Street Life

" Fuck Stockass he put poison in our bodies?! Don't you see how fucked up that is?! He's never gonna let us go we're nothing but animals to him lower than human! We're not some animal without thoughts or feelings we're human and our rights and freedom is being taken away because some sick fuck wants to play god!" Mel yelled at Sammy beyond pissed off that she was being treated like some animal.

Sammy rolled his eyes and took a hit off the joint before passing it back to his friend.

"I have you know, my cat has lots of thoughts and feeling. And she's a lot nicer then you. Yes you have poison in your body...I did mention that if you left you would be terminated. Just chill the fuck out, man. You two will be out four days tops. Then you get paid and get to move into a nice little apartment. You're too high strung. Do you want me to up your drugs for you? How are you even walking around? I'll have to report this to Stockman, he'll be happy to hear you're doing so well this soon."

In her small cubicle of an 'office' Erica's small desk was what you'd expect to see in some ways. It had a 'snack' collection - a small recycled take out noodle bowl now harboring a few fruits that had good shelf life, apples and oranges. A old coffee cup some one had been going to throw out on her first day that was stained and chipped but clean and made a decent pen, pencil caddy and one set of those office two stack organizes the lowest shelf had plain papers and the top missives and messages or reports she had yet to fill out for Baxter or others. Being the intern meant she got a lot of the paperwork. Which she was proud to say she'd already done and it was in a stack waiting to be returned to those whom then needed them. She meanwhile was leaning back in her small wheely chair feet on the spot of desk usually reserved for her own personal notebook which was in her lap as she munched a apple and played only tetris versing Leatherhead.

"I was studying the sample of mutagen you gave me Jaws, that which was extracted from your blood, in comparison with a sample from Baxters stores. And their chemical make up is actual different, your sample does not seem to produce a rapid change, growth or cellular metamorphasis of basic dna and rna structures... well not rapid in any case, it seems slower... more gradual changes." She was saying softly through the small mouth piece of the head phone she had creating a line of blocks.

She could not know a camera hidden in this tiny space provided a pretty decent shot down the top of her dress, though thankfully not a clear one of her computer screen.

Alyss shook her head.

"Mel! Your gonna get us both killed cuz you won't shut up! Why can't you just stop yelling all the time? Just lay down and sleep...cozy...floor..." Alyss fell back asleep, the irritated expression vanished. She didn't feel like worrying about this now. Not as if Mel would listen to anyone anyway. Sleep was nice. Peaceful. Calming.

" Stockass won't give a shit he's not gonna let us go me and Aly are his pets and go ahead tell him that I'm walking so I can curse him out for destroying lives. He's not god and shouldn't try to become one let him mess with his own body and leave everyone else out of his craziness." Mel growled at Sammy sick and tired of being treated like a toy.

Of course The Scientist Stockman would answer him in such a tone. Did he not recognize the number, of course this was important. Bonesteel was not the type just to call for the hell of it. He was never one for small talk and the sooner he got the bleeding beast out of the back of his Humvee, the better. "Depends on if you want this critter alive or not. I got him, but he's bleedin'...lots. May wanna take care of that if you need 'im to be around for more than a couple hours..."





"yes! I'll have men right out to get him and bring you your money." It was then he started barking orders about turtles and cages and getting Erica. "So you only got one? that's fine. I'm very busy at the moment. So my men will take care of everything. They are own their way out now."



in her office Erica had to pause mid next attack on tetris and chat with Leatherhead as she dropped her apple. "Damn it..." She lifts her notebook pc onto the desk into its spot and bends reaching under her table to fish out her apple her dress skirt caught int he waist band of her red panties - but she had no time to fuss as her pager went off buzzing and vibrating its way off the table to the floor - she grabbed it and the half munched apple and read - she was required. Sighing and straightening, untucking the bit of skirt caught and slipping feet back into boots she excused herself from Jaws though left the head phone in and the call on her phone hurrying out after the small group of assistants and coats...





"Easy, man. One for now, I'll get you another.. guarantee it. This damn thing took up nearly all of the back of my Vee..." And it seemed that Baxter was too busy to come see it in person... figured. Not that Simon cared. As long as he was paid the rest of his funds and was able to get this thing out of his vehicle. "But if you get two and cut one up.... I want the shell. And the Japs are interested in a breedin' program. They want sperm, but they seem pretty eager to bring their female over here.."



at this point Baxter was only half listening. His men made it outside with a large glass cage that could be wheeled around. "I see. yes yes you can have what ever you want." It was the mention of a female that got his attention and he stopped all work on Hun. "A female? That is interesting. I have no interest in breeding these things, but I would like a female to study."

