While aiding Branek with editing his own story, Melvin a Whateley Tale.
We came up with the idea to join forces so to speak and collaborate with
each other to create two stories that take place with some of the same
characters during the same time lines. We have added yet another to our
little group of conspirators, so don't forget to go read Shadowsblade's
story also. I would say that all our tales are works in progress and
some of that progress does depend on how well or badly the stories are
reviewed. So your comments do make a difference, make sure to post those
comments!
Chapter 18
Once Carl saw that the two nurses did in fact begin to follow the orders
Larry had given them, Carl left the lab in search of Larry, the last
thing he needed was Larry telling the family that Mr. Lekka was now Miss
Lekka. The first thing Carl needed to do was determine if the machine
had anything to do with the gender change and age regression. If Larry's
devise did that to him, no he could not think like that, Larry may be
strange but he was never wrong, Carl would have to prove that before the
press got hold of this story. Finding Larry at a table in the staff
cafeteria Carl sat down across the table from him.
"Larry?" