Jon settled himself into the tub in Karyn's family's guest bathroom, trying to avoid thinking about what it would feel like when his body finally dissolved into goo. Altogether, Jon was in fact very pleased with the outcome of his wish. He had hoped that he could surprise himself and Karyn by making this sort of wish, being quite specific on certain aspects of the outcome but deliberately vague on the details. Jon trembled nervously. He was not exactly fearing for his life; but as Karyn had explained from her impression of Lisa's description, the sensations involved in the final transformation were extremely unpleasant.
Jon heard only muffled voices from downstairs, but he could tell someone's emotions were running hot.
"Look, I know it seemed like a good idea to you, it's just-- you're not human anymore. There's always going to be that nagging doubt. Is my Karyn really still here?" Bruce paced nervously around the kitchen. "Or did some lab-grown creature eat her brain, absorb her memories, and start thinking it was my little girl? Or maybe it knows it isn't, and is just waiting for the chance to snack on some more brains. Look, I know this is Syfy B-movie shit I'm talking here, but let's face the facts: somehow you are a shapeshifting blob of goo and that puts into question just what else is possible."
"Daddy..." Karyn sobbed. Somehow, in human form, all the normal human emotional reflexes still came as naturally as breathing to her. "I talked to the doctor who did this to me. He'll answer any questions you have, I'm sure. You'll get a tour of the lab. Please, just believe me-- I am your daughter, Karyn, the real one. I'm different now, but you're still my family. To not be trusted, it would..."
"It would hurt. From someone you love, it would be like getting stabbed in the chest," Bruce nodded.
Karyn regarded the knife rack with a sly smirk, picking up the large chef's knife. "I know what you mean, but we're going to have to figure out a better simile." Without batting an eye, she plunged the knife deep into her chest, slightly left of center. It came out clean, leaving a thin gray gooey gash that quickly vanished.
"Heh," chuckled Bruce. "I guess there isn't much that could hurt you, physically."
"Just because I don't have a heart doesn't mean I don't have feelings," said Karyn softly, hugging her father.
Upstairs, Jon sighed in relief, not hearing the words but only the tone, and the tension vanishing. He relaxed, and tried to ignore thinking about the steadily increasing strange twinges he was feeling in his belly. He swallowed his second pill from Dr. Chester, and in five minutes drifted to sleep, mercifully spared from the experience of going through the transformation while conscious.
"I'm sorry I questioned you like that. I'll tell you what. It occurred to me that you might be able to do something with your abilities that you would find absolutely exhilarating. I know a good state park, out of the way, we can have a picnic out there too. Would that help make up for things?" Bruce seemed hopeful.
"What is it you think I could do?" Karyn wondered.
"Fly."
