Jay Stood in the alleyway, waiting.
Her three tails twitched back and forth, as she gathered the thoughts in her mind. She was to meet her contact here. He was an informant close to the government. Jay wasn't sure what his desire was, she always checked up everything he said to her in case there was an attempt of manipulation. These days, one could not be too careful...
They were also preparing for Anderson's trial. She thought it would be quick, there wasn't exactly any defence. However she knew that was no guarantee. She had personally seen murderers get free on technicalities. Anderson had hired a very slick lawyer.
"Nice legs, Jay" a voice from the shadows spoke. "I didn't know you would go for high heels"
She stared at the human silhouette. "Its the way I am built, they are not 'heels'..." It was a little weird, she had to admit. From a certain angle she did look like a very 'leggy' fox, despite her short stature.
"You sure made quite a name for yourself. For a while it looked like television would be 'humans only'" It was very hard to place the tone of the voice. It spoke so carefully neutral, while it at first seemed to be a ploy at amusement, Jay knew her informant was simply 'testing' her. Perhaps wanting to see if her mentality was the same or different...
"You said it was urgent Knight... what's the story?" Jay wanted to get down to business, not idle chit chat.
"Story... what isn't the story? We have been so focused on adapting to the new world, we have done so little in trying to find the 'why'"
Jay's tails twitched slightly, looking very intrigued. "Why? Who says there has to be a why?"
The figure took out a piece of paper and handed it to Jay.
"Satellite Data..." He explained. "There's a satellite up there taking measurements on wavelengths. The light from the sun is an impossibility to known science. Wavelengths change despite no change in the environment in a vacuum, as if it were going through a prism."
"So our science has no explanation..." Jay shrugged. As if that really needed saying. "What about the theory the sun has gained an unknown element?"
"Again, such an element is constrained by the laws of physics. There is only one explanation for these observations. Universal constants must be changing."
"Say what? Knight I'm not a scientist, explain that to me"
"The universe... has always had constants. Numbers that define the state of existence and reality. Planks constant... the speed of light, the cosmological constant " He stressed that one quite heavily. "The sun, our star, is the greatest source of energy in the solar system and also the closest place where space is the most 'warped'.... it 'depends' heavily on these constants for its mere existence... We depend on these constants as well, for life to actually exist."
Jay nodded. "This might make a certain level of sense. I have seen things that can not possibly exist..." His boss actually became two dimensional for one, she thought.
"Yes... But here's the most important thing you must note... according to the satellite, the constants shifted... radiating from our solar system outwards. Its travelling at the speed of light, and affecting other planets... possibly, eventually, stars as well. In just over four years, it will reach proxima centuri... this strikes me as interesting."
"How so?" Jay still didn't really understand.
"It started here... It suggests 'we' did something..."
"That's a little far-fetched isn't it?" Knight never seemed to go for conspiracy theories before...
"Perhaps. But its the only logical conclusion. There is not a star like ours now, anywhere in the universe... the entire universe... but perhaps, because of it, there may well become others. We have to wait to see what will happen to Proxima Centuri first."
Jay thought about it. It made sense that there was a 'universe' in a state of change. It explained why life was taking on so many different kinds of physical laws now.
"Another satellite image..." knight showed it. "That there... was recorded as coming from within 500 miles of this area..."
Jay looked at the pillar of light.
"It was off the charts... like a bomb going off. It also dramatically shifted reality constants for 3 seconds... some would call this force... 'magic'.
Jay suddenly chuckled at that. "Magic?"
"Magic..." Knight said again. "The government is keeping it quiet... but it looks like some of the changed, can employ a force that might as well be called magic. In time, they might decide to pass some kind of control law on them... whatever force did this," He pointed to the light "Its as powerful- if not more powerful then our nuclear warheads. Its just a person as well. Could be anyone."
"Why are you telling me about this?" Asked Jay.
"Because, I don't know if I'll be killed or not in the next twenty four hours. You are my guarantee. If anything happens to me, broadcast that image... as well as every other dirty political scandal I have sent to you over the years. I will send you a signal in the usual manner."
Jay carefully packed the photos away. "Why not just broadcast this information now?"
"There are still secrets... I trust you Jay. Help me on this one, I will give to you what I can."
Jay nodded reluctantly.
"One other thing Jay..."
Jay glanced up.
"Stay on Television. You still got the face for it."
The three tailed fox smirked a little at that.
Hey Zowy!" The snake boy approached her after school ended. He then stared at Athena. "Wow..."
Athena smirked a bit at his reaction. "Who is this Zoe?"
Zoe smiled a bit herself. "Brandon, Brandon meet Athena... he threw a spit-wad at me"
"Oh yeah! About that... We were... totally not thinking it would go 'inside' you. We just wanted to... you know... er..."
"get my attention?" Zoe ventured.
"Yeah! completely! Get your attention." the snake boy's tail coiled around his body. "Its a pretty messed up situation in this school. Did you dig our teacher?" He grinned.
"A centaur? yes... Why weren't you in class Athena?
Athena gestured to her body. "They are making some room for me. I should be there next time. I can't wait to see the new teacher."
