“Good evening, ladies and gentleman,” The Japanese man in a blue suit spoke up. “Our top story tonight is about the latest craze that has been sweeping the nation.” The television screen behind him shown a picture taken of a mall that could have been anywhere in Japan. The only thing out of place was that besides humans, there were animal-like people. “Splicing. Makiko.”
“Splicing,” The woman in a blue blazer spoke up, “Short for ‘Gene-Splicing’, has been a popular craze in the past three years in its country of origin, America. But recently, the creator of the ‘Splicing Stations’, Dr. Kay Mera,” The TV monitor behind Makiko changed to show a man wearing sunglasses with a streak of white in his slick black hair, “Has started to open up shop in not only London, England, but in the heart of Tokyo, Japan as well. Atasuke.”
“Splicing has had a mixed reaction in Japan since the first Japanese Splicing Station opened up two weeks ago, and the numbers of ‘Furs’ have been steadily on the rise.” Not wanting to be the one to explain something so... ‘Strange’, Atasuke gave it to his associate and co-anchor. “Makiko.”
Makiko rolled her eyes. “Splicing, for those of you who don’t know, is the injecting of animal DNA and traits into the human body to give people certain physical appearances and capabilities of the animal they are being ‘spliced’ with. Atasuke.”
“Yes. The younger generation especially seems attuned to this Splicing craze, while the other generation is against the whole thing, as our lady on the street, Kimiko Sasaki found out. Take it to you, Sasaki.”
The TV image went from the station to a busy intersection in Tokyo, droves of people, a few with animal traits, walking along the crosswalk, as a woman in a raincoat and a microphone in her hand stared at the camera. “Kimiko Sasaki here,” Kimiko stared, “Right here in the Ginza District of Tokyo, shoppers are getting used to crowds of people that aren’t just people anymore. This area is currently where the largest concentration of Splicers, or ‘Furs’ is gathered in Tokyo. All today, I’ve been interviewing people off the streets and around Ginza to find out their views on ‘Splicing’.
(------)
“Sir, what are your thoughts on ‘Splicing’,” Kimiko asked as she held out her microphone towards a grizzled out man.
The old man frowned, causing more wrinkles to appear on his features. “It’s a menace to society I tell you. These kids’re gonna be nothin’ but FREAKS!”
“Isn’t that a little harsh?” Kimiko asked.
“Hell no!” The old man spat. “Them demon children can burn in hell!”
(------)
“Ma’am, what are your thoughts on ‘Splicing’,” Kimiko asked as she held out her microphone towards a girl sitting on a stone stoop in front of a door.
The very human-looking girl looked up at the camera with feline eyes. “Personally, I love it.”
“And why is that?” Kimiko asked.
“Because you don’t have to be a complete fur. You can get certain pieces done.” She smiled. “I had my eyes spliced with feline DNA. For the first time I can actually see without glasses.”
(------)
“Ma’am, what are your thoughts on ‘Splicing’,” Kimiko asked as she held out her microphone towards a woman that was pushing a shopping cart with a two-year old in the seat.
“Splicing?” The young mother asked.
“You know,” Kimiko started. “What kids are doing. Adding animal DNA to their own bodies.”
“Oh, that,” The mother said before she shrugged. “I don’t mind it. Don’t want my own kids doing it, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing.”
(------)
“Sir, what are your thoughts on ‘Splicing’,” Kimiko asked as she ran over to a red 2001 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 with the window rolled down. She held out her microphone towards man with his elbow hanging out; one of the people obviously into the Splicing craze, what with the three red fox tails coming from the base of his spine that were over the car sear and ears on his head.
Turning his head towards the reporter, the Fox Splicer shrugged. “It lets me be... Well... ME!”
“I see...” Kimiko said. “Anything else about being you?”
“Nope!” The fox fur said and then saw the man lower his hand, signaling the drag race to start.
Kimiko let out a shriek as she dodged out of the way, barely avoiding being run over.
(------)
“Officer, what are your thoughts on ‘Splicing’,” Kimiko asked as she held out her microphone towards a police officer that was looking at a bunch of Furs gathered around an Arcade cabinet through the window of the building.
The police officer turned to the anchorwoman. “Personally, I just don’t like it. It’s not right. And what the hell do they expect us to do when people start abusing this stuff to cause trouble and commit crimes.”
“Well, it has been documented that the crime-rate all around the United States increased ten-percent within the first month Splicing was introduced,” Kimiko admitted. “But that doesn’t mean Japan will suffer the same fate.”
“Just as it means we can suffer just as badly if not worse,” The Police Officer countered.
(------)
“Sir, what are your thoughts on ‘Splicing’,” Kimiko asked as she walked towards a booth inside a restaurant while holding out her microphone towards a full cat fur that had his arm around a full white wolf fur.
“Mine?” The calico cat fur scratched his head. “Well, I thought it was just awesome, and went right for it, just like my lady here did.” He smiled and licked her cheek. “Isn’t that right honey?”
Closing her eyes, the wolf-girl just murred.
“So no regrets?” Kimiko asked.
“None,” The Cat-fur said. “And even if there were, this IS reversible.”
(------)
“Ma’am, what are your thoughts on ‘Splicing’,” Kimiko asked as she held out her microphone towards a girl behind a counter. The location was obviously a pet store.
The Pet store worker tried to catch her breath as she wiped her sweating forehead with the back of her hand. “Look, I’m a little busy right now.”
“Oh, please?” Kimiko asked.
