I returned to the Doctor's temporary laboratory.
His modifications to R15 had already been completed.
However, R15 would need at least twelve hours before he woke up.
The Doctor looked quite pleased with himself. "I wouldn't dare say he'll feel like a young man when he wakes up, but I can guarantee he'll feel much younger than before."
I patted the Doctor on the shoulder. "You've never disappointed me, but I'm curious. What method did you use?"
He shot me a sidelong glance. "Would there be any point in telling you? You wouldn't understand even if I did. In this field, you're practically illiterate."
I smiled. My relationship with the Doctor was rather peculiar. We spoke casually around each other, without much restraint.
"What is it? You seem to be in a bad mood. Didn't everything get settled? Why are you still so depressed?" The Doctor had me sit down, then held out his hand for a cigarette.
Instead of answering, I asked, "Did your research on his body yield anything? Is it useful to us?"
The Doctor's brow furrowed slightly. "I think I've discovered the secret behind their mutations, but I'm not entirely certain. You know, there are unknown genes in their bodies, genes that aren't in the gene database I created. I suspect these genes don't belong to the modern era, but to ancient times. And they aren't human genes. They may belong to some powerful reptile, something like a snake. But this creature's defensive capabilities were even stronger than a snake's. As for what it was, I don't know yet. After all, I have nothing to compare it against."
My eyes widened. The Doctor had mentioned a reptile, snake-like but far more resilient. I immediately thought of the Lizardmen.
I cleared my throat. "When I spoke with