"That's a cool stinger... does it actually work?" Brandon asked.
"You want to see it up close?"
"Ha ha..."Brandon laughed with a bit of nervousness about it. "If I get to bite you back" He winked.
Athena looked surprised then laughed herself. "Boys..." she shook her head.
Brandon looked around. "Where's three eyes?
"That's not very nice you know" Zoe said looking mad at him. "Why do you want to know?"
"Ken likes her... he wanted to talk" He smiled a bit. "I think he's trying to get there first before anyone else might."
"Um-" Zoe paused. What could she do? She knew there was no way Harry was ready for this sort of thing. "I- don't actually know where she is now."
"Bummer... Well, I'm sure we'll see her tomorrow. Later!" the snake waved with his tail as he walked away.
"Why didn't you tell him?" Asked Athena
"I think Harry needs time for herself at the moment"
"Your being awfully nice" winked Athena.
"Just when am I not?"
"Oh... never mind." She gestured with her claws waving the topic aside. "Hm? Brandon is coming back. I'll stay quiet about it..."
They saw Brendon quickly run up to them. He seemed to be excited about something. "oh hey! Ken and I were gonna go to Mister Andrews house. We're going to find out what happened to him."
"You know where he lives?" Athena asked
"Oh sure! Last year his house was egged- I mean not that 'we' egged his house, We just knew the dudes that did it-" He tried to explain.
"Sounds like a plan to me" nodded Zoe.
"Then its a date!" he grinned. "Its not too far from the school. Just twenty minutes walk"
"Athena? You want to come too?" Zoe asked.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world girl" she winked.
They were all very curious... what kind of transformation would stop him teaching? Maybe... they could convince him to start up again? There was such a shortage of teachers, and Andrew was one of the best they had.
Harry hanged up her jacket as she arrived home. The peg was a little higher then she remembered now.
She looked at her father, and as always her heart sank a bit. They didn't resemble each other at all. While it was true most of the changed became entirely different species, or worse, there was usually always a family resemblance. Even Jon, who had become part slug, at least resembled her mother, and sister in some ways. You could tell they were family. Sarah the Harpy, clearly resembled her parents despite her new appearance.
No such thing for Harry. She was a completely different ethnicity now. She was shorter, slimmer, her skin a darkened shade. She bore no resemblance at all to her family. Not to her Father, or mother... not to anyone. it was like the light literally washed everything that Harry was until nothing of her old self was left. Sometimes she was afraid they would treat her like she was no longer family.
Her mind had not changed at all though. She could still remember being a fourteen year Caucasian boy.
"Harry," Her father smiled. "How was school?"
Harry smiled back, though a little upset by how the other girls treated her. "I- I made a friend. I think- but- the other girls made fun of me."
"Well at least you made a friend" he looked glad at that. "...I bought some things for you" her father said hesitantly, showing various tampons and sanitary packs. "Your mother liked these brands.. sorry. I don't really know much about it" he looked really uncomfortable about this subject. He really wished his wife was here to deal with this issue. "I'll leave them in the bathroom." Thinking the job done he put them in the cabinet.
Harry at that point just wanted the ground to swallow her up. She didn't want to process this information at all. Not that she had much to go on anyway. She was still holding out hope that maybe it wouldn't happen to her. She had an extra eye, so maybe she wasn't human. Maybe she wouldn't have to deal with it. Some animal transformees found they didn't go through it..."
"T-thanks..." the oriental girl mumbled eventually.
She retreated back to her room. She just wanted to shut down, and not deal with anything more today. She lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, pretending for a moment she still had her old body. If she didn't look at herself, it was almost... almost visually there. But the little things broke the illusion. The extra eye on her forehead did something a little strange with perception. It was like she was looking just a little higher then she remembered looking. The feeling of it too was something she could never get used to. The feeling of her small breasts entombed in a bra, pushing against her clothing, leaving a little cavity underneath...
No, she couldn't hold the illusion long.
At the airport, some of the first flights since the sun changed were starting to leave. Most travelled at night, with human pilots. Some however were now allowing the changed to fly again. Iris wondered how different the flight would be.
"Passport please" The attendant asked iris.
Iris shrugged and gave the passport.
The attendant looked at her... and sighed. "Just a few security questions"
It took quite a bit longer then normal to clear security. Iris gave her name, her maiden name, her date of birth, where she lived, her school, it was all a bit maddening. They looked at the documents she had, and were generally satisfied of her identity.
"Next time miss, please update your passport. There is one final question. Does your form consign any risk to passengers or yourself in flight?"
Iris wasn't sure what to make of that. "I... don't think so."
"Can you sit in the chair and sit down?"
"Um-" Iris had to pause as she considered that question. "I... don't think so." she reluctantly admitted.
The attendant considered her form carefully. "Normally this would disqualify you from flying. However we have adapted an area for the more difficult forms. It would require you to stand up... and you'll have to sign a waver against any injury. Do you accept?"
"I suppose I have no choice..." Iris said. She was glad to just get onto a plane at all. Plane travel was still very difficult to get with the climate of fear.
"Sign here please..."
