Mismatched Mistake
"This," Dr. Hadar said, holding up a miniscule vial filled with a brown, murky, and viscious liquid. "This is it?"
"Yes," Reiner replied. It took him a great amount of self-control to say but that one word. He truly desired to tell the examiner everything about the vial, to divulge all that he had learned and discovered of the contents within. Yet he kept his mouth shut as he waited for Hadar to speak.
The older man turned the vial over in his hand. Reiner waited with bated breath as Hadar took off his spectacles and brought the vial close to his weary eyes. Finally, after what seemed an eternity of silence, the examiner put the vial down and solely focused his attention on the younger scientist across from him.
"How much?" Dr. Hadar asked.
"How much?" Reiner echoed dully. It was not a question he had been expecting. "Er--"
Hadar pointed to the vial. "Is there even an ounce of this?"
"No, sir, just under twenty-five milliliters. It's a very concentrated compound though, and the most I could have ready for you."
"Hmm," Hadar grunted, setting back. "Sixteen months and less than twenty-five milliliters."
"But, sir," Reiner protested. "This is just the start. The breakthrough took the longest--this is a revolutionary advancement in genetics. In that vial is the solution for extinction of a species that hasn't lived here for millions and millions of years."
"Millions," Hadar muttered. "Millions of dollars, sixteen months, and twenty-five milliliters. This has been quite an expensive project. Do you know the exact numbers?"
"Of course, it's was required for the grant. It might have turned out a little more costly due to some malfunctioning and outdated equipment, but--"
"Millions," the examiner repeated again, not seeming to hear Reiner's words. "Hundreds of millions for results that are quite frankly unimpressive."
"Sir--!"
Hadar waved his hand. "Reiner, I understand your position. You're working on something innovative. Now, innovation isn't always expensive, but when it is those I represent expect results."
"I have results!" Reiner shouted frantically. "This is just a start! I have plans, outlines, DNA mappings--"
"What is that?" Hadar put a hand to his ear. "All my clients heard were more expenses."
"Sir, in fifteen years we could have recreations of past ecosystems with the requisite reptiles included! In twenty, dodo birds! Even before that we could have the whales back. But first--"
Hadar waved his hand again, silencing Reiner. "Please, spare me. I can read the documentation you provided."
"Then if I may ask, why are we having this meeting?"
"So," Hadar sat forward. "I could give you an early warning." He pointed towards the vial. "Congratulations. With this, you're one step closer to your Jurassic Park, but that's not what my clients are looking for. From what I've seen there's no use for any of this in medicine, military, or commercial services."
"Not yet," Reiner interjected. "But it's all coming together. In fact..."
Reiner never finished that sentence, as he was cowed into silence by a stern glance from the examiner.
"May I continue?" Hadar asked to which Reiner nodded reluctantly. "Like I said, my visit here is mostly to serve as an early warning. My clients have been keeping an eye on your progress for months now and I would not be surprised if they hadn't already made their decision, but...but they haven't officially passed anything down yet. However, I have seen some of your Japanese counterparts and they've pledged equally promising results with cheaper costs and in a more expedient timeline."
"The Japanese?" Reiner scoffed. "What do they know? They're the reason that the whales are even extinct!"
"Not just the Japanese, but the Chinese, some of your fellow nationals, even a few gifted Russians. The point, Mr. Reiner, is that your position and the future of your grants are...threatened."
"Threatened?" Uncomprehending, Reiner raised an eyebrow. A moment later, he realized what the examiner meant. "No, no, no. If you'd give me another week--"
Hadar got to his feet and pushed the vial towards Reiner. Defeated, Reiner stared at the small container as the examiner put on his jacket.
"Nothing has been passed down, nothing is official. But--" Dr. Hadar smiled almost viciously as Reiner continued to stare at the vial. "I wouldn't count on another week."
Without another word, Hadar gathered his things and left Reiner alone and with a feeling of dread.
Reiner opened the CryoFridge, shivering as cold air left the device. He took the vial out of his pocket and glanced at it wistfully before putting it on the shelf above the other two still developing concoctions. These two would be ready tomorrow. Reiner sighed. If Dr. Hadar had waited another day, he could have had these to show as well. Still, Reiner thought wistfully, he wasn't sure the examiner and his clients would be happy with any less than a hundred milliliters of materials.
