Genetic!

[Erinul Dragonis, Ookamiotoko]

This story is something I've been working on since....yesterday, I guess. Since I have a busy schedule and everything, it may take me some time to update it. Perhaps not for a total of a week! I will get Spring Break the week after next, so I might update this a little before I can work on this fully during SB. Anyway, I just thought I'd post this story here. Of course, you may be wondering why I have a story's title "Genetic!"....well, if you payed attention in science class and through the boring (I find them interesting) lectures about genetics, DNA, and all that good stuff, then you'll probably still be slightly confused. I tried to make this as physically possibly comprehendible as I could without losing you, the reader. Oh, I've rambled on enough. Anyway, here's Genetic!, Chapter 1....as well as a prologue!

In the year 2010, scientists discovered what could possibly be the greatest discovery in the history of the world. While studying the human genetic structure (aka DNA), a lone scientist discovered that a single component of DNA found in every animal in the world was linked to a different part in a human's genetic structure. Ultimately, it was later found that every single animal had the same specific type of genetic code inside of human DNA. The strand was dubbed "Animagus Deoxyribonucleic Acidic Structure" (ADNAS). Soon, scientists around the world began a series of hypothetical tests using the most advanced computer animation and scientific findings. Five years later, in 2015, scientists unveiled their findings at a local science convention in Washington, DC to the public. The discovery stirred the people and the media into a frenzy, going crazy about the new findings. The President of the United States eventually passed a bill which would fund the studies and research, and almost immediately, people soon learned a whole new ballgame for scientific enhancement of human life was taking place. People flocked to their nearest medical schools or institutions to learn as much as they could about this new study and the ADNAS.

In 2020, Scientists began opening their testings to the public. People raced to the Science Institute in Washington DC to participate in the experiments. Over five hundred thousand people were selected as candidates for "Project Meta". Every test subject was cared for and tested on to find out how their science could work to better mankind. Two years later, a group of scientists tested a chemical mixture containing the genetic structure of a Komodo Dragon on a twenty year old woman named Michelle. The scientists watched as she underwent several different stages of mutation, which ultimately killed her in the process. This set the scientific community back, with indictments pending on the group who watched the woman die.

When 2030 rolled along, scientists had finally been able to successfully infuse a Tiger's DNA into the body of a thirty year old male. His entire body mutated, but unlike the Michelle incident, was successful in staying alive. This cause such an uproar as if no one had ever witnessed. The man was kept in isolation from the outside world, and news crews were forbidden from entering the institution. Unfortunately, a lone paparazzi had snuck into the institute and had taken a picture of the man. The next day, chaos ensued as people flocked to the institute, either wanting to see the man, or wanting to be the next person to be changed.

As the years crept into 2040, almost a fourth of Earth's population was genetically altered with different animals. Of course, this did not go without consequences. A group of wanted gang members had somehow managed to become mutated as well. Chaos broke out as several districts of Washington DC were literally destroyed. A few months later, the gang was rounded up and sent to a special area that which none of them could escape from. A year after that, a man on death row as punishment for killing ten people had escaped from a jail cell in Chicago and had somehow managed to become fused with an animal, which was a lion. He went on a rampage, slaughtering over thirty people before SWAT came in and quickly disposed of him. This was enough violence to make people furious as anger soon spread through the people of the United States as violence between the Humans and the Altered (or what the humans had dubbed the mutated people) escalated. Other countries such as China and Iraq also faced similar outbreakes. It was not long before a war spanning fifteen years between the Humans and Altered broke out. Although the Altered were outnumbered, they had twice the power of a normal human. The whole world was in utter chaos.

As 2055 came and passed, the war had ended, but major casualties had resulted from the war. Over half of Earth's human population was dead and one forth of the Altereds were either dead or left with missing legs or arms. Soon, peace reigned once again throughout the world. The scientists still continued to secretely modify people who were still willing to shed their human life in favor of an animal's. The President of the United States had disbanded the research and whoever was caught practicing this research were caught and sentenced from either thirty years to life without perole.

[Chapter I: Enter the Altered!]

