Kaleb rubbed his eyes before putting them back on the confocal microscope. As he studied the cellular structure of his sample, a little bar was filling in at the top right of his vision. The sample was almost completely mapped and he could send it on to Roy. Not looking up from the scope, he asked.

"Do you have the nucleotides for the Xarthaksian sample written up yet?"

Roy's voice came from a separate corner of their cave lab and sounded tired. "Yeah, doc. But why am I doing this? The machines already map and label the samples."

"Don't underestimate the power of hard copies, kid," Daivor rumbled from even closer to Kaleb.

The gnome had originally been very hesitant to help with this project. He was a magical Builder Gnome. Builder as in actual structures and things. Not the literal building blocks of life. But his curiosity was sparked and he dove in to this new field of study with gusto. Which turned out to be a big help. The gnome was a sponge. Absorbing the necessary genetic procedures from a nearby pile of books. Between the Brute Clan and Roy, they'd amassed a decent collection of tomes on genetic theory. It was putting them into practice that was proving difficult.

Kaleb watched as the machine's progress bar completed and then stood back, away from its scope. The machine whirred softly as the finished readout was printed out and a simple diagram floated on the holo-display. He waited a beat for the florescent protein he injected to light up the correct sequence. When it did, Kaleb clapped his hands together and gave a brief cheer. He successfully identified and tagged the genetic sequence responsible for the Brute Clan's strength. At least he thought so. The sequence was one of the few artificial sections of the alien lizard's DNA. He had made sure to light up those sections as well. All they had to do now was compare it to the structure of the Xarthaksian DNA from Claire.

Kaleb grasped his fingers at the holo-displays screen and then literally threw the image to their primary computer. Their collection of interconnected machines recognized the motion and sent the image file to the main screen. It now was displayed above the main table next to a similar sequence from Claire's sample. He loaded the sample of his own blood into the machine and then hurried over to the main table. He'd seen his own DNA enough to have a broad idea of what would show up. But the Xarthaksian and Brute Clan samples were different.

"Jesus…" Kaleb murmured as he looked up at the two displayed samples.

Roy poked his head up from his own work, while Daivor did the same. Both of them studied the samples for a few seconds before Roy whistled in admiration.

"Guess that explains why they are so strong, huh?"

"Not really. Lizards normally have repeating sequences in their DNA."

Kaleb nodded at Daivor's words. But something felt off. "But this many of an artificial gene? They were introduced as Satellite DNA sections too. That's vast blocks of the helix taken up by what the Basilinoid Council did."

There was a momentary pause as they all absorbed that information before Roy brought them back to the Xarthaksian section of the display.

"Meanwhile, Claire's DNA reads like a standard human. Just with larger sections devoted to strength and endurance. The number of base pairs is higher, but that's to be expected from an alien."

Kaleb nodded as his eyes roamed over the model on display. Roy was right. Claire's DNA was a lot cleaner than the Brute Clan's, or even his own, for that matter. The repetitive nature of the reptile DNA made the genome rough to look at. But as he studied the two structures, Kaleb could feel the serum coming together in his mind. The pieces were there. He just needed to assemble them correctly. From his table next to the KRISPR device, Roy looked down at his work and then up again.

"Um, doc? There are a few pairs missing from the chain, according to that book I was reading."

"What?!"

"In Claire's DNA, there's a section of the cell's structure that isn't displayed."

"Is it G-C or and A-T pair?" Daivor asked.

Roy checked his work again and found the answer. "A-T just below the first minor groove."

"It's the sequence that controls the Xarthaksian's bone density." Daivor said, waving at his own books. "Originally, it was thought to be a junk sequence. But its true nature was discovered a decent number of years ago. But it's still hard to find with most equipment."

Kaleb grimaced as he moved over to where Roy was working and look over what the boy had written. The sequence was fairly mundane. Just a standard adenine and thymine pair placed just below the first minor groove of the helix. He checked the Brute Clan DNA for a something similar and found it nestled in a separate section of the genome. Which probably confirmed that with increased strength an increased muscle density was necessary. Something else they would have to account for.

