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" No matter ‘ow many times I wash, I can't get this stinky slime off me!" Jasper shouted. Toad raised a finger to his lips, " I'll scrub you good when we get home. Just bare with it for now." Toad set busily off, running the DNA samples and checking the small tanks aligning the table. " Nice sizes." " Ick, it was ‘arder to catch them than I thought." Jasper sighed. " I think I know what your DNA will do to them...but what will mine do?" " You're a shape shifter, a psychic and a mimic. I'm guessing that, at best, they will be able to do everything you can...and at least do one of them." Toad looked at the captives and smiled, " We've been pushed around long enough, my friends. You and I alike. Let's say we change the odds a little, eh?" He opened one of the tanks and pulled out a tree frog. It chirped as it was placed in the larger tank filled with liquid. Toad repeated the same to several of the other frogs and toads in the collection. Some were tree frogs, some were bullfrogs, and the variety varied. After they were set, he saw to it the DNA was cloned and dispersed evenly among the few subjects being tested. " I take it if they are a success than you will do the rest?" " Indeed. Imagine an army of mutant frogs, enhanced with great powers at our command." " Is that wise?" " Think of the lives they have now, Jasper. Would you rather sit on the bank of a pond and wonder from which direction death is going to come? Or would you rather have the chance to fight back when things get rough?" Jasper nodded, " I see. When you put it that way..." Toad pulled the lever to complete the process, leaving nothing more than to wait. Jasper frowned and looked at the notes Toad left on the table, " ‘Ow long should this take?" " Roughly a month." Toad turned back to him with a smile. " But, only because I was too lazy to readjust the chemicals and use proper substitutes. Three days should be the final result for the next group. You might want to ready the suits. Can't have naked mutants running around, now can we?" *** Jasper noted each subject. Toad had indeed changed some things and was able to speed up the process. The frogs were huge, curled asleep in the fetal position. Small webbed feet soon formed long fingers and an opposable thumb as well as long webbed toes...slim but obviously powerful bodies. They were not rippling with muscles but the tone was very clear through the skin. Jasper was amazed. He'd expected seriously ugly creatures, but found they maintained such a beautiful shape. Giant upright frogs...super evolved. These creatures had managed to survive since the dinosaurs due to their ability to adapt. Toad's enhancement just might make them the supreme race in evolution. *** " Is this what you wanted?" " Yes," Toad replied, eying the enhanced mutant frogs carefully. He smiled and chuckled, " In a way, Jasper....these frogs....they are like our children." " Glad I didn't ‘ave to physically give birth," Jasper commented, " My crotch would never be the same." Toad laughed and placed a hand on Jasper's middle, " This one....this one right here...he'll be in control when we're gone." He smiled and pushed himself onto one of the empty counters, holding up a vile, " But, that will be a very very very long time from now, Jasper." " What's that?" " Oh, I'm not without a trick or two up my sleeve." He tossed the vile into the air and caught it, " This here....Black Womb II files. DNA and blood samples from every employee as well as patient." " That's..." " She's caused me enough trouble in my lifetime. And I honestly don't think I've seen the last of her. I know she thinks she can outlive me. I want to challenge that." " Do you ‘ate ‘er that much?" Toad scowled, " She was our nanny for four years, Jasper. She...was my mother for a few years too. She was....my principal....and my boss....my master." He grit his teeth in anger, " And she was my goddam nurse again! Believe me, Jasper, had she done these things out of love for me, perhaps I could forgive her....but, I was just her tool. She couldn't really use me until I was old enough....she had gained my trust...my love....and my devotion. She truly was everything I've ever known. She could play the game so well. That comes from years of experience...years of playing." " Rumor ‘as it that ‘er age is unknown. ‘Er powers may give ‘er the ability to remain young." " Exactly my thought. You too have that power, right?" " Most likely. Shape shifters are like demigods in a sense. Wouldn't be surprised if the ancient Gods weren't Shape shifters themselves." Toad frowned and pulled out a needle, filling it with the DNA fluid within the vile. " Todd, no." Toad didn't reply verbally, but glanced upward...serious about his decision. Jasper sighed, " Please...be careful." Toad nodded and tapped the needle, " Well, Mystique...two can play this game." He rolled up his sleeve and injected himself with the needle's contents. " You think you'll develop those powers?" " No." Toad rasped. This was more painful than he thought. After throwing the needle away he rubbed his arm, trying to circulate the blood faster, " but maybe I can slow my own aging