Rick looked like something from a SciFi movie. He was covered with snake-like
scales. His head was that of a Komodo dragon's except for the short, scarlet spine
running from the top of his head to the beginning of his new serpantine tail, which also
had four scarlet spikes at the tip. He reached to touch the spine.
"Don't do that!" the doctor said,"They are filled with a highly acidic poison. You may
have a built-in immunity to it, but we don't want to take any chances." He looked at the
rest of his body. His chest and pelvis to his groin were protected with a bony plate that
was hard as rock. He tapped it.
"Oh yes, that is extremely strong. We had tried to cut it off, thinking it was a cancerous
growth, but even a diamond knife couldn't make a scratch in it! The rest of your body is
resiliant, too. Every time we made an incision to examine your internal organs, the wound
healed right away!" But other than looking like a giant, humannoid, exotic lizard, the
mutation hadn't changed his basic body build. He was still strong and muscular but didn't
look like a steroid freak. His hands, though clawed, were still five-fingered with opposable
thumbs. His feet, however, were more like a bird's claws with reptile scales.
"How could this be?!" Rick asks.
"We're not sure. That plant you destroyed had unknown substances. We thought they
were a new kind of nuclear weapon, but it could have been something else."
"Can I get up now?" The doctor undid the restraints that had been holding him down
in case he went berserk over the changes. He stood up and stretched, groaning with
discomfort as his month-long cramps worked out.
"I'm hungry," Rick says as he stands,"where can I get some food?"
"I thought you might be. After a month of living on dietary liquid pumped into your
throat, I'd imagine you want some real food. But first, let's get you some clothes. Your
new sheath may cover your gender now, but in case you get happy, you'll at least want
some pants". Rick looks down to see it's true. His clothes had been burned off by the
explosion. He now had a scaled sheath, but what if his girlfriend came to see him? She
was extremely hot and he didn't want to be embarrassed. The doctor had his assistant
get Rick's old clothes from his barracks and, after making a hole for his tail, Rick put them
on. His spine flattened against his back like a fish's and he got the short-sleeved shirt
and Army hat on. Dress-wise, he looked almost like his old self. As they walked to the
cafeteria, Rick and the doctor talked about his changes.
"By the way, I'm Dr. Anthony Coziusko, but most people just call me Dr. Anthony
because they can't pronounce my last name!" he says chuckling.
"And I'm Commander Richard Barber," he Rick replies, shaking his hand,"Rick for
short". As they exchanged pleasantries, Rick's best friend and second in command,
General Daniel Hertz, came running up.
"Doctor, I demand to see Commander Barber right now! It's been a whole month and
nobody's been allowed to visit him! And another thing, uh...". Dan had been so busy
yelling at Dr. Anthony that he hadn't noticed you. Until now.
"Well?" Anthony asks,"You wanted to see him didn't you?" Then Dan did the last thing
you expected him to do. He tackled the doctor to the floor and started throtling him.
"What did you do to Rick?! You sick fuck! What kind of twisted experiment is this?!"
Dan had always jumped to conclusions when he was angry. You grab him around the
chest to restrain him and realize your crushing him with your new strength, so you loosen
up. He gasps for breath and Dr. Anthony rubs his neck.
"Sorry!" you ramble,"I didn't know I was that strong!" After they pick themselves off the
floor, you go to lunch and explain the situation to Dan.