stalemate

" It's beastly, absolutely beastly," the scientist honcho grimaced, " It won't keep still. I've tried anesthetics just below the lethal dose - nothing," he rubbed his forehead, " Absolutely nothing."

" Have you tried darting it?" the nurse inquired, crouching to pull a yellow vial from a small fridge, " My department has had better luck with that."

" We've tried everything but that. I was avoiding it; the triple a LAC won't be happy to see puncture wounds on an animal. Their checks are always thorough. 101 was almost confiscated after they noticed balding .. "

Nurse Brink's ears twitched, " Sorry to intrude, but 115 is classified as an animal?"

" Of course. We can't classify it as a person, it's a patented breed of our own. Besides, the regulations for people are far too firm for what we're working towards. Animal regulations are lax to none."

" I understand that, but it's clearly not an animal," she shook her head, " They'll find out what it's made of sooner or later, why risk a lawsuit? We could lose it all - "

" It doesn't matter. I've told them it's partially sentient already, but they believe it's some kind of amalgamate. It's not a person," he interjected, his mind clouded with suspicion, " You weren't planning on contacting the AAALAC, were you?"

" No, of course not! My faith will always be with this lab, our lab, - I'm just worried about the legality of testing on something like them."

His slender claws ruffled the fur atop her head, and she flinched, " Stop worrying! Instead, why don't you fetch me a gun, tranqs, and 115."

With a frown, he immediately noted that the room was colder than his container - he thought that was impossible. The buzz of the refrigerators set at ground level were the only sounds, of course if not for the mumbling between the director and his peers. His bounding cuffs jingled as he was jerked forward and pushed onto a metal board sitting upright.

" This time we're trying something a bit .. more permanent," his face was aglow with excitement, " Surely you won't mind, 115?"

He didn't respond.

" Well, I'm sure you're just thrilled on the inside!" he enthused. A couple of the others wearing lab coats snickered. The atmosphere grew tense as he popped a dart in through the rear of the gun, " How many for an animal over 120 pounds again?"

Viscare glared at him, his claws vigorously tapping the ground with growing agitation. The metal strip inside his mouth prevented him from speaking; if he did, he'd get a cut torn into his upper jaw. Or that's what he assumed. " That's it? Alright! Stand back, I'm telling you - this one's a monster."