"Professor, I may never leave this place."

"You're gonna have to, Roy."

"What?"

"You're gonna have to go get Daivor."

Roy spun away from the large pieces of equipment in the cave and groaned. "No…"

"Roy. We're going to need him." Kaleb said, simply waving a hand around the dark cave. "You know what half this stuff is, right?"

"It doesn't look like the shit you got in your lab, that's for sure." Two Gun muttered.

Kaleb simply nodded as he took in the various pieces of equipment. He had no idea how Rhot had collected so much high end gear. But it was incredible. Although, Two Gun was right. It wasn't the stuff Kaleb would normally use. DNA Sequencers, Thermal Cyclers, Electrophoresis machines, and an honest to God KRISPR machine. Everything one would need to work with and edit a genetic sequence.

It made a bleak sort of sense to Kaleb. The Basilinoid Brute clans were heavily genetically modified. What species wouldn't want to figure out what was done to them? The saddest part, though, was that there were a handful of Brute Clan lizards in the cave. They were moving between the machines, pressing buttons, and seeing what happened. Some they clearly understood or at least had a vague understanding of. But others… were out of their experience entirely.

"How did you acquire all this?" Kaleb finally asked a grinning Rhot.

The big lizard was standing behind them at the entrance to the cave. Rhot had his scaly fists on his hips and was grinning broadly. He happily bounded past Kaleb and his friends before arriving at the wide DNA analyzer. He placed a large arm over the top of the thing and practically crowed.

"We stole it!"

Claire snorted out a laugh as Roy nodded. Two Gun simply shook his head at the lizard and continued to look around. Kaleb, though, took it in stride as he turned back to his sidekick and started spouting orders.

"Seriously, Roy. Go! This could be amazing for us. We need Daivor. Also, don't forget the samples we've been collecting from the various alien pets."

Confusion was written large on Roy's face until he eventually understood. Nodding quickly, the boy activated his helmet again and started to run off. Kaleb felt a twinge of worry as he saw the boy leave, so he gave one last order.

"Don't let anyone stop you, Roy. You're in Under-Town, so Under-Town rules apply!"

"Don't worry, Doc! I'll be back!" Roy called as he ran off.

Two Gun sauntered over to Kaleb's side and whispered. "What on earth are you on about?"

"This is a genetics lab, Two Gun."

"So?"

"So, remember how I've been working on a super serum?"

"No. I try not to understand what it you're doing. It's safer for everybody and eventually you make us cool shit. Like a weird lizard gachapon."

"Gacha-wha?"

Claire loomed over them both, waving her husband aside as she addressed Kaleb. "That's not important. Why don't you tell us what you're thinking?"

Kaleb blew out and breath and organized his thoughts. He had so many ideas already rushing into his head. But he needed to see if any of them were even feasible. Not to mention he was going to need supplies. As Rhot hovered close by, Kaleb looked up at Claire.

"The super serum formula we have access to is a variant of the one the police in Austin use. It's been heavily modified, though. First by K-tech and then again by TekNik. But Daivor and I think we have the ingredients identified and planned out. All we need is the right reagents and we should be in business."

"But what does that serum do, Doc? Will it give us a permanent boost or be like a temporary buff item?" Two Gun asked.

"For you two? Neither. You're too powerful. But the serum was designed to make mundanes and low-powered aliens powerful enough to fight other powered criminals. So we could give it to our employees or maybe even the Brute Clan down here and they'd be able to protect themselves."

"Would it work on you?" Two Gun asked.

"Maybe not the first one. But if I have access to the equipment down here, I could keep trying."

"What about materials? Isn't that what you sent Roy topside for? What if you run out of materials?"

Kaleb's hand went to his robotic arm as he felt Milly slumbering within. "We've been collecting the leavings of the various pets in the lab. Skin flakes, claw shavings, even some blood. The serum calls for highly potent samples. But we can always collect more."

Two Gun crossed his arms in thought. "But how long is that going to take? You're committed to missing the Cog Raid. But what about the Face-Snatcher? That's a villain in our territory. We have to handle it."

Claire placed a hand on her husband's shoulder. "We can. I wouldn't doubt that Jar-lock, Vivienne, and Abby are already working on that. Meanwhile, the Professor can stay down here and help our allies while experimenting."

