and gave Richard a small wave, then pulled out a fresh piece of paper and began to jot down some notes.

The guard escorted Richard back out to the jeep, and returned her to the village without incident.