“It’s five miligrams,” said Washu. Any less and the effect may be unstable. It must be five milligrams no less.”
“Why don’t you use six to be sure then.”
“Six! Did you just say six?” She turned to her assistant. “Kagato, tell this idiot what’s wrong with using six milligrams.
Kagato yawned and pushed his spectacles closer to his face. He turned to the man, All you need know my friend is that this is science, and science needs precision.” Actually Kagato didn’t know what was wrong with six milligrams either.
Outside, galaxy police officers formed a barricade. Armored officers used there hover cars to surround the entrances and exits. Snipers positioned themselves on the rooftops of nearby buildings.
Kiyone arrived at the scene as quickly as her squad car would allow. She immediately ordered one of the rookies to appraise her of the situation. A nervous looking officer with a crooked tie told her, “All I know is we got a tip that someone named Washu got her hands on something called ‘Nuyu.’”
“Something called Nuyu. Do you know what Nuyu is officer?” Kiyone snapped.
“No ma’am,” answered the now frightened officer.”
“Nuyu is a controlled substance extracted from a flower that grows only on the seventh moon of the fourth planet, on the sixth star in the Copernicus constellation.” Kiyone groaned to see the officer counting on his fingers. “Nuyu, can induce a bio-recombinative reaction in most lifeforms that mimics Gallfreyan regeneration. It’s highly sought after in scientific circles, but due to it’s rarity, and protests from religious institutions, it’s use is strictly controlled. I suggest you brush up on the controlled substances registration, officer,” Kiyone moved close to make a point of reading his badge, “Masaki.”
“So what does it do?”
Kiyone gave him her best, I just explained that look. “It changes your body and the chemical makeup of your brain.”
“Into what?”
“Scientists have yet do deduce a logical pattern. It just changes things okay; and straighten your tie officer.”
As officer Masaki was straightening his tie, the captain called for attention. Kiyone went rigid, suddenly looking much like officer Tenchi had a moment ago. She was supposed to have organized the people of her division, but she just spent too much time picking on the newbie.
The captain told Kiyone that there are no hostages. It was just Washu, Kagato, and a willing volunteer. His plan was to throw some tear gas and rush the lab. Kiyone was assigned to lead the charge.
“Sir,” said Tenchi, “Dr Washu is a weapons genius. The lab might have defenses.”
The captain gave him an angry look. He wasn’t about to let a newbie tell him how to do his job. His anger was matched by Kiyone’s. It’s not that his advice was bad, but she wasn’t about to be embarrassed in front of a superior like this. Tenchi also wanted to point out it was procedure to negotiate first, but he didn’t want to get into real trouble. It made no difference soon they were gearing to rush the lab.
Kagato placed the needle into a vial of Nuyu and began to extract. He mentally counted, one milligram, two miligrams, three miligrams.
A tear gas bomb crashed through the skylight. Her automated weapons disintegrated it immediately. Still Washi stopped what she was doing and turned to check the outdoor cameras.
Kagato dropped the needle on the table.
With an annoyed groan, Kagato pulled a textbook off a nearby shelf to open a secret passage. Kagato and Washu prepared to escape.\
“Wait, what about me!,” screamed a man strapped to a gurney.
“I apologize,” said Kagato, “we don’t have time to complete your treatment, or even untie you.”
“You promised me a new identity. I paid you upfront.”
“Yes and the money will be a big help in furthering our research. Unfortunately you’re attempts to avoid the law have failed. You’ll just have to go to jail for...” Kagato tapped his head trying to remember what crime this person was on the run for. “Oh yes, double homicide.”
As the two scientists disappeared the man struggled at the leather straps.
Thud! The police pounded against the door.
The straps were only there incase the Nuyu caused convulsions, so Kagato never bothered to check him for weapons. He had a small pocket knife and managed to cut one strap. He then untied the rest.
The man grabbed the needle off the table then began pulling books from the shelf. The same book didn’t work twice to open the secret passage. That was just the type of ridiculous trick he expected from Dr Washu.
Before he could figure out which book to pull the police burst through the door.
He held the hypodermic needle menacingly. It was his only weapon.
The officers were prepared for a firefight, they should have been able to handle one guy with a needle. What they didn’t count on was Tenchi tripping on a book as soon as he entered the room. Though he had a riot shield, Tenchi was just far enough off balance that the man was able to lunge at him with the needle. Seeing what was about to happen, Kiyone lunged into his path. She felt the needle stab her in the breast.
Kiyone lay trembling slightly.
There was some noise as the man was subdued and carried away, then it was quiet as they waited for a stretcher. Tenchi held Kiyone’s hand. “I’m sorry. This is all my fault.”
“Damn right it’s your fault,” Kiyone struggled to say. “She was acting tough. Being hard on a subordinate was the only thing that gave her any sense of control. It wasn’t working though. Tenchi was too understanding and he didn’t fight back.
“I expect you to take full responsibility,” she commanded. Tenchi just nodded in agreement.
“How are you feeling.”
Her body was very hot, impossibly hot, and her cheeks turned red. “A little numb. Hey maybe that needle was just an anesthetic, maybe I won’t...”
“I don’t want to go.”
Kiyone’s body began to glow with an ominous phosphorescence.
Her vision blurred. She tried to focus on Tenchi, but she couldn’t tell him apart from the sounds. The sounds had such beautiful colors. Was her life flashing before her eyes? Or was this the first stage where brain chemistry reconfigured? With nothing external to focus on she turned her thoughts inward. Police work! Police work was her life. Kiyone imagined helping old ladies across the street, or going to schools and talking to k1ds about saying no to drugs. She’d done these things, but why was she thinking of them so fondly? She always thought about promotions and higher profile cases. She remembered, her first assignment as a crossing guard. Why didn’t she enjoy it more? Sunny days, friendly people. All she ever thought about was the next step up. Popsicles. Kiyone never liked popsicles. She wanted to try one again, somehow she imagined it would be different. Maybe grape.
While Kiyone experienced the change from inside her head, Tenchi watched from the outside. She was becoming a different person. Not some twisted variation of herself, just a different person.
She was darker skinned, though it could just be a tan. Would the drug cause tanning? Her hair lightened and curled into a puffy unruly mess of blond. the eyes which had been open all this time, were bigger more expressive. She had a buttoned nose, and cheekbones poised such that smiles were sure to come naturally.
The girl gasped. She was having trouble breathing. Tenchi panicked for a moment, then realized her armored vest was too tight. He loosened it, and even tore her shirt a little in the front. Tenchi blushed, trying not to focus on her expanding bossom.
She thought about her father. So many things had a different color now, but she still felt the same about him. She remembered them lying in the grass and looking at the stars together. He was Japanese, he had other names for the stars. One name was hoshi. He even called her My hoshi, that’s a nice name. It used to embarrass her, but now it sounded like such a nice name. Mihoshi.
At last she opened her eyes. Tenchi was still holding her hand. she blushed a little. Gone were thoughts of reprimanding a subordinate. What was it Tenchi promised? He promised to take responsibility.
Fri Mar 09 00:28:20 2012
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