"Well, so The Goblin didn't get you after all." Z said to Isaac. "I trust we've all been filled in on the details."
"Yep, pretty much."
"You bad boy!" Ripples shouted at Dan, flying down to his eye level. "You hurted Rachy!"
Dan sat down, very, very hard, his eyes wide in amazement. Z grabbed Ripples.
"Another word out of you, and I'll give you to The Goblin myself." She threatened.
Ripples shut up. Z turned to Zac.
"Trigger him." She said.
"Excuse me?"
"Look, Dan is just beginning to show the signs of mutation. But it's only just starting. Maybe triggering his powers will stop them mutating. Or at least stop them mutating any further and allow him a bit more control. Goodness knows there are a lot of mutants out there who have a complete lack of control over their abilities. Do you know why we have a Bermuda Triangle? There's a mutant there with Weather and Empathy. If they get upset in anyway... well..."
"I'm sorry Rach!" Dan burst out suddenly. "I didn't mean to - hey what the -"
"I have a Healing power Dan." Jess said. "We all have powers."
Dan stared. Then Zac made his decision.
"Can you keep an eye on him Jess?" He said. "Ok Dan, don't worry, this won't hurt me a bit."
Before Dan had a chance to question what Zac had told him, he received a sharp zap on the middle of his forehead.
Then perhaps they saw the most horrific reception they had ever seen. Claws extended from his fingers and thumbs. Fur grew before their very eyes and he shrank until he became some strange cross between a domestic cat and a wild cat. Although what kind of domestic or wild cat no one could be sure. There seemed to be aspects of the Persian, Siamese, Lion, Cheetah, Tiger, Panther and the list went on. Dan let out a monstrous, yet strangely pathetic mew that was oddly painful on the hearers even thought it wasn't al that loud. His clothes, unlike the other body-changers, were not absorbed with him. Rather he, in this strange cat form, was wearing them. In some areas the clothes were baggy. In others, they were ripped.
Then Dan started turning back human, his eyes glittering in the feline way. His body seemed to stretch, to become... rubber. And then he finally became completely human, and he fell to the floor, panting.
"Dan?" Rachel asked, kneeling down next to him.
He looked up at her. Then lifted his hand and extended his claws.
"How... how is this possible?"
And so Dan became the latest learner of the story of the anomalous gene and the incredible powers it gave. The Triggered and the Mutants.
It was determined that Dan had Rubber (like his sister), an animal power of course - cat and a power the mutants called 'sonics'. Which would explain why it hurt so much when he meowed before.
They later learned of side effects from the initial mutation. His claws would come out when he was threatened - something he would have to learn to control if he could. As observed before, while he was able to turn into a cat, he wouldn't be able to absorb his clothes into it like Isaac could with his shape shifting. Of course, those were the only negative side effects. Dan had a few cat-like characteristics, like better sight, hearing and agility.
Rachel felt happier after learning of his Cat power. When asked why she explained:
"Well, now I know why he eats so much and is so dang lazy!"
Z smiled softly at this before looking out the window.
"This isn't over Goblin." She murmured.