process...keep myself around longer." He sniffed, feeling a little dizzy, " I plan to return and conquer the planet Earth." *** Toad wrote in his notebook, recording that day's records. The bubbling noises distracted him and he turned, seeing a few of the frogs beginning to stir. He smiled and approached one of the tanks. Slowly the eyes of the creature inside began to open. " Happy birthday," Toad muttered, emptying the liquid inside and eventually opening the tank, leaving the frog sitting on the ground. He looked around cautiously and got into a crouch. " Wha..." He reached for his mouth, amazed that he could at last speak. " You're safe." Toad replied from his seat, legs crossed and elbow propped on his knee...chin in his hand. " Mala-Ra," the frog gasped. " It's true." " Eh?" He glanced around at all the other frogs. He smiled seeing them beginning to stir and others still asleep and tightly curled. " Are you Mala-Ra?" " Todd Tolansky....Toad." " But, this...you did all this?" " Yes." The frog smiled, " I knew one day Mala-Ra would answer my prayers...our prayers. After millions of years of allowing his children to suffer, he has forgiven us and deemed us worthy of a new life." Toad smiled at the frog's excitement. He noted how sweet his voice flowed. Slightly whispery but still very audible and perfectly song-worthy. Toad handed him some clothing. It was not GAP or Hot Topic worthy, but more ancient in style. Yet it still retained a style of its own. Toad was no seamster and allowed the appointed seamstress to design as she pleased. " I am....{chirpity crick crick crooooak}. And...I'm honored to be at your service." " I'm afraid I can't make those noises properly." Toad replied. " With your new bodies, new lives, I will give you new names." Toad thought on it. He glanced over at Jasper who had been silent throughout the ordeal, " Where should we start, Paige?" Jasper smiled. He had learned to expect hearing his birth name when there was an intimate connection. " Ezra." " Ezra?" Toad repeated. He thought on it some more and nodded, " You will be Ezra." " Thank you, Mala-Ra." He turned to Jasper and bowed, " And you too, Mala-Sa. Tell me, are we all who are chosen?" " Not at all," Toad replied. " I'm just getting started." Another figure began to move then another. Slowly yes began to open and lives began again. " Jasper, help me. We have to welcome our children." *** The evening had been filled with naming and identifying each of the subjects. Toad had a genuine interest in all of them and listened intently to what they had to say, each wanting to say as much as possible with their new voices. " Interesting language they have," Jasper commented as they lay in bed. Toad nodded, " And easy to understand." " You think so?" " I do. Do you think perhaps it's cuz I'm Toad-Like?" " Who'd have thought that they would have a belief in God...heh..excuse me...Mala-Ra." " Mala-Ra," Toad repeated quietly. " But what about what they called you? Mala-Sa?" " Feminine name-tag of I've ever heard one." " I want to continue to create them, Jasper." " You still want an army?" " Not just an army...and empire." " An empire now, eh?" Jasper snickered. " Jasper, did you hear them? I've never heard such gratitude in anyone's voice. Did you hear how they thanked and praised me? What if...this was what I was meant for? What if this was my purpose?" " To create mutant frogs?" " To fulfill some prophecy." " I'll support you, Todd. I love you and I think your ideas have potential, but, please be careful not to let power get the best of you. We don't want you ending up turning into another Magneto." " Magneto is dead." Toad turned over on that comment, which was soaked with it's own venom. " Good night." *** " Upon the backs of rats like noble steeds they ride," from an elder of the frogs named Quartus. He was obviously reciting in the new language what was a story, he said, would be the topic of song in their nightly chorus. Such complicated creatures. It only made Toad feel even more motivated to make more. " Through the fields and through the woods and into the Great Beyond where all enemies shall be slain." " Interesting story, Quartus." Jasper responded. " Battle story. There are many others." " They are just as great," Ezra remarked. " When we first met," Jasper began, " you mentioned something about being forgiven." " Our ancient ones wished for a king. We wanted to be like the wolf, like the lion, like the great beasts, each possessing a great king or queen to head them. In their ignorance, they could not accept that they were not yet ready to rise...so were given a befitting king." " A log?" Jasper smiled. " I ‘ave a feeling I know ‘ow this story goes. The frogs angrily demanded a real king and down came a crane and ate most of them." " Indeed," Ezra nodded. " Mala-Ra took pity on them and sentenced them to a great punishment for their insubordinate ignorance. He promised to one day decide if they had served their proper punishment and finally forgive them. It was then, He said, that we would have our king and rise into a favorable change." " So, you....think Todd is this king?" " This Mala," Ezra corrected. " We've yet to see who he chooses