Getting Comfortable

5 Years Ago

            With three bases at his disposal around the continent, life was getting a lot easier for the little lizaard. His main base was the original one in the Taklimakan Desert, where he had an experimentation lab, a reproduction room, and a surveillance room with a dozen of screens that split its view into fours so as to show the shots from all the cameras he had placed around his future empire. With the genius’s mind only at its five year-old debut, it would grow to unspeakable heights, along with the size of his army and the vastness of his territory.  

            Rosayan soon understood that his father was wrong when he said that English was spoken and understood everywhere on Earth. He couldn’t get any English news from around the place and couldn’t understand a word of what people were saying in the villages he had examined. When he accidentally met humans, he would try communicating but they didn’t seem to understand anything; they just kept running off or screaming endlessly, which was very annoying since he’d then have to kill them, run away and hide. He had no choice but to learn several languages if he wanted to understand the world he was living in. Fortunately, his ship was able to get Internet and thus language courses were easy to find. After several months, Rosayan became fluent enough in languages like Mandarin, Cantonese, Turkish, Uyghur and Mongolian. With those, he had a lot more sources available to him and he could roam more comfortably around the Orient. The lizaard had also learned about the importance of currency. What puzzled him the most was that every country had a different type of currency, which made it very difficult for him to understand the worth of money. What he knew though, was that as long as he had a lot and from many different countries, he was fine. He had a significant amount of money from eight different countries. He got it by robbing corner stores in small towns and also by simply killing people and taking their money. After observing that random deaths raised a lot of commotions and rumors in a society, he restrained himself and either robbed houses, kidnapped people, threatened people or knocked them out instead.  He figured out how to discern the rich from the poor, and so eventually he concentrated his assaults on the people who seemed wealthier. Anyhow, getting money was not a problem for now. The problem was that he couldn’t use it.

            In the past four years, Rosayan had produced an army of sixty lizaard minions. Before he could ride about with ease and establish other bases around the planet, he first created many underlings to help him gather food, equipment and raw material. They also helped to accelerate construction rate. With many vassals to serve him, he felt a lot more like the superior being he was, and it gave him a lot more time to study, research and experiment. It also permitted him to commit more time to his Kradda training, in which he was becoming quite proficient by applying his skills on numerous victims either roaming in the desert or from nearby villages.

             To create his underlings, he started by capturing new creatures and bringing them to his experimentation lab. He then tested and observed their abilities, and determined which ones had the more convenient characteristics. Once he’d find a handful of valuable animals, he’d extract their genes and combine them with others, blending different mixes, adding a little bit of this gene and a little less of this gene, so as to try and create some new kinds of practical creatures with the knowledge he had of clonology. On his first try, he tried to combine the DNA of a snake with that of a bird. The outcome was some sort of meter-long feathered worm that could neither crawl, nor fly. He threw it away in the Tarim River. Wherever it would harbor was not going to be his problem. He then mixed a scorpion he caught in the Gobi Desert with a hedgehog that he found further in Mongolia. The resulting creature became Rosayan’s favorite pet animal, until it died a week later from heart failure. He was surprised to see that cloning wasn’t so simple. He actually had to go back to his videos and studied his clonology courses all over again for at least two weeks. By doing so he learned how to produce more adequate beasts. He started applying his more refined understanding of his courses, and by experimenting with a dozen of species, he found matches that produced incredible aptitudes. Using the DNA of many mammals, birds, rodents, reptiles and even amphibians around the Orient, he could mix some genes together and produce hybrid creatures of very useful animal abilities, like the agility and aggressiveness of a tiger with the endurance and strength of a gorilla, or the hard skin of an alligator with the speed of a fox. Fusing those together with a little bit of a reptile’s blood and some of his own lizaard DNA, he could create lizaard-looking creatures in his reproduction laboratory. Lizaard DNA implanted in other species had the tendency to corrupt and turn that creature into a destructive, out-of-control killing machine. After discovering that effect, along with its repercussions, Rosayan was able to find a way to cool down the reaction with some special substance he created and called the “Submission Formula”, which would calm down the effects of lizaard DNA and subdue a creature to its master. The possibilities to create unique minions were infinite, and he kept experimenting, noting the failures, the less practical, and the more efficient results. After many attempts, he was able to come up with three distinct species up to now that would be useful to him in his empire.