"Size matters not," Reiner whispered to himself. "If only they understood..."
The young scientist stood in the chill of the CryoFridge, fantasizing about what the vials could do when his phone suddenly vibrated. He took it out of his pocket and checked the caller: Agneta. Thinking of his recent meeting, he grimaced and answered the call.
"Hey, Agneta," he said. "Thanks for calling. The meeting--"
"Why must you always talk about work first?" The female on the other end asked. "Have you ever considered that I'm calling about something more important?"
"...more important?"
"Our relationship! Listen, Dave, I don't want to go on the trip anymore."
Reiner froze.
"I don't think I would enjoy it," Agneta continued. "All you're going to do is think and talk about work."
"No! I promised I wouldn't as long as you--"
"Don't try to bargain with me! You're the reason this relationship is failing. I've done my best, but I think it's time we separate."
"Agneta! How can you say that? I paid for a counselor and listened...already paid for the tickets...it's in a beautiful location, they cleaned up all the radiation years ago and it'll just be me and you!"
"That's what I'm worried about."
Reiner sighed again and tried to think of a way he could fix this situation. A sudden thought entered his mind.
"Listen, you won't have to worry about work because...well, I think my project might be shutting down."
"You think?"
"I don't know..."
"So yes. How does that make any of this better, Dave? Do you know how embarrassing this is for me?"
"Embarrassing for you? How do you think I feel?" Reiner yelled before realizing his mistake. "Agneta, I'm sorry I--"
Hearing nothing on the other end, Reiner held out his hand and saw Agneta had hung up on him. Swearing, he slammed the CryoFridge. He returned to his office and half-heartedly took a look at the research he had been working on. Looking through the diagrams of the molecular structure of the liquid within the vials, he realized it was all futile. What was he doing? As far as he knew he would be moving out of this space tomorrow. Why work at all?
Thus Reiner left his office early. He left in a foul mood, not even bothering to talk to anyone he passed along the way to his car. The electric powered vehicle took him to his apartment complex quickly enough, not breaking down for once. As he entered his apartment, he called out his wife's name, but she did not answer. Instead on the mantelpiece he found a note that read: "Out with the girls. Be back tonight." He shook his head and threw the note in the incinerator disposal. He could try calling her, but he knew from the past that a note meant that was the only way she wanted to communicate at that time. Discouraged and facing perhaps the last day of his work tomorrow, Reiner sat on his couch and turned on the VidScreen. On a whim and in remembrance of Dr. Hadar's words he put on the first film of the Jurassic Park saga. He watched in near silence, only getting into it near the end of the film. Though he did not particularly enjoy it, he did not make a move as the VidScreen automatically started to play the sequel. By the time he was in the middle of the fifth film, the sun had long since set. When he was just about to start the final film the door to his apartment creaked open and in stepped Agneta, dressed extravagantly for an already experienced long night out. Reiner idly wondered if her smeared lipstick was because she had been kissing other men.
"Why are you watching this bullshit?" she asked.
"Hello to you too," Reiner said.
Agneta didn't say another word as she walked past him and into their bedroom. She shut the door. Reiner could hear he undress and brush her teeth, though he was more focused on the movie. He heard Agneta one more time when she opened up the bedroom door and asked him to turn the volume down. This was the last thing he remembered doing before falling asleep on the couch.
Reiner awoke the next day feeling groggy and sore from the uncomfortable sleeping position he had rested in. He opened the bedroom door and noticed Agneta was once again absent, this time without leaving a note. He made a quick breakfast and checked his phone for messages. He had a few spam e-mails and one voicemail from Dr. Hadar. Trembling, he started to listen to it.
"Mr. Reiner," it began. "I regret to inform you that your submission for continued funding of your project has been rejected. You will arrive at your workplace at 11:00 AM, gather any personal items, and leave the premises. My clients will handle the transfer of your work independently. Your final payment will be rendered a week from now."