"How did the government, K-Tech and TekNik, all account for some many variables in their serum? I mean, each serum has to almost be tailored made for the user. But you're telling me that the government hands this stuff out to the cops regularly?"

"Maybe it rarely works on those who imbibe it?" Daivor responded.

"Or we aren't thinking in broad enough terms." Roy added.

"Which would explain why the serum we have is only used on the unpowered or those with weak powers? It's not a targeted serum. It's a very wide boost to someone's overall genetics that rarely works." Kaleb nodded along.

He snapped his head around to the three tables assembled in the cave. The lizards had given him almost everything he needed to work comfortably. But he was still finding his way around things. Of course, his own proclivity to make a mess didn't help things.

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"Where did I put the notes on the serum we got from Shaggy?"

"Doc, the notes are saved in the computer too."

"Roy, science works better when you can feel it in your hands!" Kaleb said, rushing past the main table and surreptitiously bringing up the notes section.

His eyes still scanned the desk for the physical notes he and Daivor had taken. The serum's chemical structure had been their starting point. It was the broad basis of everything they were doing. If he could somehow narrow that down to just him, it would increase the strength of the serum immensely. He hoped. He found the notes he was looking for and went over them as he switched the screen back to the cellular structures of both Xarthaksian and the Brute Clan. The chemicals required were way different in the serum notes. But he could see where the sequences they had could be placed as substitutes. It was tricky. But it could work.

Kaleb looked back up to see Daivor with his head back in his books. Roy, however, was looking over the Xarthaksian DNA sequence again. Probably for anymore hidden sections. He moved to Roy's workstation again and popped open the K-Tech branded CRISPR machine. Which, of course, had a big ole K where the C normally would go.

"Arrogant bastards." Kaleb muttered as he placed the two samples into the machine and turned it on.

Roy looked up and then smiled as he saw Kaleb messing with the machine. "It's good branding, Doc. A K-Tech device should have a K in the name."

"It's an acronym. What? Do they want people to think that 'Clustered' starts with a K?"

"No. They want people to know that the best machines come from K-Tech. That's the most expensive piece of equipment in this cave, Doc. Not to mention K-Tech has upgraded its functionality in a huge way."

Kaleb sniffed. "Which probably means it'll run out of charge at any moment."

Roy rolled his eyes but moved over to see what Kaleb was doing. When he saw the readout of the two samples, he raised an eyebrow.

"I just want to see how the Xarthaksian and Brute Clan sequences interact. My own sample is still being printed out. So I'll have to wait. But I think, instead of a serum, I could just alter my own DNA like my ancestors did the Brute Clan."

"Risky, doc, and it means we won't have a serum for the Brute Clan or the Hunters." Daivor said, swing over to Kaleb's shoulder.

"Yes, but it's exactly the opposite of the broad approach, yeah? This way, we can focus on what we want to change and on who."

"So you just want to give yourself the Brute Clan's strength?" Roy asked.

Kaleb pictured himself standing at seven feet tall and with massive muscles. Grimacing and shaking the image out of his head, Kaleb corrected his sidekick.

"Not quite to that level. Maybe something closer to their durability with a minor strength boost. Claire has the same sequences designed to strengthen her skin and toughen her bones. I might be able to combine the two."

"Might?"

"Hey, this is all guess work. This is the first time I'm using a CRISPR machine too. But I'm sure I'll nail it."

As Kaleb finished speaking, the two genetic sequences were finished being scanned into the CRISPR and both helices were displayed on the machine's small screen. Kaleb grinned as he grabbed the two stick controls of the CRISPR and began. He needed to see how the two sequences interacted. So he took a fairly benign sequence from Claire's genome and laid it over the Brute Clan one. Immediately, the Brute Clan helix deteriorated.

