News & Project: HERC - excerpt 1

Well last month (as well as the entirety of 2016) was a total bust.Though my seasonal work is over, this leaves so much more time for me to finally get the train rolling.

To make up for lack of more complete content here's an excerpt from the comic's script and story written by FurAffinity's Jethro...

dialogue and setting are subject to change in the final draft and finished comic.

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"June 1st

The Office of Victor Bergman just oozed corporate success. Walls paneled in rich oak, a small bar lined with crystal liquor decanters sparkling in the noontime sun, a massive floor to ceiling window behind his desk. The C.E.O. of Allied Pharmaceuticals had spared no expense in furnishing the room, but all of this grandeur went unnoticed by Dr. Vickie Everdeen. She stood in front of his large mahogany desk. The tan furred fennec currently engaged in a battle to save her career. Every ounce of concentration was set on the handsome weasel in the grey three piece suite seated before her. "Sir, I can promise you this serum will be a success. I’ve spent the last month coming through the data and -----." "You promised us the same success three months ago Dr. Everdeen. Our investors have been very patient, but four million dollars has been poured into Project Hercules in the last two years, with nothing to show for it. They’ve lost confidence in your abilities. "Vickie placed her palms onto the table, her eyes gleaming with a fiery determination that was completely lost on Victor, who sat back in his leather chair with a look of feigned interest. "Allied Pharmaceuticals is about to reap the benefits of all that patience. The animal testing phase alone should make it clear to you how powerful this new serum is. Increased body mass, strength, intelligence, endurance. It’s all there in the report Mr. Bergman," she said, pointing to the manila folder that sat open on his desk. "We are on the verge of creating the perfect soldier!"

Victor looked down at the bundle of stapled papers that rested within that folder, the culmination of two years of intense research and development, and closed it with a quick, firm flick of his paw. "I’m sorry, but the Army is fed up. Even if I listened to you THEY won’t. It’s Military money that has kept this program going, and General Avery has the final say. Dr. White’s presentation knocked him off his feet, and she actually has shown results." The lab coat clad Fennec straightened her back in shocked surprise, her paws clenching in aggravation. "Results!? Sir, with all due respect this is a mistake. I’ve seen her data, and that serum is highly unstable. If you let her go to the trial phase there’s no telling what could go wrong." Victor sat back in his chair for a moment, fist tucked under his chin in thought, before sitting up and grasping the folder in his paws. "Your request to start clinical trials was denied by the board, and the Army has terminated all funding. There’s nothing I can do for you." As Victor finished speaking he handed the research report back to Vicki. She took it hesitantly, her paw tips digging tightly into the manila cover as she fought to keep her composure. She was shocked, heartbroken. The biggest project of her life, the one that was going to launch her carrier, gone in the blink of an eye. She swallowed hard, her head lowered in defeat. "I see, well, I guess that’s it then. Thank you for your time Sir."

Kevin hummed to himself as he loaded test tubes full of genetic samples into the large centrifuge on the lab table before him. The chocolate lab’s tail wagged with excitement as he went about his work. Any moment now Vicki was going to walk through the laboratory door with good news, he just knew it. The click of the door’s magnetic lock opening made his ears perk, tail wagging even more furiously. "Here she comes, I’m so excited," he muttered, turning in his swivel chair to great her. The door slammed with a bang that stopped Kevin’s tail in mid wag and wilted his ears. He watched Vicki storm past him like a blurry tan fireball, an angry snarl spread across her muzzle. She disappeared into her office at the far end of the lab without saying a word, she didn’t need to. It was easy to see that her meeting had not gone as planned. "I take it things didn’t go well," Kevin asked, peaking his head around the corner of the office door. Felicia sat slumped in her desk chair, head tilted back to view the white ceiling tiles above her. "They took everything from us, it’s over. Felicia wined and dined some army generals, and now they’re throwing all their support behind her."