Reiner lowered the phone. In the past, he would have called Agneta in situations such as these. But now, he decided, it was better if he didn't. The young scientist packed a light lunch before heading to the office, arriving precisely on time. There was no one else present, which was somewhat surprising. He had been sure there would be at least light security to make sure he didn't steal or sabotage his work. It seemed, however, that Dr. Hadar's clients trusted him. So, Reiner put what little personal items he had on site--a frame picture of Agneta and a mold of a raptor claw--and was prepared to leave when he spotted the CryoFridge. Not quite sure what he was doing, he opened it and glanced inside at the three vials. An insane thought suddenly took place in his mind. The two vials of raptor DNA formula, one for each sex, had just finished developing and no one else knew about them but him because he had thought of including them until they were complete. Dr. Hadar had only seen the one for an allosaurus female--no one would ever notice these two were missing. He could take them and continue his work in private or even better...experiment. Hadar's clients had been wrong about the medical implications of Reiner's work. Though the vials were primary designed for use in the creation and cloning of their particular creature, with the proper modifications they could be injected into a human specimen for changes that were more than cosmetic. Reiner wasn't sure what would happen then--it was all guesswork, he thought maybe a hybrid of sorts over several hours--but another crazy thought entered his mind. If he could show Hadar's clients the vials' capabilities, then perhaps he could retake his funding and maybe even increase it. He would need subjects, but who? It would have to be someone willing, in an isolated location, and most preferably two volunteers.
As Reiner reached for the vials, he suddenly froze. What was he doing? Not only was this inherently unethical and illegal, it was madness. No one would volunteer, he didn't have enough money to pay anyone, this was--
The trip, he realized. He would be going somewhere isolated, and with Agneta no longer going, he could experiment on himself without fear of interruption or observation. What did he have to lose? His job?
Reiner laughed witlessly and grabbed the vials.
"You want to come?" Reiner asked in disbelief.
"Duh," Agneta said, motioning to the already packed suitcases.
"Why? I mean--what changed your mind?"
Agneta snickered. "Like you said--it's already been paid. Plus, Joey said the Isles are perfect this time of year."
Reiner stiffened. "Who's Joey?"
"Just a guy I know. Anyways, I'm not going to just be with you--oh no, I'm over us. You can try whatever you want with me, but after this trip, I'm going to file for divorce."
"Divorce?"
Agneta nodded. "Why do you always act so surprised? We barely talked yesterday or for the last week for that matter. Plus, we haven't had sex in months!"
"It's not just about--"
"Don't lecture me, I'm an adult too!" Agneta sneered. "Listen, Dave, Joey told me there's something wrong when it's the man who is saying no."
With this, Agneta left the bedroom. Reiner really wanted to yell at her, perhaps something about what Joe didn't know, but he kept his mouth shut. He idly touched the vials in his pocket as he considered the complications in his plan. The wild side of his mind resurfaced as he realized this was the perfect opportunity: two test subjects like he had initially wanted. One might be more unwilling than the other, but why should he care? After all, Agneta obviously didn't concern herself with him and she had just given him permission to try whatever he wanted with her.
The flight to the Isles was long and rather boring. Agneta barely said a word to him. Once they landed, they shopped for whatever supplies they needed for the week, Reiner being especially careful to covertly pick up Agneta's favorite beer. Afterwards, they boarded upon their rented vehicle, an ancient gasoline-electric hybrid that couldn't even get above eighty miles per hour. Once they arrived at their remote cottage and began unpacking, Agneta immediately began to complain about the hot sun and how small their living quarters were, even if the cottage was really larger than their apartment. The complaining only continued once she realized they were without a VidScreen.
"So uncivilized," she said. "What am I supposed to do?"
At this, Reiner procured her favorite beer and offered her a bottle.
"Oh, Dave," she said. "Isn't it a little early?"
"It's five o' clock somewhere," he said with a smile, not bothering to correct her in that was actually quite late, it was just that the sun stayed up later than six PM in this part of the world. "Come on, drink up."
"Fine." Agneta took the bottle with a smile. "This is why I liked you, Dave. You used to think about others."
Reiner chuckled as he took a sip, even though he didn't find what she said particularly funny. Instead, he was thinking about what Agneta would look like after he injected her. Would she even be recognizable? Would her mind be affected? The unhinged Reiner was looking forward to finding out.
The couple continued to idly chat for hours. It got to the point where Agneta was reminiscing about their past, when Reiner was "better."
"Why can't you be like that now? What changed?" she would ask.