Wow. Was this asshat even paying attention to him? Clearly not, which only added to the Hunter's frustration. There was a lot of money riding on this deal with the Japs, for both of them. He would make Baxter see the worth in this and if not, he would make his own deal. The Slaughter house he had rented out had been equip to accommodate to his needs... and from his understanding, there was still three of those boogers out there. Though, admittedly he would prefer not to house and care for one of them for whatever length of time it would take for them to 'breed'. He was a hunter. A harvester. A skinner. A processor. Taking life was his specialty. Helping create more.. yeah, he'd rather skip that. But if that's what he had to do....


The Humvee shifted as the creature in the back tried to push himself up, but the cage would not grant him that, nor would the drugs that still coursed through his system. A gurgling sort of muffled scream, more disoriented and struggling than pained, though a quick glance over his shoulder confirmed the creature was trying to grasp the arrow that protruded from either side of his thick neck. His bloodied fingers missed every single time, no doubt unable to see due to the location and the drugs causing tremors in his 'paws'.


"You best not break that arrow or I'll shell ya right now!" He threatened, figuring the creature wouldn't understand. Dumb beast. Still holding the phone and forbidding Baxter to end the call. "I'm comin' in... we gotta talk business.." He told the whackbag of a scientist.


Just as he stepped out of the van, the 'team' arrived, preparing to take the beast into their 'care'. The girl, he remembered her. Had seen her in passing before. "Why don't you jack that thing off while he's still doped up... need his jizz if yer Boss ain't smart..." He requested, but didn't stick around to see her expression or await a response....


Simon welcomed himself into the lab and had no trouble finding Baxter, even though security made futile efforts to stop him. The Hunter saw the man was elbows deep in a man's body, a sight that would turn the stomachs of most, but how many critters had Bonesteel ripped open for organs to sell to superstitious bastards? Baxter could be dealing in the black market for all he cared. Whatever.



"The scientists are willin' to pay well to have 'er bred. They want the offspring for things. And from what I know about reptiles and turtles, they can lay pretty big clutches. Should be enough for you to have some for experiment, too. Hell, sell their parts to the Chinese or some shit. Could start a craze for mutant turtle soup. Whatever. Thing is, they're willin' to may both of us for this project...."

Honestly, Erica mostly ignored Bonesteel - not taking his comment seriously or with much more than a glance.

Her whole attention became taken by -

Raph!

She had to bit her lip not to say his name out loud and instead in ended in a noise in her throat.

Oh no...

There was blood. Lots of it.

She could see her new massive friend was trying to get the arrow in his flesh...

Her heart was in her throat his color was off - probably from blood loss.

And where as she normally would let the other more senior staff take over this time she spoke up - directing -

"Excuse me your an intern." One of the assistants snapped at her.

"Yes." Erica agreed meeting the taller older staff members gaze her own as fierce as she could make it. "And yet all you here know I am the best qualified to attend to this creature right now -" She hated she had to call him a creature - "so unless you'd like to explain profitable loss to Stockman you'll do as I say this time."

A brief stare down and Erica felt once more immensely glad she had practices meeting Leatherheads gaze. Was used to unwavering steady gaze. The other looked away. "Right if there be no more ridiculous questions and wasting of time lets get him to -"

An secure room. At first she would have preferred an operating room but to her intense displeasure, even if she managed not to show it Raphael was none to gently and using more hydraulic pulley systems transferred into a cage that was bigger but still nothing more than a holding pen. This containment though could be wheeled inside and on its way to a secure room - Erica not sure Raph recognised her just yet struggling and making the noise he was and so doped out on drugs he was highly uncoordinated risked a snatch at the dew rag on his head as they entered the facility, slipping the cloth away into hiding before it was taken from him and lost.

She was also trying to think of ways to get the rest of his gear and speaking lowly to Jaws as they moved along. "I need your help Jaws-"

Letherhead wrote:

"Anything"

She described her need as they hurried on further into a secured room.

Baxter did not have time for all this. the man got his money, what more did he want!? Whatever. When the hunter showed up on his own, without anyone to escort him in that was a bit annoying. Where were all his guards? He had only looked up at the man for a second then went back to work on Hun.

Why breed them when you can just clone them? the last thing I want is a bunch of crying babies around here, I have enough of that with the people I work with. You got your payment I assume? Unless you have another turtle for me, you are no longer needed.

________________________

Sammy and the guard had started watching Erica's screen with much interest until she was called out of her room. Sounded like they brought one of the mutants over. He was excited to see the thing, but first he would have to sober up a bit.

he looked back over at Mel and cleared his throat.