or sends to be our king." " What is this Mala thing anyway." " I believe humans call them gods. Mala-Ra is our god. He who created us, punished us, and forgave us." " And Mala-Sa?" " Mala-Sa is His other half...His mate. Her face has changed over the years. Our ancients used to sing to Her." Jasper thought about the many ancient civilizations he'd read about and stood up. " Heket?" " She takes many names, depending on Her mood," Quartus smiled. " We knew that it would be Her image He'd choose for us. It was His favorite." He bowed into a crouch, " But, Mala-Sa is lovely in all Her forms." Jasper was about to reply when he felt the presence of Toad and turned to see him sitting on the stairs. " ‘Ow long ‘ave you been there?" " Long enough." Toad stood up and put his hands in his pockets. Despite how important he felt in his uniform, he still enjoyed wearing his earthly street clothes. He approached the crowd of mutant frogs, " So, it's a king you want? Did I ever specify a time?" =He plays the game well too= Jasper thought. " No, Mala-Ra," Quartus lowered his gaze. " We thought perhaps it would be soon, as you've already brought us into our change," From a young female in the corner named Malia. She blushed and lowered her gaze when Toad turned his attention to her. " That so?" He peered over his shoulder back at Jasper and smiled, " Alright. I'll give you someone to rule over you....but, he...or she....must first grow into a ruler. Until then, we'll be your rulers." " Mala-Ra," Malia spoke up, " so you will create for us this ruler?" " Well...I suppose I'm ahead of you." He glanced at Jasper who was more of an articulate. Jasper caught on immediately and took his female form stepping forward. He could play this game too. " Within me is your ruler. A true king and the child of the gods." Jasper wondered if perhaps he was being a little too dramatic...but the mutant frogs bought it, cheered and began to sing praises. He cast worried glances to Toad, who shrugged. *** It wasn't long before Toad had become to lab-happy that he was beginning to run out of room in his basement to house his creations. It was then he decided something should be done. " Should I go with you?" Jasper asked as Toad zipped up the front of his uniform. " No. You stay here and keep an eye on them." " Will you be long?" " Feeling alright?" " Fine," Jasper replied. He had remained in his female form for some time now, taking advantage of feeling like a mother. Toad peered back at her and smiled, " I won't be long. Placing a request is all. Will you be alright to travel?" " Maybe." Downstairs, Toad tried to slip out quietly but was met by a small group of female mutant frogs, each dressed in lovely white dresses. " Are you hungry, Mala-Ra?" " Shall we fix you breakfast?" " Anything you'd like..." Toad pushed past them, " I'm fine. Just stay inside." " Mala-Ra, we would like to talk to you about the living conditions." He shook his head, " I'm already working on something. Just be patient." *** Toad was announced and allowed to enter. He crouched before Stranger and stared at the floor. " Toad? It's been a while since I've seen you. Is everything alright?" " Fine...a little cramped." " Still on about those lab projects?" " With all due respect, Sir, they are living creatures...and I like to think of them as my children." " Well," Stranger chuckled, " speaking of children...how is Jasper?" " She's fine as well. But, forgive me...I'm not here to discuss those matters." " Go on." " Sir, I request to relocate." Stranger arched a brow and hummed as he thought. " Relocate? Where?" " Perhaps there is another planet under your control with which I can move my creations....like a colony of sorts. This would allow me the chance to create a large empire..." he smiled humbly, " which would be under me...under you." Stranger was silent a long time before leaning forward, " Get up. When were you planning to relocate?" " As soon as possible. I'm afraid I got a little carried away." " Well....there is a planet a ways from here. We conquered it several hundred years ago and have since wiped out its population. It's taken over with plants and swamps and such. Comfortable for your clan, I'm sure. We tried to inhabit it a while back, but changed our minds, so there are indeed buildings which you may find useful....but otherwise...things must be rebuilt." " Is there a lab?" " Of course. We will ready a ship for you. Give the word and you will be taken. I'm interested in seeing how you fare there." *** " ‘E went for it?" Jasper laughed. " Hook, line and sinker." " You serious about serving ‘im once you get there?" " No choice on the matter now," Toad replied. " Don't worry, Jasper....this whole ordeal is only temporary. Play stooge to Stranger for a while until I can guarantee a victory. That planet will be ours and there won't be anybody above me to spat out orders. It'll be my word that people obey. I won't have to cower and humble myself before or under anyone after that. But until then, we'll play the game as it's dealt." " Sometimes I worry about you, Todd." " Don't worry about me. I'm the Toad King, remember?" He gave a chuckle, " I'm Mala-Ra." To be continued... | ||||
