[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/m5kgE9m.png?1[/img][/center]

A quiet permeated the domed, stone ceilings and walls of the bomb shelter lair were quiet as the frogs sat at the breakfast table. The place had been built by some wealthy San Franciscan during WWII when they were worried about the Japanese coming to the mainland. Apparently they didn't have the same belief in the US military most did at the time. Still, it had been forgotten as time went on, making it a perfect place for them to live. It was outfitted with plenty of furniture, running water, and electricity. Clara had managed to rig it up to allow them some more modern creature comforts of course.

[color=39b54a]"So are we gonna talk about it?"[/color] Bach asked as he watched everyone pushed their breakfast around on their plates. None of them had said a word before that. Hell, they had barely looked at one another since they sat down. It wasn't normal for them. Well, it was mostly normal for Lud, but he didn't talk all that much to begin with. The other three, however, were usually going a mile a minute. Art would be discussing the episode of Star Trek he had watched last night, Clara about the chapters in the book she had read, or Bach about whatever video game he was currently playing through.

But this morning there was nothing.

[color=fff200]"Talk about what?"[/color] Clara asked, a hint of trepidation in her voice.

[color=39b54a]"The dream we all had last night,"[/color] Bach put his fork down and looked at her incredulously. [color=39b54a]"Dyer. The shadow dog. Giant frog lady? Come on. I know you had it too."[/color]

Clara rolled her eyes. Art understood exactly why, of course. Clara was a being of pure rational thought. If something could not be understood and explained by science, it simply could not be. He wasn't sure if it was the way she had been altered in the experiments that created them, or if it was just a natural predisposition to science. But Clara was just too rational to believe they all had the same dream, whether she had it or not.

[color=fff200]"Bach come on-"[/color]

[color=0054a6]"I had it,"[/color] Art interjected before she could shoot the youngest turtle down completely. [color=0054a6]"Just like you said."[/color]

[color=a0410d]"Me too,"[/color] Lud nodded. [color=a0410d]"With the five spheres of light? Saying we were 'chosen' or something?"[/color]

Clara's eyes narrowed at her brothers. Art wasn't sure what she was going to say, and neither did she. She seemed to be choosing her words carefully.

[color=fff200]"Okay, if this dream was real, and if we all had it, that wouldn't mean anything, would it?"[/color] she asked sheepishly. 

[color=a0410d]"You think all of us having the same dream at the same time is meaningless?"[/color] Lud asked with a short laugh. [color=a0410d]"Clara even for you that's a bit too rational."[/color]

[color=fff200]"Come on, you guys,"[/color] she shook her head. [color=fff200]"There's no such thing as being a chosen one. We're not Harry Potter."[/color]

[color=39b54a]"If we were, I'd totally use that invisibility cloak inappropriately,"[/color] Bach laughed to himself.

Art knew this was going to spiral out of control. Clara was nothing if not persistent. Lud wasn't much of a talker, but he was as immovable in a conversation as he was in a fight. Bach...well Bach just liked egging people on. If he didn't put a lid on it soon, they'd spend half the day bickering with one another.

[color=0054a6]"It doesn't matter what the dream was or meant,"[/color] he interjected himself into the conversation. [color=0054a6]"What we know is that IDRG is going to keep making more mutants like us. They're building some sort of army. Why? We have no idea, and we need to find out. And we need to save those other mutants."[/color]

[color=39b54a]"You mean the mutant that tried to eat my face last night? Yea. Great plan, Art,"[/color] Bach groaned.

[color=fff200]"Seriously? That's the play, fearless leader?"[/color] Clara rolled her eyes.

[color=0054a6]"Why shouldn't it be?"[/color] Mozart was defiant. [color=0054a6]"We should just sit back and let another one of our kind be used as a weapon by the people who were gonna do the same to us? Last time I checked the whole idea of us sticking around was to make sure IDRG was stopped from doing...whatever the hell they're planning."[/color]

[color=a0410d]"Count me in,"[/color] Ludwig shrugged. [color=a0410d]"I remember what they did to us in those cages. If we can stop anyone else from experiencing that it's worth a try. And we might just take those bastards down along the way. I could live with that."[/color]

[color=39b54a]"I go wherever the big guy goes,"[/color] Bach patted Lud on the shoulder. [color=39b54a]"Little guy like me needs his muscle around. Besides, if he's not there, I get hit a lot more in the face, and that's no fun."[/color]

Clara looked at her brothers with annoyance. She knew they were right, but she was stubborn as always.