"something more interesting then you has arrived. So I'm going to have to leave you now. Remember, no trying to get out."

" Why don't you show me what that interesting thing is? It's not like I can escape anyway I will be good." Mel said being all sweet and innocent trying to get out to look around at least and give her a better idea of the layout of the place. Besides anything to annoy Sammy was a good thing.

So this fuckwad was going to just dismiss him so easily and not hear him out?! No. This was not how Simon Bonesteel conducted business. "Deals off, then. They're offerin' more." He said with a shrug, thumping ashes from his cigarette into the open body cavity of the man Baxter was working on.


Turning on his heels, he met the team that was working on transporting the cage. "Load 'im back up- yer boss is a dipshit..." He told the group. "Anyone lookin' for a better payin' job, come with..."

Who did this guy think he was!? no one fucked over Baxter Stockman! He got one of his men to finish up with Hun, not too worried about the ashes, and pulled off his gloves.

We had a deal!

You want babies, fine. We'll breed the turtle. But after the female has the eggs I want to keep her. And i can match any payment anyone else is offering you.

Heavily under the influence of the overdose and rage over the acknowledgement that he was in fact caged, Raphael did not realize that Erica was among the intrusive faces.. the crowd no doubt taking him to a horrible fate. Captivity- his biggest fear. Being caged like an animal while he awaited dissection. He struggled to right himself in the confined space, but there was no room to stand, no room to shift his weight off the spear that was being driven deeper into his carapace with each jarring shuffle of the cage.


An animalistic growl echoed throughout the alleyways as he made even more futile attempts to reach the arrow and when that didn't happen, an unsteady hand darted out between the bars and grabbed the nearest person, pulling him hard against the cage in a feral attack to pull him through the impossible gap....

Erica choose to ignore Baxter and Bonesteel 'pissing contest' - shooting the hunter a look that neither agreed nor disagreed when he announced a better payment.

She was busy telling her best friend what she needed and realizing quickly if Raph kept struggling he was going to hurt himself further. Oh how she just wanted to let him out of that cage!

Her fellow group let distraction of the heated talks take their vigilance away and a man was grabbed. the others went to help pull him free. Erica however went for Raph -

They'd never even collectively be strong enough to pull the man loose and she had to calm her new friend, his agitation would be driving his pulse up and causing the bleeding out quicker, not to mention struggling making those injuries worse.

All attention thankfully would not be one her and what she was doing.

She did not fear if Raph lashed out - she reached carefully through the bars to caress his snout - mostly because in the confused light she was reaching blind.

Well, that seemed to get the asshole's attention. Even made him stop digging around in that body. Bonesteel finally turned around to look at him, still irritated by the man's arrogance. But one thing he'd learned during doing the dirty work for the rich types, they had no fucking sense.



"I don't want babies, but the Japs do. They got some big project goin' on and I ain't questionin'. I just know they're willin' to pay whatever to have the female bred. Takin' it they're not willin' to give 'er up, but I'll let you hash that out with 'em when they get here. They're payin' us both for this. I know money don't seem to be an object for you... but I'm lookin' at the potential here. Paid for one turtle, and Imma get you another. And both of us gettin' paid for their 'services'. Yeah, you could clone, but sounds like they wanna widen the gene pool..." And he was certain that Baxter cared about none of this. Hell, he didn't, either. He just wanted to make as much as he possibly could before moving on to his next job.



"Deal's on, then. Just don't mess it up..." He warned. "The Red one's shell's pretty busted up, but if I manage to get the next one with less damage, I get the shell after you and the Japs are done clonin' and breedin' 'im..."

Unrelenting pressure as the wild breast pulled, bloodied fingers tearing through clothes as the man's face threatened to peel against the bars. Nictating eyelids covering his eyes, giving Raph a more wild appearance. And then came the hand, reaching blindly, bravely, teeth only inches away from tearing into her flesh, but the familiar scent managed to break through his haze. Still not fully registering, but the new confusion obscuring the overwhelming fear and pain, and the feel of her hand against his snout. Not quite his spot, but in a dangerous position. His damp breath pressed against her as fingers loosened, releasing the now injured man who quickly ran off. A sound somewhere between a warning growl that almost wanted to submit. muffled with a tiger-like chuff as emotions struggled, confusion and fear spiraling...


His frantic heartbeat could literally be heart thumping wildly within constricted confines, breathing labored as blood poured from the wounds. Weakness taking a toll, but he couldn't be in this cage.. he just couldn't!

Erica hums - low... soft, entreating... a shiver as his breath washed over her wrist. Dang! she'd never had that reaction to Leatherhead's breath before!