Reiner would merely smile and pass her another beer, noting that she was becoming more and more drunk. The woman could hold her liquor however, it taking nearly eight of the beers before she sang a drunken rendition of one of her childhood pop songs before nearly passing out. Reiner helped her to her feet and brought her to the bedroom. She lay upon the sheets, thanked him in a slurred voice, and passed out. While Agneta's entered the deep depths of a drunken stupor, Reiner felt only more awake and elated. Soon, he would be back at work.
Reiner left the bedroom and spent half an hour cleaning up the mess Agneta had made. By this time, he could hear her snoring softly. Perfect. It was time.
He re-entered the bedroom, injector in hand. Somewhat drunk himself, he fumbled in his pocket for a vial. He didn't even bother to check its label before he attached it to the injector. Bending down, he pushed the injector's needle into her right arm and waited for any response from her. It was at this moment that he had a sudden instant of lucidity. What was he doing? He didn't know what was really going to happen when he injected the liquid. She could die or lose her mind or--but the bitch deserved whatever happened, right?
Reiner took a deep breath and looked down at Agneta. When she merely continued to sleep, he pressed down and injected the fluid into her veins. Breathing very fast, he stood up, looked back at Agneta with a smile, and then shut the door behind him. Of course he would sleep on the couch, but first, the second injection. Without a moment of hesitation, he procured the second vial and injected its contents into his right arm. The only sensation he initially felt from the whole process was the rush of the warm liquid into his bloodstream; then, he suddenly felt very, very hot and drowsy. Overcome, Reiner fell unconscious to the hard wood floors, injector still in hand.
"DAVE!" Agneta screeched.
Reiner's eyes flew open. Realizing he was still holding the injector, he slipped it behind his back while he rolled over to face Agneta.
"Honey," he began, and then stopped.
Overnight his wife had changed in incredible and horrible ways and since she was only wearing a bra and panties he could see everyone one of them. The right side of her, where he had injected the fluid, was the most altered. All of her hair was gone and from the left side of her next rightwards she was covered with small, crimson scales. Her right arm had become a bit beefy, and her hands had altered from a five-fingered configuration to just four thicker clawed fingers, thumb still included. Her right leg meanwhile had reallocated its joints to allow for digitigrade movement, a change that conflicted with her yet altered left leg. Her balance was somewhat off, though helped by her three taloned left foot, one claw larger and curling more prominently than the other, and by the addition of a tail that curled out above her rear. Reiner noticed that Agneta's right eye had transfigured into a reptilian slit and also that her right breast had shrunk, so that their size was almost humorously uneven.
"Honey," he began again. "I--"
"DAVE!" she screamed. "You said the radiation here was gone."
"Radiation?" Reiner replied. "Oh yes--"
"Oh yes? You knew this was going to happen?" "No, no. This is terrible. I--" Reiner looked down at himself and noticed the same changes occurred to him, save for the fact that it was his left side that had been affected and he was slimmer while Agneta was more bulky. He awkwardly got to his feet and flexed his new hand.
"I already tried the car but that hunk of junk is broken down! I also couldn't get any signal in here! What are we going to do, Dave?" "There's an emergency emitter I can activate in the garage," Reiner replied. "It'll take a few hours, but help will be here eventually--"
"Eventually? We can't wait. I'm going to leave right now! I'll walk until we find someone! We can't be the only ones affected."
With this, Agneta began to sort of shuffle towards the door. Dave reached out and grabbed her. She pushed back with her altered arm with a strength she did not used to possess.
"Wait! It's safer for us to stay here. At least our rescuers will know where we are."
Agneta paused as she considered Reiner's words. Then she turned away from him and made her way towards the bedroom.
"Fine!" she stepped into the bedroom and closed the door. Reiner heard her lock it. "Get me when help arrives."
Reiner continued to listen. Once he heard Agneta collapse onto the bed, he made his way towards the garage. He hadn't been lying about the transmitter. Although everything seemed to going all right so far, he activated the transmitter just in case. If the changes continued to occur so benignly, then he could just tell off whoever came. Despite the alterations to his own form, Reiner did not worry even in the slightest. When he stepped back into the cottage, he in fact felt elated as he thought about what was going to change next. His euphoria was so complete that he barely noticed as his body temperature began to rise. A moment later, he passed out once more.