"Which, with Daivor's help, it shouldn't take too long." Kaleb smiled as his brain filled with possibilities again. But then something hit him and he turned back to Claire.

"I need your blood."

"What?"

"Sure."

Two Gun and Claire had two different reactions, and Kaleb did his best to explain. Two Gun didn't look mad, really. Just confused. Which Kaleb took as a good thing.

"Her Xarthaksian blood could be a catalyst for the serum. Alien blood is already… supercharged. So even if it doesn't work, we could use it as study material."

"What about your own blood?"

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"I've been studying that for as long as we've been in the lab. But I can only go so far without the proper equipment."

"Which is right here." Claire nodded as she looked around the bright cave.

Several lamps lit the space, and it made eerie shadows appear on the walls. Kaleb had been so blown away by the equipment that he missed the somber mood in the room. The lab was practically abandoned aside from some of Rhot's lizards. Now that he took a proper look at everything, Kaleb noticed another room at the back.

"Rhot? What's back there?"

The excitable elder scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. "Failed forge."

"Failed?" Kaleb asked, leaving his conversation with his friends.

Two Gun and Claire followed him as Rhot patted the analyzer idly. "Yes, we could only steal so much on our way here. So it is not completed yet."

Kaleb wanted to head in that direction and see how he could help. But the machinery in the current cave was already calling his name. He needed to focus. So instead he moved over to the western wall to where a long silver table had been set up. It looked like one of his workstations in his lab. But when he approached, he realized there was no computer installed. Gritting his teeth, Kaleb studied what he did have.

The table was full of data slates, lab equipment, and pieces of paper with messy writing. Kaleb's eyes locked onto a series of vials with blood in them and he turned to Rhot again. Claire and Two Gun were in quiet conversation nearby. But the big lizard had followed along behind Kaleb like a puppy.

"Who's blood is that?" Kaleb asked, thinking that he knew the answer.

"Ours." Rhot said. "My clan has tried to break down what was done to us. But we have been unsuccessful so far."

"What was done to you? You mean the genetic modification and the pheromones?"

Rhot got a far-off look in his eye and nodded. "Yes. The rage that the pheromones cause. It hurts us. Too often, we chase down threats that aren't aimed at us. The euphoria the happens after the battle lust fades becomes addictive. Young lizards that don't learn to temper themselves wind up chasing battle after battle."

Kaleb back to the samples on the desk and then around at the lab. With all the high-end equipment in the room, the Brute lizards still could not find a solution. But maybe with the others, he could. It was a worth-while goal and it would also allow him access to this lab. It would mean an extended stay in Under-Town, though. Kaleb was weighing up the options when Claire and Two Gun wandered over to them.

"Professor, we're going to leave. At the very least, we need to help Jar-lock and the others." Claire said as Two Gun nodded.

"Yeah, doc. All this lab stuff is your area of expertise. So we're going to leave you to it. But if you need our help in the future, call us, yeah?"

Claire stepped closer and rolled up a sleeve. "But first, you needed a sample, right?"

Kaleb nodded as he spun around to the desk, looking for a blood-drawing kit. The vials on the table indicated that one was close by. The lizards had been drawing blood somehow. Rhot reached under the table and pulled out a kit and handed it over, smiling. Kaleb smiled back at the big lizard before he began prepping to draw Claire's blood. Two Gun hovered nearby as Kaleb found the right needle. Xarthaksians were considered to be a fairly dense race, so a high gauge needle was required. Once Two Gun saw the needle, he groaned and spun away.

"Are you sure about this, honey?"

"Yes, dear. I'm sure the Professor knows what he's doing."

"Enough to do it to myself." Kaleb said as he searched Claire's slim green arm for a vein.

Finding one, he held his breath as he inserted the needle. Claire flinched ever so slightly, but quickly calmed. Kaleb hurriedly finished the job and then went about covering the site. Thankfully, the kit was fully stocked with everything he needed, and Claire was wrapped and ready to go in moments. Smiling to himself, Kaleb placed her sample alongside the Brute Clan vials.

"There. I don't have candy for you, but you've been a very nice patient."

"What?! No candy!? I'm never coming to this doctor's office again!" Claire joked as she gently tested her arm.

Kaleb knew the game would heal her up fairly quickly. So he wasn't too worried about her being out of the fight or anything. Two Gun stepping closer, worried him a bit though. Then the old cowboy rolled up his sleeve.