"Whoa! Whoa! What?! What the hell!?" Kaleb shouted, turning to see that the samples were still safe and secure inside the machine. What he had just ruined was a simulation of the genomes.

"What did you do?"

"I just moved the skin tone sequences over into the Brute Clan's helix. To make a dark green lizard, y'know? But the entire thing fell apart."

Daivor nodded from Kaleb's shoulder and scratched his beard. Coming to a decision, the gnome slapped Kaleb's temple and pointed at the screen.

"Move the sequence containing Claire's strength over into the Brute Clan sequence."

"But they are almost identical."

"Just get on with it."

Kaleb rolled his eyes and moved the similar sequence into position along the Clan's genome. Again, the sequence fell apart. It all happened too quick for even Kaleb to catch. The second helix just fell to pieces in an instance. Daivor on his shoulder hummed as Kaleb practically squawked in indignation.

"Doc, the readout." Roy said, pointing to another part of the CRISPR device.

Kaleb whirled around to the side of the machine, where a secondary screen was flashing red. A series of errors were flashing down the screen as the samples were reset. Kaleb read through the brick of text as his face grew hot with anger.

"Those fucking bastards!" Kaleb scoffed.

On his shoulder, Daivor grumbled in agreement while lighting his pipe. Roy came over to Kaleb's side and started to read. A look of revulsion coming upon his face. The teenager drew in a shaking breath as he asked.

"Doc? Does that mean what I think it does?"

"That the Basilinoid High Council are even bigger assholes than we thought?" Kaleb growled. "Yes. They designed the Brute Clan genome to fall apart if anything was ever taken out or introduced. It's a hidden sequence buried within the helix. None of the machines picked up on it. But basically, it torches the sample when someone tries to undo or even change their work."

"But we can dig that sequence out, right? I mean, with all the equipment in here, surely we can do something."

"We can and we will." Kaleb said sternly.

But Daivor's grumbling voice spoke up. "Not right now though, Professor."

Kaleb spun to question the tiny gnome on his shoulder and then he remembered the time crunch he had. Daivor was right. First, he needed to create his own serum before he helped the Brute Clan. But with the Brute Clan samples falling apart when tampered with, that meant he only had his own blood and Claire's to work with.

"We also have the animal samples from the Hangar." Daivor added.

"And the chemical recipe for Shaggy's serum." Roy nodded.

Kaleb nodded slowly at their words and reset the machine. He would need to take out the Brute Clan sample and store safely while they worked. He had three days to create a serum that would put him on par with Gor'kinak. They could make that work with just Claire's DNA and his own. The serum just needed a few separate pairs to work. Combined with the animal materials he had, it was bound to do something, right?

Kaleb tried to stay positive as he carefully secured the Brute Clan sample and went to retrieve his own out of the enhanced confocal microscope. It should've already finished reading his own cellular structure. All he needed to do was send the constructed 3D file to the main screen. As he swiped the file to the main table, a notification popped up in the corner of his vision that made him smile.

Genetic Skill Level Maxed

Your comprehension of genetics has reached Intermediate Level

Increased Research Point gain when studying Genetics.

Increased chance at discovering hidden mutations and sequences.

Kaleb's grin slowly fell as he spotted the increase in Research Points. The slap he gave himself was one for the ages. Drawing Roy's attention and nearly unseating the gnome from his perch on Kaleb's shoulder. Before the gnome had time to question him, though, Kaleb was already looking for the number of Research Points he had saved. They were mostly used for gadgets, but he could do other things with them, too. Such as creating Serums!

Research Points: 257

He found the point total sitting on his character sheet just below his defense total. It wasn't as huge as he would've thought. His arm and other gadgets taking a chunk. But it would be more than enough for his needs. With those, he could have the system test and help with designing the serum. A fresh burst of elation made Kaleb smile like a madman as he rushed toward the main computer and went to work. Gor'kinak wouldn't know what the hell hit him.

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