Someone pounding on the door woke Reiner. He quickly got to his feet and found it easier to do so this time. He looked down at his body and saw that his right side now matched his left side in the changes. One new addition was the inclusion of four brightly colored feathers that lined each of his elbows. His head also ached terribly and his vision had adjusted so he could see the fringes of what he thought was a muzzle. As much as Reiner wanted to run to the nearest mirror to examine himself, the relentless pounding continued. He rushed towards the door and said:
"Hello?" Immediately the pounding stopped and Reiner could hear someone shift their stance outside.
"Esteemed guest," a robotic voice began. "We have received your call for help. How may we assist you?"
"Everything's fine," Reiner said. "Um, I mean, our vehicle isn't working and we're out of food." "You did not bring the prerequisite supplies?"
"No. We, uh, we forgot to shop before coming here."
"Very well...we must inform you, esteemed guest, that we may bring you comestibles but you will face a significant charge. We will be happy, however, to repair the vehicle at no expense."
"Don't rush it--I mean, we're good for now. We weren't planning on using the car for a couple more days anyways, just making sure it was working. And we're not totally out of food. Why don't you stop by tomorrow?"
"As you wish. Do you feel well, esteemed guest? We can sense anxiety in your voice and you have not shown yourself."
"Yeah, I'm just...naked. The missus and I...er..."
"We understand, sir. We will return tomorrow afternoon with the supplies."
Reiner waited at the door until the robot had left. Once he was sure it was truly gone, he walked into the bathroom. He glanced into the mirror and almost jumped back in surprise, as what stared back was not his visage, but a raptor cranium. He turned his new head, admiring his many sharp teeth and his lengthened neck. Something, however, seemed off. He stripped to his boxer and was surprising to see how else he had changed. His shoulders were narrower, his hips wider, and his entire form was more slender and more...curvy? Most surprising of all was that the flesh under his nipples had formed into small hemispheres. It was almost as if he had A cup-sized breasts...
Reiner put a hand to the altered flesh and winced. Even under the scales, the breasts felt sensitive. Why had the area grown so erogenous? Why did he have breasts? A sudden thought entered his mind. In the darkness and in his somewhat of a stupor, could he have made a mistake, given the wrong gender of raptor injection to himself and Agneta? He couldn't be sure, but there was way he could become more certain. He pulled down his boxers and saw that his package had shrunk significantly. Reiner suddenly recalled Agneta's own shrinking breast.
"I've made a huge mistake," Reiner said to himself.
It was at this realization that he began to feel very hot again, as if his very blood was boiling. He had no time to act as he collapsed into oblivion.
This time Reiner awoke of his own accord. He entered consciousness with a foggy mind and numb body. Slowly sensation returned to him. First he felt his lazily moving tail, then the feather on his elbows and back of his raptor cranium being gently blown by the air conditioning, and finally the strange and unfamiliar sensation of his erect nipples poking into the ground. He got his knees and looked down at his mammaries. Since he had been last awake they had grown in size, stopping at a C-cup size. Realizing a feeling of emptiness between his legs, Reiner looked down. A single tear rolled down her reptilian muzzle as she stared at the lips of a female sex. She hadn't even been able to say goodbye.
Still lamenting the loss of her manhood, Reiner got to her taloned feet and glanced into the mirror. The vial's contents had done what she had thought it would, transforming the injected into humanoid female raptor. Still, she thought, the injected hadn't supposed to be her. She was meant to be a strong male, not this big breasted, vagina-toting female! Agneta was--
"Agneta," Reiner whispered in a new high-pitched tone as a sudden rush of emotions overwhelmed her, no doubt due to her new hormones. She rushed out of the bathroom and towards the bedroom. She tried the doorknob with her unfamiliar hands but found it locked.
"Agneta?" Reiner whispered. She turned her back to the door. "Agneta, I'm sorry! You've probably already figured this out, but I caused this! I was so mad, so angry, distraught at my loss of my job, and enraged at you that I injected us with some of my research. I mixed up the vials...I never meant...I never meant for you to grow a p-p--"
The bedroom door suddenly swung open. Reiner quickly turned around and took a step back while Agneta move towards her. Agneta had changed since Reiner had last seen her, or really him. Agneta's raptor body was strong and muscular. His flat chest sported an impressive pair of pecs and his lean stomach had truly defined abs. Reiner glanced down at the raptor man's crotch and found only a genital slit, any reproductive organ no doubt nestling inside.
