Lion And The Falcon (Furry United Coalition) Read Online Free PDF Page B

him, and not from fat. “I napped. It was Jessie who managed to hack back into the computers and eventually send out an SOS to the main FUC office to get us out.”
    “ But the patients hadn’t yet escaped or changed at this point.”
    “No. That happened later that night.” With devastating results. Again, sadness shadowed his expression. She almost felt bad for the guy. He’d not just lost coworkers that night, but probably some friends.
    “ So all of the patients were infected?”
    “Every single last one. Two , though, never made it out the door. Their bodies just couldn’t handle it. The others busted out of here and split off.”
    “Without any tracking devices.” Clarice shook her head in disbelief.
    Nolan’s expression turned defensive. “You can’t be serious? Why would we chip them? These were people, not criminals or pets,” he snapped.
    “They were unknowns in FUC custody with abilities that made them dangerous before the mastermind screwed with them further. You should have tagged them.”
    “Well, we didn’t.”
    “A pity. It would have made my job easier. Back to the psychos on the loose. What kind of mutations are we talking about? Extra teeth? Hulklike shifting? Super strength?”
    “Despite the energy it requires, yes , size is one of the most common things we’ve noted they have in common. Expect them in shifted mode to have a body mass two to five times denser than normal, if not more.”
    The estimate made her brows arch. “How is that possible?”
    He shrugged. “How can any of us shift in the first place? There’s obviously more at work than just simple genetics. The kind of weight we’d be talking about otherwise condensed when they’re in human form would make it impossible for any organs to function. Much as I hate to use the word magic or inexplicable, something makes it possible. You should see Renee when she turns into her fox. She’s the size of a minivan.”
    “No way.”
    “Oh yes, and if you even think of looking at her croc, she’s liable to eat you. Good thing she’s on our side.”
    “Wait a second. Isn’t she one of the people you rescued? How come she’s allowed to roam free?”
    “Renee was a patient of Mastermind’s, but as a study subject. Her special ability stems from a childhood incident involving a radioactive vat. Something about her mutation makes her resistant to drugs so Mastermind’s experiments didn’t work on her. But you needn’t worry about Renee. She’s quite docile, unless like I mentioned, you threaten those she loves.”
    Clarice rubbed at her forehead. “ Why does this mission keep getting more and more complicated?”
    “It’s only because you’re new to FUC. Once you get used to our methods and the staff, you’ll find it much easier to follow. Heck, you might even fall in love with FUC and never want to leave.”
    “I prefer ASS.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “You might like FUC , but I’m an ASS girl, as in Avian Soaring Security. No mutant birds or mad scientists in our outfit.”
    “ Wrong. Apparently, you didn’t read the whole file. We’ve got a bird on the loose. From the reports, we think it’s an ostrich mixed with pterodactyl.”
    Clarice blinked, but he remained dead serious. “Okay. I see I’m going to need to do some serious reading tonight. In the meantime, let’s go back to physical changes that seem universal among the changed patients. Let’s start with their muscles.”
    “Overly developed. It’s like each and every one gets pumped up , whether needed or not. Instant twelve packs, and quads, and pecs. It’s quite disconcerting.”
    Having seen enough body builders on steroids to know, she couldn’t help but agree. “Teeth and claws are elongated?”
    “Think saber -toothed and add a few inches in some cases. I know Mastermind thought she’d found the switch to spring us forward evolution wise, but if you ask me, the switch she turned on in the DNA strands was a step back into the past. I mean,