            He called the first species the Fighters. They were to serve later on as missionaries to kill the nemusian and other people that would get in the way. They would also be the future soldiers for his ever-growing army around the universe. With age and experience he would produce even better fighters, but for now these ones would do. The Fighter species was created with the DNA of hyenas, chimpanzees, geckos, wolverines, all mixed with lizaard blood. This gave the fighters the swiftness of the hyena, the violence, strength and agility of the chimp, the aggressiveness of the wolverine, and the overall look of the gecko. The wolverine and hyena DNA in their veins enhanced their cooperative team-work, since those animals are genetically determined to hunt in packs. The Fighters were biped and borrowed the Ahnés Owrkasia structure from the lizaards, along with features of the chimpanzee. They had the approximate height of an average adult human. With their skeeshes, their bone extrusion ability, their speed and their strength in packs, they would make remarkable fighters and great soldiers.

            The second species were called the Hunters. They were used to hunt and gather food for the whole army. They were mainly created from the genes of jaguars, snakes, chameleons, crocodiles and lizaards. The Hunters used the predatory senses of the animals mentioned to sniff out any creature near, and with the speed and agility of the jaguar and snake, along with the aggressiveness of the crocodile, they would be the most feared creature of the jungle, by humans and animals alike. They walked on their four legs, their shape being a hybrid of a feline and a reptile, having the size of a full grown Siberian tiger when reaching adulthood. With their keen predatory senses, their strength and their ferociousness, they were the perfect hunting and killing machine. Fortunately, because of the submission formula given to them, they would not eat or rip apart their prey unless given permission to do it. They were to bring back the dead or living animals intact to the base so they could distribute them among the rest of the troop.

            The Infiltrators were the third species. Infiltrators were used to gather information, equipment and materials needed for progress in Rosayan’s research and conquest. They used stealth and camouflage to kill, rob, infiltrate and spy. They were made from the bloods of foxes, rhesus monkeys, flying squirrels, snakes, crocodiles, salamanders plus the lizaard DNA. The stealthy aptitude of the Infiltrators was given to them by the blood of the fox, snake and crocodile. The squirrel’s DNA was used for its nimble, fast and agile ability, but more notably for the patagium it possessed under its arms that permitted it to glide through the air. The rhesus monkey’s genes were added to the formula to enhance the species’ pickpocketing abilities. The Infiltrators could either be on two or four legs, whichever was more efficient for the given task.

            Even though they were categorized in three separate species, the hybrid lizaards were all a bit unique in their portions and quantities of different genes. For example, instead of using a jaguar’s genes to make a Hunter, a tiger would be used and slight changes like that so as to always have progressive experimentation for continued discoveries and improvements. It permitted Rosayan to discover which ones gave more positive results. There were many other developmental creatures that Rosayan created out of his experiments, all unique and sometimes very distorted or unexpected. Some were more useful than others, while total failures would be exterminated, or some would be used as slaves for the most boring, unpleasant and demanding tasks. Nonetheless, all his subordinates were useful for getting things done and buying time for the little five year-old.

            He still needed to take it a step further. Being a lizaard, an extraterrestrial, a monster and all, everything had to be done by lurking, killing and hiding, which slowed things down considerably. If he had some humans in hand to go get stuff and do stuff for him, things would be done a lot faster. He needed to have more productive ways if he wanted a vaster territory. He could not construct other bases and transport one way and the other with sixty other reptilian creatures following him. One day, there would be too many witnesses to kill and threaten. His army was not strong and numerous enough yet to face that of Earth’s. What he needed were human surrogates. They could buy instead of steal, negotiate instead of threaten, and greet people instead of killing them. Humans could move in the open with no risk, and could even procure Rosayan some food dishes from around the world. Humans could get him toys, movies, books, and all sorts of stuff to entertain him between the training, researching, and killing. Rosayan’s martial arts were paying off, and if ever his Kradda moves didn’t work on some human (he was still pretty small), the dozen of Fighters he had were all trained in the art as well. They were rookies, but there were twelve of them. It would suffice for the moment. From what he had faced up to now though, he thought humans were easy to defeat and control.