"Man, I'm soooo bored!" Artonais said with a yawn. It was during fourth period physical education, and already Artonais was bored with the day. He was supposed to be playing blitzball with his other classmates, but was sitting on the school's bleachers. "Oh Arty, you're always bored with everything," his best friend, Cali, exclaimed. Artonais frowned and said, "Cali, I've told you over and over to stop calling me that!" Cali giggled as she looked up from a book titled "1, 2, 3 - Three Steps to Common Cooking." She put her book away and said, "Uh oh, here comes trouble." Trouble was nowhere near as close as a word to describe who was comming. A giant lizard, his tail swishing back and forth, causing some students who weren't participating in the blitzball game to either fly five feet from their original spots to the floor or barely missing them and causing them to bend in different ways, spraining their ankles or legs. The lizardman, whose name was Tyler Bancroft, always thought of himself as the most superior being on Earth. He always picked on whoever caught his eye, and today, it was Artonais. "Ugh, I hate that guy. He thinks he's SO special, him being an Altered and everything!" Artonais said before Tyler was only five feet away from him. "Yo, weakling!" Tyler yelled at Artonais. "You better give me all of your money before I pound you to the ground!" Cali stood up and defended Artonais, saying, "Tyler, why don't you go shove your snout into something besides our business?" Tyler grew angry, his jaws showing the row of teeth to support his frustration, and yelled at Cali, "Shut up, you weak, human girl! I'll have you know that-" Cali broke him off by saying, "That you're a totally selfish little lizard who knows that I can kick your butt faster than you can move?"

Everyone knew that Cali excelled at school. She was a singer in the school's choir, an A+ student, and physically active. She also had the ability to finish whatever homework no matter how hard it was and STILL find the time to hang out with friends. She was the perfect sophomore student that Franklin High School could ever hope for. Artonais, on the other hand, only excelled in physical education. He did poorly on tests, rarely bothered to do homework, always came to school late, and having something happen to him almost every week. He always managed to get good grades with classwork, but only barely scratching a C at best. Of course, Artonais was handsome, not to mention a girl magnet, as he would occasionally find a girl following him unless he walked into the boy's bathroom. Plus, he was Cali's only childhood friend who hadn't moved away. He never had any real parents, but was always told that his parents had died in a head-on collision with a cargo truck. Artonais was raised by Cali's parents and told he was adopted as soon as his parents died, but he knew deep down that he would never have a real family to live with.

Tyler grew angry ever more and lunged at Cali, his teeth begging to close on her head. Cali jumped up, her feet just skimming Tyler's crocodile-like nose, and came crashing down on Tyler's mouth. He tried to move, but he was pinned down by Cali's 110 pound body. She smirked and said, "Even though you aren't a real crocodile, you still have all the traits of one!" Tyler mumbled something through the sides of his mouth and said, "Ugh.....you're lucky you have this human as a friend, Artonais!" Cali jumped off of Tyler's mouth and watched as he rose to his feet and slauntered away. "Man, what a complete a-" Artonais began to say before the bell rang for fifth period. "Finally! Lunch!" Artonais said happily as he jumped into the air. Cali looked at Artonais, smiled, and said, "Well, at least he's happy."

As lunch ended, Artonais left for his sixth period English class while Cali left for choir practice. He walked into his classroom, took his seat, and wrote down the question and the answer to the day's bellringer as he waited for class to begin. "H-H-Hi, Artonais." A shy voice above him said. Artonais looked up from his paper and saw a girl, named Sophia Wenheim, looking at him. She was your average normal girl....in an Altered way. She had been fused with a tiger, and by gosh did she have a voice. Her voice was soft, kind, gentle....kinda the opposite to a real tiger. Artonais smiled and said, "Hello Sophia." Her whiskers twitched as she lowered her head, her face slightly red, and walked to her seat with her tail swishing slightly as she walked. When the bell rang, his teacher, a human, walked into the classroom and began the class.

As the bell rang for the end of seventh period, Artonais waited at the entrance to the school for Cali, like he always did. He waited, and when she showed up, they both walked down the street and towards Cali's home. "Hey Cali," Artonais said as they were halfway home. Cali looked up from her book and said, "Hmm? What is it?" Artonais thought for a second and asked, "How do you think the Altered's live since they aren't exactly human?" Cali, closing her book and looking at Artonais, replied, "How should I know. I'm a human if you forgot. Why do you ask?" Artonais frowned and said, "No reason, I was just wondering is all."

When they entered the home via Cali's house key, they found it empty. Artonais spied a note on the refridgerator door, grabbed it, and read it aloud.

___________________________________________________

Dear Artonais and Cali,

Your father and I are going to be away for a few days on a business trip. There is money in the drawer next to the stove in case you need to buy food and groceries. Also, be careful when walking the streets at night. There were reports of people going missing a few days ago, so watch your back and make sure you're home before dark.

