Leslie Yawned a bit as he drove the car to the hospital. He hoped Tom was faring well, and he hated to give him the bad news on the laboratory. Still, Leslie felt a certain responsibility to his colleague. There was something too special about Jenny, and that.. something caused the accident. The genetic samples were probably all destroyed, so he would have to start over too.
He went to the receptionist- and was curiously met by a bat-like creature. "Hello?"
"Hi... I'm... here to see Tom?" Leslie hoped his discomfort didn't show too much. He was as tolerant as they came. Even his own children were changed, and he was 'okay' with that... but other people... there was just something a little more jarring about it. Especially the animal-like changed.
"Tom. Ah yes, Insectomorph," the receptionist nodded.
"Insectomorph?"
The receptionist nodded. "The hospital has had to... adapt to numerous species. The doctors are good, but believe me they are stressed out at having to deal with so many different kinds of changed. We've had to employ biologists and veterinarians just to keep up when presented with a new biology."
"What do you do if there is no guideline at all to work with?" Leslie was intrigued. How horrible that can be? If a doctor needed to find a pulse, but didn't know if the creature had a heart, or anything... it must be a very dangerous situation to be in.
"The doctors are good at what they do. We also have certain... specialised transformed people, that can make very good guesses at how our medicines will interact. Artificial beings, and so on are very good at that."
It was at that point Leslie saw a female nurse, that seemed to be an artificial humanoid- though she hat a metallic tail of some kind. Her hand had some kind of strange bluish organish tattoo thing on it too. It was certainly very surreal to look at. Like something out of a sci-fi movie. How curious... was there an association between form and the role one took in life? Still that did not explain Tom's change, nor even that of his children.
"Tom is in room 234," smiled the bat-receptionist.
"Thanks," Leslie took the lift. He was almost thankful that it was empty, but then some other transformed people went in with him. It seemed to be a cat-creature, and one of the mythical changed. A Minotaur. It was looking at him, as if daring him to get out of the lift before his stop. Why this confrontation? Was it because he was human? Of course, that had to be it. In truth, the elder scientist had been feeling small under the weight of all these changed beings. They were depending on him to find a cure. The Minotaur's gaze was probably an accusation.
"Ah.. this is my floor," Said Leslie feigning a smile.
The Minotaur just gave a snort, as he continued his journey on.
"Yikes," breathed Leslie. At least that was over.
Tom was resting in bed, one of his wings bandaged, as was a leg. "Oh- sir," he said quickly. "Rather late night for visitors isn't it? You still on the vampire shift?"
"Oh please don't joke about that. I'm still thinking that the transformations are linked to thought."
"I think therefore I am eh," chuckled Tom. Though the young technician gave a weary sigh. "I heard what happened. I somehow screwed up the lab. I.. I'm sorry," he bit his lip. The ladybird changed wasn't sure what to think. How could he have been so stupid?
The human shook his head. "It wasn't your fault Tom. Other... forces were at work. But I just thank God you're alive and okay," he placed a hand gently on his colleagues carapace. "We'll start over. It might just take some time."
"But the Light Room... all our notes, our genetic samples... what about the insurance?"
"It may cover some things, but not everything." he paused wondering if he should say this next, but decided to convey it. "The government still wishes to continue funding," he said.
"W-what? Really?"
"Yes. I'm being inundated with funding. They still think... we can find a cure." Leslie looked down on that. Those people, still believed in him. He was a great geneticist, but... this was like saying a watchmaker, knew a lot about the force of time. He didn't know how to help them, or even begin to understand what was happening.
"You haven't given up, have you sir?" Asked Tom curiously catching that look in his eye.
Leslie looked up to him. "Given up? No... my children still need me. This is... personal," he said grimacing. If he had to tear up the rules of science, then so be it. There had to be some explanation for all this!"
"Ever wonder what you might turn into in the sunlight?" Asked Tom.
"Constantly, my friend," Leslie admitted. "My wife fears if I may becoming something that would be... unable to continue the work. There is always that possibility." It would sadden him a great deal, if he could not unlock this mystery. But he was confident in the strength of the human mind. If there was a way, he would find it.
"What's the problem with changing anyway? You're not worried you might turn female are you?"
Leslie chuckled at that. "Well, if I did, I would show my son it is nothing to be ashamed of. Though to be honest, I rather not change in -that- way," he said nervously.
Tom gave a wry chuckle. That was always the thing every unchanged human was worried about. Male or female. It didn't happen quite as often to his own circle of friends, but everyone knew someone who knew someone that it did happen to.
"I was thinking about quantum theory," said Tom. "You know. Entanglement. Maybe we're just tangling ourselves to some other world."
Leslie shrugged. "Maybe. I honestly don't know. But you get some rest Tom. We'll be back on our feet, I promise you."
"Don't stay out too late sir, the sun's coming out soon."
Leslie chuckled again shaking his head. Tom always was a bit of a joker.
Anneza clutched Ellen, as they flew threw the starry night sky. Ellen was awestruck at the wonderment of it. The sky was so clear, and they were so high up that they could see every star in its entirety. It was all there, and was one of the most beautiful hues she had ever seen. The doll was tied carefully in a band around Anneza's belt, just in-case the space-girl dropped her. Still she was very careful and considerate to her new companion.
Ellen stared at the space girl. She flew with such grace and freedom, yet her eyes were so sad. So lonely. It was at times like this she wished she really could hug someone, instead of always the one being hugged. That was the difference of their sizes though, and both had language difficulties.
Ellen tried to give an encouraging smile to Anneza, as they continued to speed ignoring boundaries such as roads, hills, crossroads.. (the laws of physics) it was just a straight line to her. She knew where she was going. Ellen figured it must be very cold this high, but neither of them suffered the elements. A very good thing, she realised. She wasn't sure though if that applied to the depths of space for her. She didn't really know what living dolls were actually made of inside. Still, she hoped her companion might take her some day.
Anneza glanced about, feeling the instinct that her destination was close by. Her antenna's bobbed about her head, and it was almost as if she could 'hear' something from them- though it wasn't a sound exactly. She wasn't really sure how it worked, but right now she didn't care. The girl was nervous as anything. She... she just had to see her parents. They were the last shred of evidence that her old self existed at all- well almost.. She glanced at the photo of herself, which she had taken. It would be needed to at least show she was connected to him... she just hoped her parents would believe her- but there was every possibility they would not.
Finally, she descended down.. some distance and discreetly away from prying eyes. There were humans everywhere- especially at the evening. Some glanced at her. This was worse then with the changed- still these ones actually were quite scared, when they saw her floating. They ran away quickly.
Anneza rolled her eyes. This just was so... annoying. Humans were stupid. Why couldn't they just- but then, she was just like them. She would recoil at herself too. She did so, when she saw herself in the mirror every day.
She approached the door to her parents, and rang the door bell.