 

            Rosayan could survive mainly because of the Hunters he had created, which would get him the necessary food, but his survival also largely depended on the water that ran through the Qarqan River. The Tarim River was closer but many small villages lived near it and so it was too risky. So every three days, he would have to send his troops to the Qarqan River to go get some water with jars and bottles that he had stolen from a small market they had raided in Nepal. Rosayan usually sent his minions to go do the job while he would deal with more important stuff, but this time he decided to accompany them on the little journey because he was resolved to find some main d’oeuvres. He wanted to wander around the place and examine where and how he could manage to recruit humans who would work for him. He flied around the desert, farther ahead from his five minions that rode on the horses that they had captured in Mongolia. His jetpack was a lot faster than a horse, and Rosayan had planned that once he’d gather enough material, he would construct a few more so he could distribute them to his most elite subordinates. He flew high over a village to the east of the desert and examined the people walking below, pondering about what would happen if he would just progressively kidnap humans from all the villages in Taklimakan… would they search for him? Would he get in trouble? He knew how important it was to not get seen by humans.

             He went back to join his minions, but by seeing how slow they were on their horses, he grew impatient and flew farther ahead to the Qarqan River. He was arriving there when he saw two humans fetching water from the river. He was about to U-turn to go warn his troop but he had already been spotted and they were pointing at him. The problem with Rosayan’s jetpack was that even though he could get very high to a point where he just looked like a bird, his motor was so noisy that he could hardly be subtle. He mumbled some extremely fast words to himself, which meant he was calculating a last-minute plan. The humans below had stopped fetching their water and were just staring at the creature floating in the air. Rosayan landed, meters farther than the two humans, but they already started backing up.
            “Damn it.” The lizaard murmured to himself, knowing full well what was happening. He had seen those eyes before, and when humans make those eyes, that means they are about to snitch you. He’ll have to kill them and bury them somewhere. What a hassle. The humans dropped their buckets and started running. Rosayan was about to go on the hunt but then realised this was actually the perfect opportunity. He could use them for labor. These two villagers could be his first employees.

            “Wait!” Rosayan called to them in Uyghur. Everyone talked Uyghur around this place. “I mean no harm! I’m here to help you.” The humans were still running. “I have everything you want… I’m… I am an angel sent to you by the Goddess!” He shouted.

            The humans stopped running and looked back.

            “…I was sent on a mission to deliver you from misery. You are the Chosen Ones, you and your people… I am sent here to help you.” The lizaard pronounced convincingly, totally improvising on the spot.

            “What are you talking about? Leave my wife and I alone!” The man shouted back.

            “I know you came here for some water. If water is what you want, I can give plenty. I can give plenty of food, and I’ve got all the money in the world.”

            “That can’t be true. Why would you have all that, and why would you want to give it?” 

            “I am the messenger of the Holy Goddess. My power is endless. Look at me, do I look like a normal human?”

            The man’s wife said, “You look like a horrid demon.”

            “Exactly, that’s what angels look like! I can fly, I can create miracles, I can get you rich.”

            The villagers did not look convinced. “Could it really be an angel?” The man asked his wife, still frightened.

            “It’s a demon I tell you! He looks just like the one in the Ancient Texts. We can’t listen to him!” The wife stated.

             Rosayan was kind of nervous because he was aware that he had five minions supposed to arrive here pretty soon. He needed to figure something quick before they would arrive. “I assure you that I cannot be a demon. Demons are evil and do bad things to people. I only do good things to people because I follow the ethics of the Goddess.” He took out a bag filled with Mongolian currency, and an envelope filled with Chinese currency. “Whether you go north or south, you can have everything you need.” The two villagers started becoming more cooperative. “Look, trust me, and I will make your lives better. If you wait for me here, I will bring you four times the amount of water that you can usually carry.”

            “Four times? How is that possible? How will we carry that back home?”

            “Do not worry, my power is limitless. If you wait for me here, I will bring you four times the amount of water you can usually carry, plus two horses and a bag of potatoes.”

            “Do you imagine? All this would last us for weeks, or even months!” The man exclaimed to his wife, “Demon or angel, shouldn’t we see if it can prove what it claims? We have nothing to lose…”

            “Except our souls!” His wife retorted.

            “You wouldn’t do such a thing as stealing our souls, Mr. Angel, right?”

            “Me? Of course not, I could never do that to the Chosen Ones.” He professed.

