Caged.

[wildchild]

"What do you think would happen...What would happen if we added instead of taking away?"

"Well...logic would state that if scaling back my mutation by a few degrees gave me more control, that increasing those same abnormalities would...."

Let me out.

His amber eyes flashed terror across them.

One train of thought argued that Kyle's physical prowess and hyper active senses would increase leaps and bounds as well. As useful as that would be, Kyle knew better.

He knew what he was capable of. He dreamed about it nearly every night.

"Sir, in all frankness..." Kyle gulped, "In my case...that may not be wise...."

"However, others may benefit from the augmentation a great deal more..." He added, afraid he'd offended his mentor, "And society could as well..."

Just not me....I don't want to lose control..

Weakling.

[Hank McCoy]

"...others may benefit from the augmentation a great deal more..."

The sly grin returned with a bit more humor this time. "They may indeed, Kyle", Henry agreed softly. "But do not worry", he continued, "I am well aware of your condition...which is not to say the application couldn't be more selective. Unnatural Selection, perhaps."

Henry smiled at his little joke.

Kill him. said a voice in Henry's mind. His smile got wider.

Eat him. Tear him apart. growled another.

Gentlemen, please, Henry thought. Not now.

"You're a greater help to me than you realize, my boy", Henry said aloud and reassuringly. "I wouldn't let that happen to you."

Not yet.

[wildchild]

"I am well aware of your condition...which is not to say the application couldn't be more selective. Unnatural Selection, perhaps."

Condition. He made it sound like a disease. Well, it was a disease, it wasn't natural for a young man to have such a....colorful inner monologue. It wasn't right to think about the things he did when the lights went out.

"So....in theory....we could...." Kyle said, "Augment say....my healing factor....and suppress my.....darker impulses...?"

"I wouldn't let that happen to you."

The hairs on the back of his neck rose, but he kept his mind off it. Why would his mentor wish any sort of harm on him?

[Hank McCoy]

"In theory", Henry answered, "we could do more than even that. Unfortunately, testing and proving those theories requires raw materials that can be most difficult to obtain. My...supplier has been most erratic."

Hungry.

Not to mention the number of experiments Henry was conducting that required those raw materials.

[wildchild]

"In theory...we could do more than even that. Unfortunately, testing and proving those theories requires raw materials that can be most difficult to obtain. My...supplier has been most erratic."

Kyle lowered his eyes as he thought.

Supplier?

Hunter. Like us.

"Well....if a supplier is unreliable...the best course of action is to locate a more depenable source.." He said quietly, "I mean, if we want to continue making progress...."

We. He had already included himself in the equation.

[Hank McCoy]

An interesting thought. It would allow me a chance to focus.

He is weak.

Yes, but we need him.

"We do want to continue", Henry answered. Then it occurred to him how he might solve two problems at once. "But such a supplier requires someone with as much tact as tactics." Or someone who has no other choices, Henry thought. But that was doubtlessly what lent to the inferior's unreliability.

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully before getting up and walking to his office. He opened a file cabinet, retrieved a file and returned. He was holding two photographs that he dropped nonchalantly on Kyle's desk.

"This man", he said, gesturing to the photos. He didn't mention that the man was the supplier. "He might be able to help us. I heard a rumor he was seen near an abandoned Oscorp Warehouse. Number sixty-three if I'm not mistaken." He knew he wasn't. Henry was the one who had seen him there.

He sighed and tried to put on his most doubtful expression.

"If only someone could find him", he said mournfully.

[wildchild]

"Doctor McCoy...I could..."

No he couldn't. That was not right, he couldn't just seek out...

Hunt. HUNT HUNT!

No!

DO IT.

His head hurt. He felt his fingers stretch outwards, extending long talons. He'd gone for almost a week without medicine.


It's what you were born to do. Predators HUNT

They did. Predators hunted, and Kyle was built for it. Long talons, sharp fangs, incredible senses and physical prowess. It just clashed with his nature.

All of his hair seemed to stand on end, his breathing was becoming short and frenzied.

You'd like it. Just give in!

"I'd go...." Kyle finally said, that odd roughness returning, "It'd be good to stretch my legs..."

It'd be Good to hunt! Survival of the fittest!

[Hank McCoy]

Henry looked skeptical. "It's wild territory, Kyle", he said. "It could be very dangerous. Once outside the castle compound you would be less protected."

Henry paused.

"There may be little trail to follow", he said with a shrug and a shake of his head. Henry suppressed the return of his grin knowing how tantalizing that thought might be.

[wildchild]

"It's wild territory, Kyle.....It could be very dangerous. Once outside the castle compound you would be less protected."

Predator and prey. Hunt to live.

"There may be little trail to follow",

"In all due respect Dr. McCoy..." He said, barely containing a slight snarl to himself, "I think I'm more than capable of hunt-...."

Relax. Give in. Survival of the Fittest!

He quickly repressed a flash of horror and embarrassment. How could he talk like that to his mentor?

"Sorry...I've not been myself lately..."

Oh yes you have

[Hank McCoy]

"By all means then, Kyle", Henry said softly. "I will not stop you."

"Sorry...I've not been myself lately..."

"I confess I am not without distractions of my own", Henry replied. There was something genuine in his empathy with his assistant. He put a hand on Kyle's shoulder. "Think no more of it."

[wildchild]

"By all means then, Kyle......I will not stop you."

Good. Don't Stop. Don't Stop the Hunt. Don't Stop The Kill...

Kyle licked his lips, a gesture he hardly ever found himself doing. Was he actually anticipating this....hunt?

...Or I'll Kill You

Horror. Sheer horror danced across his mind, but Kyle found that he showed no notice of it.

Integration. Two personalities into one.

More Horror. More deception masking his face.

"I confess I am not without distractions of my own.....Think no more of it."

"If you say so..." he said, lowering his head, "I'll head out that way at when night rolls around....I'd...be more at ease that way I think..."