Mr Gordon spoke on the phone to the labs, trying to get the latest results. He had sent skin and hair samples of his children before and after their transformation. He had been able to acquire them all fairly easily from their rooms. He was only kicking himself for not having an untainted blood sample to study. He was assured it was not a problem, they could do a few tests on the DNA of only a few skin flakes...
"Tell me the results," he said on the phone.
There was a pause.
"Negative change? I don't understand.. why doesn't the sunlight change a single unchanged human cell?" There had to be something! "Go on to phase two. Yes I know it's expensive, but I don't think we have a choice. Perhaps the light is only reactive against living and dividing cells..."
Phase two was to take the human samples, and place the genetic material into blanked out cancer cells. It was a very normal procedure when one wanted to create certain proteins specific to an individual. However Mt Gordon had a different idea in mind.
"Expose the hybrid cells to the sunlight, and see if any reaction takes place... if we can understand the reaction, perhaps we can then figure out a way to undo it... yes, well, you better start immediately then. I don't need to tell you how many people are depending on us to find a cure."
He had to wipe his dry lip as he put the phone down. The man took out his note book, writing down all the findings so far.
Mr Gordon knew that since his children changed their actual gender, it would make genetic control tests a great deal easier. All they had to do was look for changes in the sex chromosomes for any further reaction.
Tests such as those were done with incredible ease. It would allow them to work out if one of their cells changed or not in the sunlight. This of course, operated under the assumption that changes were set.. a person with a particular genetic code was always fated to gain a particular form. It seemed a reasonable assumption, given people were stuck and not able to change again. A DNA fingerprint test further ensured that there were no changes, in case this assumption was untrue.
So far, ordinary cells they leave behind were not subject to change by the sun. Phase two should yield more interesting results, he hoped. He was still waiting on the DNA results from the changed cells... he wanted to see how far removed the code was from humanity. The common thread might at the least reveal the code of sentience itself- a very low priority in his head, but a possibility all the same.
He felt terrible at seeing his son Billy cry so much. He would do anything to make him himself again. If he could just work this out!
"There is no such thing as magic... this is science. There has to be a logical explanation for this event. Just like Malaria..." That disease he knew so well. Named for 'bad air' it was thought to be caused by odours. Now scientists understood the nature of the disease and have been fighting it ever since... they didn't try to freshen up the air and call that a cure!
This sunlight.. baffled him. He had no idea just what it was. He had another lab looking into the nature of the sunlight itself. They used various prisms to study the light spectroscopically. The results there were very strange. One scientist was trying to tell him that the results suggested constants were changing every time they checked! Which was of course ludicrous. The speed of light remained constant in the same environment! That was just a basic principle.
That side of the operation was almost entirely populated by the changed... nobody else would dare work with the light. Although there were a few unchanged humans, eager to prove their metal.. or their foolishness.
They were all brave people... he had to check on them on a more personal level later. The rest of his projects had to wait. The cure to this plague, took top priority.
He glanced at the clock.. That was a long phone call. He best get back to Abigail.
Abigail was glad to see her husband, and gave him a kiss.
"Hey..."
"Hi there," Mr Gordon said warmly. "You okay?"
"Yes.. come, we have guests."
"I'm waiting on a fax dear-"
"It can wait honey.. come. Billy made a friend."
"Really?" Mr Gordon looked thrilled at that. He thought Billy was starting to get... really worrying. When Abigail suggested he go outside to the park and have fun... the young father was quite concerned. Still she insisted that the two go as they always did, and took care of each other.
He saw the strange insect-like woman, with an arched eyebrow. His analytical mind was already working frantically... could tests from her work out a cure? It was almost as if, her immune system might have held back some of the change... this was important!
"Nice to meet you," he said offering his hand. "I'm Leslie Gordon"
Muriel shook the man's hand. "Nice to meet you. This is my daughter, Jenny. Your... daughter... invited us over."
"Stacy?" he asked.
Billy looked down slightly.
"I mean... Billy," Muriel explained delicately.
Oh snap! Mr Gordon didn't mean anything by that. This was just confusing. "Sorry... Billy." He said putting a hand on the two tailed squirrel girl's shoulder.
The squirrel girl looked down sadly. It was almost as if she looked... disappointed in herself over something? It was hard to tell what it was.
"Why don't you two kids set the table" Asked Mrs Gordon. "Your guests I'm sure are hungry."
"Yes mom," said Billy and Stacy together. The two went further inside the house, to set up a table in the living room.
"What's wrong Billy," Asked Stacy as he took out a plate.
"Sis? D-do you .. think.. um..." The squirrel girl looked a little more upset. "'cause I grew'ed down.. am I.. dumber?" she asked.
"No you ain't dumb," Stacy said forcefully.
"Dad's smart.. I wanted to be like him.. an'... now I can never be." she said softly.
"You still can. You aren't dumb Billy, you just got younger. You're gonna be okay. You need to grow up again."
"But... I can't even do stuff I used to do. Like math an' words an' readin' an..." the squirrel girl sniffled but relaxed as stacy gave her a hug.
"You're still my big brother to me. An' I'm gonna protect you forever. But I'm gonna teach you all the stuff you forgot. 'kay?" He wanted Billy to know he would always be there for her, but wasn't going to prevent her growing up. While he meant well these last few days, Billy had to learn to stand up for herself too.
"T-thanks sis," the squirrel girl said meekly as she took out a few more cutleries for their guests. It wasn't all bad... at least she got to play again. Actually.. the name Billy was starting to sound weird to her, like she was having trouble 'holding' it. It was weird... but she didn't want to let her family worry about it so kept silent.
Jenny held her Mom's hand as she walked towards the table. She could smell something really nice. She wondered what her new friend's family made?
Although she was a little worried by the look the man was giving her mom. It wasn't 'threatening' exactly, but he looked really interested. Not just in her mother, but also herself. She didn't understand what they were talking about though.
Something about their human side fighting an illness? Samples? Her mom was acting quite polite over it though.
The white haired girl really enjoyed playing... when was the last time she played like that? She... couldn't remember. Did she even have friends before? Were they... just as worried as her real parents would be?
But then... she was a bad girl before, wasn't she? That would be the reason... why had she been so bad? She didn't know. She couldn't remember what horrible thing she did. But however many times she said sorry in her head, the bad feeling just never went away. The only way she felt any better was by holding her mom's hand...
It wasn't long in Tim's house before they heard the sound of a thump of someone 'landing'. It was of course, Melody... She had gone to the bathroom to wash herself and seemed to be taking a while with barely a word.
Eventually Tim knocked the door. "sis? Your food's getting cold," He said.
"Yeah.. I'm coming," she said.
Stacy came out, with a change of clothes. She was still feeling guilty that she let her... changed outlook override her common sense. She didn't know why she felt so territorial. Was it because of.. those E-Eggs?
She shuddered putting that image away. For now she was feeling ravenously hungry. It made her feel a little better though that there were other dragon-girls out there... she wasn't alone in this.