[color=fff200]"Fine, but if one of you get eaten, don't come crying to me,"[/color] she crossed her arm.

[color=39b54a]"I mean, if we get eaten we're not gonna be able to cry to anyone,"[/color] Bach's face scrunched into a confused mug.

[color=fff200]"It's an expression, B,"[/color] Clara smiled at her little brother. [color=fff200]"Don't think too hard. The fire suppression system in this place is shot."[/color]

The four of them laughed hard, erasing any tension.

[center]**********[/center]

Angel shifted her feet nervously as the eyes of Jordan Dyer stared holes into her. She had never dreamed she would be here sitting in his office. Of course, she also never imagined she'd be here after a group of giant frogs had stolen her keycard and used it to break into her place of employment. In her mind she had always figured this moment would come after she discovered cold fusion or something. Though realistically that was probably just as unlikely.

"You know why you're here, Miss Aquila?" Dyer asked, folding his hands on his desk, the light reflecting off his bald head like a spotlight.

[color=8882be]"Yes, sir,"[/color] she looked down at her feet. [color=8882be]"My card was used to gain access to the building. Something bad happened."[/color]

That much was certain. The main entrance way had been blocked off for use for the day. Whispers from people who had seen it claim it was covered in blood. Angel couldn't be sure if the frog creatures could have been behind that. They stole from her, of course. And even drugged her or something. But they hadn't really harmed her, and had placed her safely home. They even brought back her keycard. They couldn't be murderers, could they?

[color=7ea7d8]"Yes, unfortunately that is an understatement,"[/color] Dyer nodded grimly. [color=7ea7d8]"Did you see who stole your card?"[/color]

She shifted uncomfortably in her chair, [color=8882be]"Yes, sir. They were...well they were giant frogs, Director."[/color]

The Director's eyes narrowed at her before softening into a smile, [color=7ea7d8]"Well, you saw something that not many ever have, or were supposed to."[/color]

[color=8882be]"I understand, sir,"[/color] she started to shake her head and apologize profusely. [color=8882be]"I'm not gonna tell anyone. I want to work here. And I didn't want to give them the card but they like-"[/color]

[color=7ea7d8]"Relax, young lady,"[/color] he smiled warmly. Well, at least it was meant to be warm, she thought. But there was something unnatural about it, like he rarely smiled or didn't know how to do it correctly. [color=7ea7d8]"We aren't going to fire you or do anything to you. We're just happy that those dangerous experiments didn't hurt you as they did others in this building."[/color]

So they were behind what happened here. Amazing. Why they spared her when they ripped others apart was a mystery.

[color=7ea7d8]"Still, best be careful from now on going home,"[/color] he warned. [color=7ea7d8]"We don't want a repeat of last night. And if you ever see the creatures again, please contact me immediately. I've authorized you to be able to email me."[/color]

[color=8882be]"Thank you,"[/color] she smiled with relief. [color=8882be]"But, sir, if I may ask...what were they?"[/color]

[color=7ea7d8]"We live in strange times, as you're aware miss,"[/color] he became serious. He continued, lying, [color=7ea7d8]"They were an alien life form. We believe they are not friendly. We are hoping to recapture them and make sure they don't harm anyone."[/color]

Made sense to Angel. She had seen so many weirdness across the world in her life. What's another group of aliens?

[color=8882be]"Thanks for the straight answer, Director,"[/color] she got up to excuse herself. [color=8882be]"I'll make sure to let you know if I see them again."[/color]

[color=7ea7d8]"Thank you dear,"[/color] the Director saw her out.

[center]**********[/center]

As the girl left his office, Dyer heard Doctor Dyson step out of the shadows of the office, [color=9e0b0f]"So, do we need to have her followed?"[/color]

[color=7ea7d8]"No, I don't think so,"[/color] Dyer shook his head. [color=7ea7d8]"She's eager to please and too scared to work with them. If there's any more contact, she'll let us know."[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"And what are we to do, sir?"[/color]

[color=7ea7d8]"Continue working on the transporter,"[/color] Dyer commanded. [color=7ea7d8]"And have the bioengineering department continue making soldiers. We're getting close, Myles. I can feel it."[/color]