Chapter Four: Growth Spurt

Chapter 3

Reginald squinted at the mirror at his partly transparent reflection, adjusting his labcoat and combing through his thinning headcrest. He wanted to look perfect for Rhoda, but as well for the test subjects. They were the first other people he would see in a quarter-year, and they'd never trust their safety to a scientist that looked disheveled.

"How do I look?" He asked his reflection, getting a thumbs-up in reply. He twirled, and the reflection started soundlessly clapping. Reginald rolled his eyes. "Flatterer. Wish me luck."

He pulled down the old black tarp that had been above them, his reflection disappearing as light flooded in. He heard footsteps, and Spike started growling. He quickly shushed his pet, hurrying to meet up with Rhoda.

"Whoah, dude. Waaay cool!" Two poodles were following Rhoda, dripping wet from the storm that had been going on all day. Neither seemed all that intelligent, but their intelligence wasn't needed for the experiment.

"Hello, D- Rhoda." He should keep a professional atmosphere around the subjects, but he just couldn't stop himself from using her name. "I see you brought the subjects."

"Yes, this is Teresa and Maxwell." Rhoda introduced them. "Numbskulls, this is Dr Bushroot."

"Nice to meet you, Doc B." The female poodle stuck out her hand. "I'm Teri. Might I just say, totally righteous place you got here."

"Thank you." He had absolutely no idea what that meant, but her tone was positive. He calmly shook her hand and turned to the male. "So that means you're Maxwell."

"To the Max, dude!" Maxwell laughed, holding up his fingers in what Reginald thought was probably a peace sign. "Radical digs, man."

Reginald and Rhoda shared a look, him silently asking What is wrong with these people? and her answering No clue.

"Well, let's get to it, shall we?" Reginald smiled reassuringly at the poodles, trying to keep them calm. Test subjects always freaked out over the next little bit of paperwork. "First of all, I need you to sign some waivers, in case of death or injury."

"Oh, we already signed those in the FOWL base." Maxwell waved his hand dismissively. His eyes bugged out and he gasped. "Oh, uh, I meant-- not FOWL?"

Teresa smacked him lightly, glaring. "Idiot, we weren't supposed to say that! Now he knows we work for FOWL! Not radical!"

"You work for FOWL!?" Reginald squawked. He'd thought the boy had misspoke. He looked around, spotting an old spade and grabbing it as a makeshift weapon. "Put your hands up and do not approach. Rhoda, call 911, quickly."

The poodles smirked at each other, as if they thought his threat was cute. Which made sense, considering that they were supervillain agents and he was just some guy with a tiny shovel. What made considerably less sense was Rhoda's reaction.

She scoffed, rolled her eyes (he was rather used to that by now), and snatched the spade from him. "Relax, Reginald." He was almost used to being called by his name. "Where were you expecting me to get volunteers for our illegal experiment? Post an ad online?"

"B-but FOWL?" Reginald shook his head, not able to believe this. "Rhoda, they're villains! They... They hurt people, exploit them, kidnap them. You- you c-can- you can't-"

"I can't?" Rhoda asked, voice quiet and dangerous, stepping closer to Reginald. He gulped, backing away slightly. "Silly man, you think I answer to you? FOWL is offering a good deal; we stop world hunger, they get research on causing rapid mutation, and there's a good deal of profit all around. We're doing this, Reggie, and if you don't like it..."

She glanced at the poodles, who took a second to register they were supposed to do something, before the two dropped into fighting stances. Fireballs appeared in Maxwell's hands, while Teresa's eyes swirled purple.

"Either you're a part of the solution, or you're part of the problem." Rhoda ran her fingers across his shoulder, trailing his neck before cupping his cheek. "FOWL isn't bad, Reggie, they want exactly what we do. To change the world, for the better. Don't be stupid, help them help us to help everyone. Come on, Reginald, do it for me."

"R-Rhoda, I..." He trailed off. Her hand slipped back down to his neck to play with the feathers there, and she just ignored the flinch, gripped his upper arm with her other hand when he tried to move away. She wasn't just forgetting.

"Are you in or out, Reginald?" Rhonda asked, hand still on his neck, his name suddenly sounding wrong in her mouth.

"I-I-I-" She'd never forgotten, had she? It was on purpose, always on purpose, how could he have not seen that?

"I'm getting tired of this, Reginald." Rhoda sighed, pouting. "Don't be stupid, you know what the right answer is."

"Y-you're right." He slumped a little. It was all just a manipulation, wasn't it? Every single word she'd spoken to him. Just as much a bully as Gary and Larson, but so much worse. "I do know the right answer."

Rhoda smirked, letting him go with one last too-hard cheek pat. "Good boy. Now, let's get started."

He was so done with bullies. Reginald's eyes glowed a terrible red, and he whistled loudly past his fangs. "Spike!"

Spike came bounding up, pot forgotten, growling and barking. He'd grown over the night, not too big, but big enough. Reginald pointed to the FOWL agents "Sic 'em, boy!"

"Reginald, what is th-?" Rhoda blinked, looking closer as the poodles tried to fend off Spike. She laughed, cruelly. "You mutated your widdle pet flytrap. You really have no sense of scientific ethics, do you? You were the perfect mark, Reggie."

"Y-you... You...!" He didn't know what to say, he could only see red, but he still couldn't harm her. He wouldn't even send Spike after her. He deflated, voice dropping to nearly a whisper. "Just go, Rhoda. Leave me alone."

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Reggie." She pulled something out of her purse, ovaloid and purple. She sighed sadly, pushing a button. Smoke filled the room, and Reginald's vision started going blurry, barely hearing Rhoda's words before he blacked out. "It's too bad, Reginald, that you couldn't play ball. We could've been great together."