She wished dearly she could do more - but for the moment just calming him would have to be enough. "It's not okay Raph." She was not going to lie and say everything was fine - her voice for his ears alone in the low humming tune if he could hear.... if not pick up on the sentiment she was trying to convey. "But... I got your shell... whatever happens..." The others had fallen back with the injured man and paid little attention to her as she slides her thumb down to caress the spot. Just a strooooke.

Shifting her stance a little so she was in reach of his hand.

Yes, fine. You will get your shell. Baxter had no idea why a shell was so important to the man. Must have been a hunter thing he supposed. After talking with Bonesteel, Baxter went over to where the turtle was. He did look a bit beat up. He needed medical attention quickly. He walked up to the cage then looked over at Erica.

I need you to patch this thing up. We'll then move him to a more secure cage. It seems he's going to be part of a breeding program.

Sleep was nice. Peaceful. Calming. But she didn’t need it right now.

Though her eyes were shut, her mind was wide awake.

‘Something more interesting than you’? This was slightly intriguing. But, more than intriguing it was a little bit confusing. Sammy wasn’t seriously going to just abandon his post – was he? If nobody was actually paying attention to them, then they were giving Mel the perfect opportunity to attempt escape.

However, this new ‘power’ could be useful. What if she could get Mel to cause a diversion?

Alyss wasn’t complete. Though her new parts were cool, they weren’t what she wanted. This new arm alone wasn’t going to do much of anything for her. It needed a few…additions.

Mr. Stockman seemed far too busy to worry about helping her out. Plus, she didn’t really like him a whole lot. Perhaps if she could find Sammy, he could fulfill her little request. He seemed nice enough. She could probably get him to do almost anything, with a little effort. But he was away somewhere, with the ‘more interesting’ thing. They needed to get out, if only for a short while. Just for a bit of attention. A reminder that they were still here.  

However, a plan of this style could quite possibly get Mel poisoned. Would she risk it?

Mel wasn’t Emily.

Was Mel her friend?

Sammy hadn't gone anywhere just yet, he was still getting sober by drinking a lot of water. Of course this meant that he had to pee!

"Hello girls! I have to pee. on my way back I'll bring the quiet one some ice cream. See Mel, you are rewarded for being good. Next time, maybe you'll stop bitching about everything."

" Sure whatever." Mel replied as she got back to her plan on escaping it made no difference to her if she was being good or not she got into trouble either way. Grinning the wire was now strong enough to get the vent cover off. Getting up she went to the game console and saw that the controllers were wired making perfect makeshift weapons. She unplugged the console and unplugged all the wires from it and the tv tying them to the controllers in tight knots making the makeshift weapons even longer. She pushed her bed to the wall with the vent and climbed up and started working on the screws getting them loose one by one.

The young teen knew she wasn't being watched at this point and had to take this opportunity to escape. Yes she was risking in getting poisoned but it was that or being changed even more.

" Aly once I get this cover off we can get out of this room." Mel told Aly as she worked on the screws.

"Wai-" She began, and then stopped. Did she need to stop Mel? Would it matter? There was honestly no point right now. Sammy would be back in a few minutes. And - the more she thought about it, the more she began to believe that Sammy wasn't the only person watching. Knowing that Mel was awfully stubborn, Sammy wouldn't entirely abandon post. That'd be a foolish move.

"I don't wanna go...he's bringing ice cream, 'member?"

" Yeah for you only but I can't trust him. Stay here if you want but I'm not gonna stick around if I can help it." Mel told Aly as she pulled the last screw loose from the vent cover putting the cover on the bed before she grabbed her makeshift weapon leaving the other for Aly. The young teen climbed into the vent and started to crawl away in it starting to look for a way out. She didn't feel any effects from the poison yet so no one noticed she was gone or was asleep at the monitors. She peeked through other vents trying to get the best spot to slip out.

With Sammy gone for the moment, the guard had to actually pay attention. Sadly when his attention turned back to the screen he seen one of the girls gone. With a groan he hit the alarm button, sending an alarm through the building indicating that a test subject was loose in the building somewhere.

Voice slightly registering, her soft thumb made contact with the 'spot' causing eyes to flutter and a small sense of calm. The desperate struggles ceasing for only a moment, haring her promise even if everything seemed hopeless and fucking scary as hell at the moment. Fierce eyes almost pleading as their hands almost touched, but then the whackbag known a Baxter Stockman made his appearance, followed by the man responsible for putting him here.


It was a trigger that could not be placed on safety. The fury took over once again, nictating eyelids falling into place as he smashed against the side of the cage with a loud, feral growl, his arm once again darting out and his fingers snared Baxter by the shirt, pulling him violently against the bars....