Love,
Mom and Dad

___________________________________________________

Artonais sighed as he placed the note into his pocket and said, "Man, this is so boring! I wish something bizarre would happen to me that would make my life interesting!" Cali frowned and said, "But be thankful that you were born a human!" Artonais frowned as well and said, "I know, but I just hate my life as it is. It's just so.......not exciting. I just wish something COOL would happen to me one day." Cali put her hands to her hips and said, "Be careful with what you say, Arty. You're wish could be granted." Artonais laughed and said, "Heh, as if. Wishing is for the books, Cali." Cali smiled and said, "Yeah, I guess your right. Still, it COULD happen." Artonais laughed again and said, "Yeah, and I'm a dragon-slaying knight." They both laughed and did whatever until they went to bed.

"I've done it! I've finally finished my invention!" A scientist said. He was holding a vial containing a strange blue-ish liquid in his right hand. The scientist smiled and said, "All these years of studying and mixing chemicals has finally paid off!" The man smirked and said, "With this, I can-" Just then, the door behind him swung open and a crocodile-like man entered, his tail dragging along the floor. "Tyler, how many times have I told you not to drag your tail around the house! You'll get dirt all over the place! Why do you think neither your mother or I drag our tails around?" Tyler stuck his long tongue out and said, "Stuff it, father. I got chewed out by a human. A human, and her cruddy friend Artonais." Tyler's father said, "Yeah, that's nice son. Anyway, look at what I have finished making!" Tyler's father turned around and showed him the vial of liquid. "What is it, Father?" Tyler asked. Tyler's father smiled, his white teeth emphasizing his happiness, and said, "This, my son, is a portable version of what those human fools in their research chambers do to those who wish to shed their Human lives in favor for a Altered's. This will turn any human into an Altered, thought this is different from what anyone would expect. Normally, when a human wanted to become an Altered, they had to pick out their animal to which they would be combined with. With this, however, the person becomes the animal that fits his lifestyle, habits, everything. It may still be in its testing stages, but this helps my research greatly! Soon, I might be able to make enough of this and start a secret underground science laboratory and give the humans a chance to shed their fragile lives." Tyler's mind, small as it may be, began to think, If I use this on that girl...no wait, on that fool Artonais, then I can beat him up and make him feel more humiliated. Tyler smiled to himself at his thought as he watched his father place the vial on an empty vial rack. Then they both walked out of the room. When Tyler's parents were asleep, he snuck out of his room and stole the vial. "I will make Artonais pay for his foolishness!" He said quietly to himself. He managed to get out of his house and to school before his father noticed that the vial was missing.

"*Yawn* Another boring day at school." Artonais said after the bell for second period rang. Cali smiled, a sweat drop appearing behind her head, and thought He needs to find something to do that won't make him so bored all the time. Artonais bade Cali goodbye and walked to his third period Math class. "I really hate Math class." He said as he slowly made his way to his class after picking up his books at his locker. He took his seat and began his bellringer while he said to himself, "There are two things that I hate in Math class. One is actually doing the Math, and two-" He stopped when Tyler the Dinosaur walked into the classroom. They both locked eyes with each other before they broke contact. "And two, Tyler is in this class, and sits three desks away from me." He finished to himself. When the bell rang, his Altered teacher Mr. Himura began the class with an introduction to writing equations using exponents, his lizard's tail swaying slowly to emphasize his mood. 'Oh great, more math', he thought sarcastically. Just then, he felt something small stab him in the back of the neck. "Ow," he said. The teacher looked up from his textbook, his crocodile face staring at Artonais, and said, "Yes, what is it Mr. Greenfield?" Artonais looked around and saw his class, Human and Altered, stare at him. He turned to his teacher and said, "No...i-it's nothing. I just felt something poke the back of my neck is all." Mr. Himura stared at Artonais before saying, "Do you need to see the nurse?" Artonais replied, "No, I do not." Mr. Himura stared at Artonais a few more seconds before saying, "Very well." and continuing his lecture on the new lesson.