“Well, I can’t say if I’m for or against it,” The employee admitted. “All I know is, is that we’ve sold more pet care products in the past week than the past three years combined!” She threw her hands up in the air. “We’re being swamped by customers!”
“Oh? The number of pet owners has gone on the rise?” Kimiko asked.
“No! It’s furs looking for good grooming products…” The employee shook her head. “And you won’t believe the number of dog biscuits boxes and catnip pouches we’ve gone through...”
(------)
“Gentleman, what are your thoughts on ‘Splicing’,” Kimiko asked as she tentatively held out her microphone towards a group of Goths. All of them were obviously Bat furs, although some more than others. About two them were full furs, while the other three still had mostly human bodies and arms with bat-like traits.
“Well, I love it,” One of the Goths said. “It lets me break out of the mold society tries to throw us into and truly be unique, you know?”
“Yeah!” “What he said!” “Sell it, bro!” “Unique all the way,” Were the agreement from his group.
A sweat-drop appeared on the back of Kimiko’s head. “Unique... Right...”
(-----)
The scene once again turned back to that of Kimiko at the crosswalk of a street in the Ginza district. “As you can see, people here are being divided easily. And while it is still too early to see if Splicing is good or bad for the Japanese public, one thing IS for sure... Nothing is going to be the same. Back to you at the studio, Atasuke and Makiko.”
“Thanks Kimiko,” Atasuke said as the screen was once again back with the two news-anchors. “And if I’m not mistaken, my co-host, Hirasei-san ACTUALLY got to meet the fabled madman behind this whole ‘Splicing’ thing.”
“Atasuke!” Makiko chastised. “Dr. Mera is no more a madman than you are a news-reporter.”
The audible chuckles in the background that followed THAT comment were numerous.
Shaking her head, Makiko said, “Anyway, yes. I actually got to meet with Dr. Kay Mera today at his Japan-based splicing station.
(------)
The screen showed Makiko sitting in a leather chair inside an office, very western in design. Behind the hand-carved Cherrywood desk was a man with a thin mustache and goatee in a black silk suit and tie with navy-blue silk shirt and a pair of black reflective sunglasses. What stood out about the man was his black hair with the streak of white through it, and the pointed ears.
“Dr. Kay Mera,” Makiko started professionally. “What had brought on this whole concept of Splicing to begin with?”
“Health related issues,” Dr. Mera stated simply. “As well as funding from certain military-supporting wings of governments that wish to remain unnamed for security reasons.”
“So, Splicing was mean to be the basis of bio-weapons?” Makiko questioned.
Sitting up, Dr. Mera said, “Of course not! First and foremost, it was to be used in health-related issues. The first experiment in such a fashion was using reptilian DNA so a person could regrow lost limbs, and then be changed back to a human, with new limbs intact.”
“And was it a success?” Makiko asked.
“Of course!” Dr. Mera said proudly. “A complete success. Currently I’ve been sharing such findings with hospitals and the FDA. Such a process, I am proud to say, will be brought to Western hospitals very soon, and I hope to introduce it over here in Japan.”
“But what about those who can’t take the process?” Makiko asked. “There’s already been some reports of people not being able to take the gene-mutation.”
“Of course, there are some people who have allergies or bad reactions to the splicing cocktails,” Dr. Mera admitted. “I mean, not everyone can take penicillin, can they?”
“But this is hardly a form of mold,” Makiko countered.
“Of course it isn’t,” Dr. Mera agreed. “Which is why when we start the Splicing process, we have the antigen on hand to start injecting should anything go wrong. Nine times out of ten, the person that has had antigen administered immediately after reaction will be completely fine.”
“And that other ten percent?” Makiko asked.
“Mostly mild reactions. Upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea... We’ve even had a few cases of migraines and insomnia.” Dr. Mera chuckled. “Of course, none of this is any worse than compared to the bad reactions most people get from over-the-counter medicines.”
The woman nodded her head to that. “Since there is an antivenin, does it have to be administered right then and there to be effective, or can it be taken any time?”
“It can be taken at any time,” Dr. Mera said. “Splicing does not have to be permanent unless a person wants it to be. If a person decides they’re tired of being Spliced, or want to be Spliced with something else, they can come in, have the first set of Spliced DNA removed, and either leave here like their old selves, or they can be Spliced with a new animal.”
“All right, Dr. Mera,” Makiko said, “What does the whole Splicing set-up cost to have done? It must be expensive.”
“I could be,” Dr. Mera agreed. “Considering the gene-coding that has to be done for each vial. Bit it isn’t,” He told the news-anchor.
“It isn’t?” Makiko asked.
“No.” Dr. Mera agreed. “I want as many people as I can get to enjoy the wonders of Splicing, so I make the prices very affordable. Only twenty-five-hundred Yen per Anima Splice.”
“That’s very cheap,” Makiko agreed.
“I see it as being reasonable,” Dr. Mera said as he held up his hand to make a ‘peace’ sign. It was then one saw his fingernails were black, hard, and pointed; almost like claws.
Nodding her head, Makiko asked, “Very well... If there anything else you’d like to say about Splicing?”
“Yes,” Dr. Mera said. “I would like to reaffirm that Splicing is not only one-hundred-percent safe, but it gives such benefits be it for artistic of physical reasons. And remember folks…” Dr. Mera removed his sunglasses, revealing a set of very green feline eyes. “I’m not just the founder of Splicing, I’m also a client.” He then smiled showing a set of sharp teeth.”
(------)
And so, as the old saying goes... “Let there be furs!”
But just where would they be?
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(Posted Mon, 30 Aug 2004 01:04)
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