Felicia. The name alone was enough to raise Kevin’s hackles. The lynx had been hired to work on Project Hercules at the same time as Vicki. The Military wanted two experts in the field of genetically modified fertility leading two separate teams. The idea being that some healthy competition would drive the scientists to work even harder. Kevin and Vicki had quickly discovered that Felicia brought the word competition to a whole new level. She was ruthless, manipulative, calculating. The feline would stop at nothing to succeed. She had quickly managed to bribe, intimidate and sway Vicki’s research team to work for her, everyone except Kevin. Because of this Felicia was able to accomplish ten times more than Vicki could. A low growl escaped Kevin’s lips, sharp teeth barred at the corners of his muzzle. "Really! I can’t believe it, that bitch!" Vicki lowered her head to look at Kevin, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "Oh, believe it. I can just see her now, smiling like the cat that caught the canary." She looked so tired, so defeated. Seeing her like this made Kevin’s heart feel like it was sinking into his stomach. With a groan of frustration she crossed her arms on the desk, and buried her head. "This is it Kevin, we’re through. I don’t know what to do." Kevin sat on the edge of the desk and placed his paw on her shoulder. "Hey, we’ll think of something. We always do. How long before they kick us out of the lab?"

"A week," came the muffled reply. "Well then, better get to work. We won’t let this beat us." Vicki raised her head to look at the smiling lab perched on the edge of her desk. She felt her heavy heart lighten, his positive attitude always managed to boost her spirits. She really didn’t know what she would do without him. A tired smile spread across her muzzle. "I wish I was as optimistic as you are." Kevin chuckled, patting her on the back as he stood from the desk. "Haha, maybe some of it will rub off on ya." Walking to the door he turned to look back at her. "I’m going to make a few phone calls. Some contacts I know. There’s a chance we can find someone else to finance our research." Vicki propped her head in her paw, and gave Kevin a thumbs up. "Go get em, slugger." She watched the labs bushy brown tail disappear around the corner. Her mind raced, trying desperately to come up with something, anything that could change the tide in their favor. Nothing came to her. She felt so useless. Leaning back in her seat she slid open a desk drawer and watched a glass vile of green fluid roll across its cluttered interior. Picking it up, she held it between thumb and fore claw, and watched the light from her desk lamp change it from dark green to a sparkling lime. "If we only had a willing test subject I just know they would take me seriously," she muttered in thought. Slowly an idea began to take shape, one born of pure desperation. Her eyes went wide, posture straightened. With a burst of energy and an excited grin Vicki rummaged through her desk until she found it. A syringe. Plunging the needle into the vial’s cork seal, Vicki eagerly drew out the green serum. Holding it up, she pressed down on the syringe’s plunger, expelling any trapped air within along with a spurt of liquid, and placed it upon the table to roll up her sleeve. With her bare arm upon the desk, she picked up the syringe, found a vein, and hesitated. The needle hovered inches from her skin. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves. "Desperate times call for desperate measures." 

Kevin’s optimistic outlook was beginning to fade. He was already on his sixth phone call, and had gotten nowhere. Most of the rival pharmaceutical company executives he had contacted hung up almost immediately, the rest made vague promises about scheduling meetings in a few weeks, maybe next month. The Labrador was down to one last number. Trying his hardest to sell the project. "Yes, yes I know, but if you just looked at the report you---" Kevin jumped in surprise as the phone was yanked from his paw. He fumbled, trying to grasp it back, but it was too late. Time slowed down as he watched the receiver slam into its cradle, unable to believe his eyes. The tan paw that had sealed their fate remained planted on the phone, and Kevin followed the slim arm it was attached to upwards with his eyes to the smiling face of Vicki. Anger filled him as everything sank in. "What the hell are you doing?!" He attempted to get out of the chair, but Vicki’s paw pushed into his chest and sent him plopping back into the seat. She leaned in close to Kevin, placing her paws on the armrests. Her smile was different. More seductive, playful. "I found a way to get our funding back," she said, her voice breathy, eyes full of hunger. Kevin’s anger melted away. He had always had feelings for Vicki, and in his fantasies he was always so suave, a regular man’s man, and she was never able to resist his charms. This, however, was reality, and he was reduced to a pile of mush. Mouth dry, knees shaking, heart pounding. He struggled to find something to say, something witty. "Y—Yeah?" He stammered. "Yeah," she replied breathily, her muzzle almost touching his, "but I’m going to need your help." She lunged at his lips with her own, locking them in a passionate kiss, the outline of her tongue visible as it darted about his mouth. She threw her weight into the chair, her paws starting to strip him of his lab coat. The chair tipped backwards, and they fell to the floor in a tangle of limbs and tails."