            Somehow, Rosayan had succeeded in convincing the two humans to wait at the river while he would go stop his little brigade. He dashed hurriedly back to where his minions were advancing with their horses. “Okay lizaards, stop right here, we have a change of plans.” Rosayan commenced.

            The lizaard king gave his orders. Four minions went to get water at the Tarim River, being extra careful not to get spotted, while the other one went back to the base to get a bag of potatoes. Rosayan also flew back to the base to get a bag of rice. They then all made their way back to the Qarqan River. Rosayan arrived first, obviously, with his jetpack, and the two villagers were still there, sitting in the sand and waiting. Perfect, he thought.

            “I’m very happy to see that you have trusted the words of the Goddess,” Rosayan declared, landing softly on the ground before them, “This expression of fidelity will be rewarded with an extra bag of rice, congratulations.” He tossed the bag to the man.

            “Wow, there’s no rice like that around here! Where did you get that?” The man asked, surprised.

            “From heaven, where else?”

            “From hell!” The wife returned.

            Rosayan ignored the remark and declared, “I have commanded my angel surrogates to come deliver you water and food, and they should arrive soon. Do not be scared.”

            The lizaards soon arrived and distributed all that was promised to the villagers. They now both had a horse and they could leave with their water, their rice and their potatoes. Rosayan’s minions filled up jars and bottles and carried them all the way to Qiemo, the humans’ village.

            “I can’t thank you enough for what you have done. I don’t know how I can repay you, Mr. Angel.” The man said once they arrived close to the village.

            Rosayan grinned. “I actually do have a little favor to ask of you. It won’t be much I assure you.”

            “I knew this was a trap.” The wife said.

            “The Goddess has given me this list of errands that I need you to go get for me.” He took out a list and 500 000 dollars’ worth of Chinese yuans. “Don’t worry, everything is covered: transportation, lodging, food, clothing, personal outgoings, anything.” He proposed.

            “Something about all this doesn’t sound right… but let me think this over.” The man uttered.

            From then on, Rosayan had acquired two employees to gather the material required to start constructing bases throughout the continent. He used similar recruitment techniques to get employees from Minfeng and other nearby villages. In Pishan though, he actually had to kill two people for the villagers to obey. He was afraid to go to the cities and villages to the west because last time he went he had not been well greeted at all. He almost got killed because someone in the village had a gun and that person did not believe in the Goddess. Even though he recruited most of his employees by pretending he was an angel, most of them called him a demon and they were not listening to him. He had to resort to tyranny and human sacrifices to scare the people enough and make them obey to his commands. The employees frequently protested about their boss’s legitimacy, but they couldn’t complain about their condition. They were lodged comfortably, fed at will, and given exaggerated amounts of money. Rosayan did so to make sure they would not denounce him and increase the chance of getting noticed by influential authorities like the United Nations or the European Union.

            After assembling enough personnel, Rosayan forced his employees to join his lizaard minions in the construction of an underground tunnel that led to India. Rosayan had found a good uninhabited spot in the Thar Desert and he wanted to build a new base there. He kept recruiting and kidnapping people from villages and undertook the same project in Mongolia. At five years old, Rosayan had three bases throughout Asia, which were interconnected by underground tunnels. The tunnels enabled inconceivable progress in Rosayan’s plans. Inside those tunnels was a giant conveyor belt that could transport objects, raw material, minions and employees alike, from one base to another. There was also a road beside the conveyor belt designed for this ultra-fast vehicule Rosayan had assembled. That route was to be used when things or people had to reach a base more urgently. Rosayan’s brigade was scattered evenly around his three bases in the Orient. He had fifteen minions in Base 2, located in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, fifteen in Base 3, deep in the Thar Desert of India, and thirty minions in Base 1, his home base in China’s Taklimakan Desert. Rosayan took a liking to deserts. The climate was perfect for his species and the environment was perfect for the start of his conquest.

With a growing human brigade and an ever-expanding lizaard army, world domination was starting to look achievable. Rosayan’s first mission was to find and kill the nemusian on Earth. His father had told him all about the small portable device he had included in the ship. This PUG, as his father called it, was supposed to help him track down the nemusian. After five years, Rosayan hadn’t even tried to look for him yet. He believed that before doing so, he should prepare and get comfortable with his surroundings first. The way things were going, he was starting to get pretty comfortable.