Animalia has attracted a lot old tycoons with the rejuvenating property of the Animalia virus. However, that didn't mean that Horizon Labs accepted every wealthy old man or woman who wanted to convert. Considering how much PR Animalia needed to keep the super-conservatives from shutting them down, they couldn't afford to convert someone of a more morally dubious nature. And so much old money had been made by illicit or amoral means that they had to be leery about who could convert. Not to mention that some people thought money could buy out rules and meant they could do as they pleased. Such people wouldn't be wanted to stay around for another lifespan, let alone in a physically superior body.
Patrick Davidson came a little close to being disqualified. It wasn't that he had a bad view of any one group in particular or such. In fact, he preferred his privacy and wanted to keep to himself most of the time. It was just that his main source of wealth was in the jewelry and diamond-trading business. Not particularly reprehensible trades in themselves, but a lot of nasty rumors had popped up that his diamonds had been mined from certain war-torn countries of Africa, which countries in particular tended to vary depending on who's telling the story. Patrick vehemently denied trading in any so-called 'blood diamonds', even before they known to fund terrorist attacks. It took a bit of digging through his records of trade transactions to confirm he was telling the truth.
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Partially because of the need for new varieties, but also because they need more wealthy patrons, Dinosaur City was offering to give Mr. Davidson his conversion. After all, building for Dinotopian scale did get pretty expensive. The Horizon Lab office did get a bit worried when he was late for his appointment. There were about to call his phone when Mr. Davidson arrived in a taxi. "Ssso sorry I'm late," he said, "Had to take care of sssomething first."
Jeremy gave Mr. Davidson a concerned look. In addition to the slur of his voice, Mr. Davidson also looked like he had lost some of his balance. "You haven't been drinking, have you?" asked Jeremy with concern.
"Thertainly not. It's jussst the Novocaine," said Mr. Davidson.
"And why would you need Novocaine?" asked Jeremy.
"Had to take my fillings out," said Mr. Davidson, stuffing a hand in his pocket and pulling something else.
Jeremy peered closely. At first, they looked like oddly-shaped pieces of glass. But he noticed they sparkled in a certain way. "Did you get diamond fillings?" asked Jeremy in disbelief.
"They never wore down, eh?" said Mr. Davidson, "But I imagine it'd hurt when my new teeth grow in."
"I imagine so," said Jeremy, "Well, if you would just follow me." He gingerly put a hand on the man's shoulder to guide him in. The conversion ought to dispel the Novocaine's effect. Or at the very least, increase his body mass so his current dosage wouldn't make him so tipsy.
"So, you're going to make me a Carter... a Charter... a Curter... Blast, I'll never be able to wrap my tongue around that name," said Mr. Davidson.
"Actually, we have another option lined up if you're interested," said Jeremy, "Perhaps you'd like to be a Tyrannotitan."
"What's that?" asked Mr. Davidson, "A bigger T. Rex like you?"
"Actually, I'm a Syntixisaurus Rex, which is technically a subspecies of Tyrannosaurus," said Jeremy, "Tyrannotitan, on the other hand, is actually a close relative of Carcharodontosaurus and Gigantosaurus which are on a separate branch of theropods, more closely related to the allosaurs than the tyrannosaurs." Jeremy paused when he saw the confused look on Patrick's face. "It's a larger theropod, related to the one you were offered first," said Jeremy, simplifying it.
"Well, it a deuce easier to say than that rigamarole of the other one," said Mr. Davidson, "You scientist come up with the most over-complicated names for things."
Jeremy couldn't really deny it. Some of the more obscure dinosaurs did have real tongue-twisters for names. One might say that all the good names were already taken.
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Patrick's head certainly felt a lot clearer as he changed. It was surprising how much more energy he felt as he got bigger. He would have assumed that larger creatures were more sluggish in their movement. But then again, he was a predator now and predators had to be fast to catch their prey.
While his ring and pinkie fingers fusing together was strange along with the growth of his tail, it was the feeling of his new teeth that felt the oddest. His hollowed-out teeth fell out first, followed by his whole ones. He didn't have the feeling of bare gums for long before new teeth started pushing out, very sharp teeth designed to shred meat with. His whole head stretched out to make room for a much larger mouth. He would later find that his new muzzle was longer and more pointed than a tyrannosaur's.
When the transformation ended, Jeremy noticed that Patrick looked quite similar to Mr. M. The biggest difference was that Patrick was more grey in color than Mr. M. And while Jeremy couldn't be sure, he also looked taller. He'd have to have them close together to really tell for sure. "So, how do you feel now?" asked Jeremy.
"Much clearer in the head," said Patrick, "But now I'm worried I'll bite off my own tongue with these new teeth."
"Yeah, I remember how that feels," said Jeremy, "You might nick yourself sometimes, but you'd have to put some conscious effort into biting off your tongue. It's an instinct thing. You'll get used to it soon enough, Mr. Davidson."
"That's a relief. But honestly, I think I'd want to change that name. 'Patrick Davidson' sounds like too much of a stuffed shirt. 'Patrick Diamond' sounds much better," said the new Tyrannotitan.
"Well, if that's what you want," said Jeremy.
"Which reminds me," said Patrick before he picked up his diamond fillings. They seem so much smaller in his hand now. "I was thinking of getting these affixed to my new teeth, but that seems silly now. What would be better? A necklace? A set of rings?"
"You're...asking the wrong guy," said Jeremy, "I wouldn't know the first thing about 'bling'."
"Ah, well maybe my daughter will have some ideas," said Patrick.
"Will she be coming?" asked Jeremy.
"I will be paying for her conversion," said Patrick, "Though I'm not certain whether she'll be a Tyrannotitan as well. She may have other ideas."
"I'm sure we'll be able to accommodate her," said Jeremy.