"God, I'm so glad to be out of school now!" Artonais said to Cali after the bell for the end of seventh period rang. Cali shrugged and said, "Well, at least we have the house to ourselves. What do you want to do tonight?" Artonais thought for a second before saying, "Wanna hit the downtown Chinese shop? I could kill for some dumplings." Cali shrugged again and said, "Okay. Let's go home and drop our stuff off first." Artonais nodded in agreement and walked with Cali towards home. As they were nearing the corner to their home, they saw Tyler walking down the same street. As they passed him, Tyler whispered into Artonais' ear. Artonais stopped as Tyler walked passed him. "What's up, Arty?" Artonais, not bothering to correct her with his name, stayed silent for a minute watching Tyler walk down the street before saying, "..No...I-It's nothing. Come on, let's go." When they reached the house, Cali opened the door to let them in, dropped their bookbags off and after waiting for Cali to finish changing clothes, they headed downtown via the nearby bus stop. They got off at the stop a few blocks before the shop and made their way through the small crowd of people before entering the Chinese shop. "Welcome to Mao's Chinese Kitchen!" A human woman in a kimono said as Artonais and Cali walked in through the door. Artonais and Cali placed their orders and waited for their food. When their number was called, they paid for their order and walked out to the bus stop. They got on the bus and payed the fare to go back to their stop. They got off and went straight home due to the sun three-fourths of the way behind the horizon. "So, what do you want to do, Cali?" Cali instantly said, "Let's go see what's on TV!" They both walked to the TV and flipped through the channels before deciding that there was nothing of interest on. "Guess there's only one thing to do." Artonais said with a smirk. "Oh, your on," Cali said in response. They dragged out an old video game system and hooked it up to their TV. They played a game called Dance Dance Revolution, both of them taking turns while the other watched and ate their food. When it came to be ten-o'clock, they turned off the TV and decided to turn in for the night. Artonais and Cali both brushed their teeth and went to their respective rooms. Artonais opened his door and walked in. All over his walls were posters of his favorite TV show 'Ben 10'. 'I know that Ben 10 is an old show from 2005, but I can't help but love it! The way Ben always saves the Earth from total destruction, as well as saving people and stuff! Man, that's what I wish my life was like!' He thought to himself as he sat on the edge of his bed. He looked at his nightstand and stared at a picture of a man and a woman smiling while the man was holding up a toddler version of Artonais. He picked it up and thought about what life would be like if his parents were still alive. "It was the only picture of them that was ever found," Cali's father had said. Artonais sighed, placed the picture back onto his nightstand and changed into his pajamas. He got under the covers and fell asleep after a few minutes.

A nasty nightmare plagued him as he slept. He imagined himself standing on an empty highway, no cars speeding at a hundred miles an hour, no people walking on the catawalks on the sides of the highway, nothing. Then he saw a car that he knew was his parents', their human faces clearly recognizable to him. They were smiling happily, the man driving the car laughing as if he had heard an interesting joke. Artonais smiled as he also saw a small child in the backseat of the car, laughing and smiling along with his parents. Suddenly, the car began to slow down before it came to a hault on the side of the highway. The man got out and took the toddler from the car, handing him to his mother before examining the car as to why it slowed down. Suddenly, a shot rang out from nowhere, and the man fell to the ground. The woman opened her mouth to scream before she, too, was struck down by the same sound. The toddler was still alive and was poking its mother, vainly trying to make its mother awaken. Artonais watched as an Altered, who was fused with a Hawk, flew down to where the bodies were. He had a long rifle-like object on his back. The man pulled out a small pistol and Artonais clearly heard the man said, "Now, die, pathetic human filth."
A shot rang out again, and Artonais woke up with a shock. He breathed heavily before he turned to look at his clock, its red numbers the only source of light in his room. "Ugh....three thirty in the morning?" He said to himself. He got out of bed, slightly noticing that he could see clearly in the darkness of his room, and sluggishly walked to the bathroom. He saw a light on in there, and heard the running of water from a faucet. He opened the door and saw Cali standing over the sink, examining her face for any impurities. She turned to look at Artonais and screamed before she fainted. "What the......what's her problem?" Then Artonais looked at the huge mirror on the wall with the sink. Instead of his original face, he saw a wolf's head. The nose, the teeth, the fur, the ears....even the eyes. Artonais screamed in shock and looked at the rest of his body. His legs had changed to resemble those just like an anthro's, as he read about different types of legs in Science class, along with fur and everything that went with it. His hands had morphed into claws, his nails eloginated to accomidate with his claws. A tail had appeared where his tailbone would be normally. He took his hand and slowly reached for it. When he grabbed it, he felt him grabbing his tail. "Okay, now this is wierd!" His pajamas had shrunk, and someplaced, or even ripped due to his new form. "Oh boy.....what're mom and dad going to think of when they see me like this?" He said as he began to panic about his situation. "Okay okay, let's see. It's Saturday morning. There's no school. Cali's out cold since she hit the floor like a rock. Mom and Dad will be home in a few days. Plus, I'm stuck in a wolf's body." Artonais said as he rounded off the negative things happening so far. "This is just GREAT!" He yelled in the bathroom, punching the mirror with a strength he never thought he had, and leaving cracks in the mirror. He looked at his fist and saw blood slowly flow out of his wounds. "Man, what am I going to do?" Artonais said to himself.

Yes, I know it's VERY long for a first chapter, but hey, the first episode of Naruto was an hour long, so.....yeah. Anyway, like I said above, it might take a little time before I continue this since my schoolwork has gotten a bit harder. So, enjoy this little bit and just wait for the second chapter, okay? Good.