"Penis," Reiner finally began to sputter out. She shrank back as Agneta advanced on her wordlessly. "I'm sorry, it was stupid, misguided, foolish! I had no right, no right at all! I apologize for everything! You were right--I became too involved in my work, too selfish! I stopped paying attention to you--"
"Dave," Agneta growled. "Shut up."
Reiner fell silent. She whimpered as Agneta extended a muscular arm outwards and laid it upon her shoulder.
"Being in that room alone," Agneta began. "That and the changes got me thinking about us. We both made mistakes, we both moved away from each other and it was only you who made an effort to reunite us. I ignored you, and I'm sorry for that."
"Then..." Reiner looked up to the taller raptor. "You're not mad?"
"Mad?" Agneta said. "Why would I be mad?" "Because...because we're this!" Reiner motioned to their bodies. "What was I thinking? We can't just fly back like this without being questioned and taking. We're not normal! Agneta, I'm--I'm scared."
"Don't worry, darling," Agneta said. "I'll protect you."
Reiner looked away. Everything seemed so confusing and different. Agneta was acting strange, Reiner herself felt hot thought not in the usual way, and nothing quite seemed right. Perhaps, she realized, the raptor DNA had changed more than just their appearance. This thought and the others before were quickly swept aside as she laid her gaze upon her handsome raptor mate.
"Thank you," Reiner whispered as she shrank into Agneta's waiting embrace. "I--"
"Shh," Agneta murmured. He held his demure mate tightly. After a moment, he lowered one of his hands to her crotch. "I can tell you're ready."
"Ready?" Reiner squeaked. When Agneta caressed her clitoris, she hissed in pleasure. It was at this point that she realized the strange heat was in her new nethers and she could not disagree with Agneta's assertion. She looked up to her mate. "Are you sure?"
"It's been long enough and the male says yes this time," Agneta replied with a grin.
Reiner giggled and separated from the male. While her vagina had grown slick, Agneta's member had emerged from its hiding place.
"Do you--" Reiner gulped. "Do you know how to use that?"
"We'll learn together."
Agneta roughly grabbed the female and led her into the bedroom. He relinquished his grip, allowing Reiner to fall on the bed. The female raptor was sure Agneta was going to start then and there, but instead he merely leaned forward and began to caress her breasts with his clawed hands. Reiner couldn't help but moan in pleasure. It just felt so different, so good...
"I know how it is," Agneta growled. "But that's only the start."
The male moved one of his hands lower, to Reiner's dripping female sex. He inserted of his claws in between the folds and set to work. The female found that Agneta had been right--the male's continued ministrations served to only build her pleasure exponentially. After only a few more second Reiner could barely think so pleasured was she. Yet, something still seemed missing. She gazed down at Agneta's cock with lust.
As if on cue, Agneta removed his hands and penetrated Reiner's virgin slit. Reiner gasped. The lovers, unfamiliar with their new equipment, started slowly. As time passed, however, Agneta began to thrust back and forth faster and faster until they both were on the verge of climax. Only a moment later did Reiner feel her inner walls clamp down and then Reiner released a flood of seed into her fertile womb. Reiner roared and Agneta moaned simultaneously in orgasm. Afterwards, Reiner removed his still drooling member and took his place beside Reiner on the bed. They cuddled in the afterglow, each thinking about their respective experience and each other while new life sparked within Reiner's womb. Exhausted from both their changes and their lovemaking, the couple fell asleep, bodies close and tails intertwined.
Reiner awoke when she felt a clawed hand caress her abdomen. She looked down at her now warm belly and then up to her lover.
"Should we have used..." she said.
"No," Agneta said. "Did you even bring any?"
Reiner shook her head. "I didn't think we would have sex."
Agneta chuckled. "It doesn't matter anyways. I always looked forward to having children."
No, Reiner recalled, Agneta didn't. Before, she had always said that she would rather have many other things before children. Now, though, it seemed things had changed. So much had changed...
Reiner's thoughts were interrupted when Agneta tweaked her nipples.
"Are you ready for round two?"
Reiner blinked. "Round two? Agneta, I might be--"
"Might. We have five more days of this. I want to make sure. Don't you?"
Reiner nodded enthusiastically. If their next session was going to be anything like the one before...
The female raptor shivered in anticipation. After all, practice makes perfect.