"Alright, doc. Hit me too."

"What?"

"I might not be familiar with the science. But more samples can't hurt, right?"

Not looking a gift-horse in the mouth, Kaleb hurriedly found a normal needle and took the old mutant's blood too. Once the sample was collected, Kaleb held the vial in his hands and looked up at his friends.

"Thank you both. This is going to be a great help. Both for our Super Group and the Brute Clans."

Rhot nodded rapidly. "Yes! Thank you. Next time, we will have candy for you."

Kaleb, Claire, and Two Gun smirked at the overeager lizard. Two Gun and Claire were just about to leave when an angry voice echoed in the dingy cave. It echoed off the dirt walls, and Kaleb rolled his eyes as he recognized it.

"I will not have that Lab Lizard fouling with Brute Clan blood! Get him out of here now!" Gor'kinak shouted.

Kaleb moved to address the bigger lizard. But Rhot was quicker. The massive clan elder towered over Gor'kinak, roaring in his face.

"The Professor is helping clan Rhot! You have no authority here, sssslisskkknckkk!"

Kaleb winced as his brain supplied the translation for the Basilinoidian slur. It was not a kind one. He made a mental note to find a book about the Basilinoids soon as Gor'kinak's face went red. The elder almost raised his clawed hands as if to strangle the bigger lizard. But he quickly thought better of it and breathed out heavily through his nose. Glaring at Kaleb around Rhot's bulk, Gor'kinak said.

"We don't need the lab lizard's help! You are trying to solve problems that don't exist, Rhot!"

"Tell that to all the clan members that chose to find battle instead of coming here to be with their families." Rhot said, his deep voice rumbling as he held back his anger.

"We were bred for war! It is our calling!"

"One that was assigned to us! Not one we chose. That is all I seek for my clan. A choice!"

The two lizards glared at each other for a long time until Wulkun's aged voice broke the tension.

"Gor'kinak! I warned you to stay out of it. This is a matter between a Friend of The Clans and Elder Rhot."

Gor'kinak whirled around to glare at the elderly lizard joining him in the doorway. But Aqwen stepped between the two and Gor'kinak stepped back slightly.

"The Lab Lizard's evil will infect the clans. Already he has bought his way into our good graces with weapons and armor. How soon before he continues the Council's work? He would have us as slaves to their cause."

Kaleb rolled his eyes. "I've already explained that I have nothing to do with the Council. Not to mention, they've cast you all aside. Why would they want you back?"

The three elders winced, but Aqwen shot Kaleb a sly smile. He nodded at her acknowledgment before Gor'kinak whirled around to him again. Rhot was still in the other elder's way, but the big lizard still made eye contact.

"You are up to something!"

"Of course I am! But it will never harm the Clans."

"Lies!"

"Thankfully, I don't have to convince you of my good intentions, Gor'kinak." Kaleb sighed, spinning back to the worktable. Trying to end the conversation. But the angry Elder was not letting it go.

"I exercise my right as Elder to expel this Friend of The Clans. He is unwanted and unneeded."

Kaleb saw Wulkun roll his eyes. "We've been over this. You need the other Elders to agree to the expulsion."

"Not for a ssllassichiiniilieikkkk."

It took Kaleb's brain a little longer to grasp the meaning of that one. It was old. Older than the Brute Clans. Back to when the standard Basilinoids used to settle conflicts themselves. They provided Kaleb with several images of lizards debating each other or engaging in challenges of intellect. But, by the way Aqwen and Wulkun both winced, he didn't think Gor'kinak meant it that way.

"If you do that and he wins, he will take your place as Clan Elder." Rhot said snidely.

Two Gun leaned in closer to Kaleb. "Does that mean what I think it does?"

"Probably." Kaleb said, looking to Aqwen and Wulkun for guidance. Both, however, wouldn't meet his eye.

"You're going to fight a big lizard for control of his clan!" Claire whispered excitedly.

"I told you he was a trouble-magnet." Two Gun muttered.

Kaleb rubbed his nose as the situation settled around him. On the one hand, it would be good to get Gor'kinak off his back. But on the other, he wasn't so sure about being a Clan leader. Even if he was planning on staying for an extended period. Then he looked up and caught the smug bastard's grinning face and his common sense went out the window.

"Fuck it! Bring it on!"

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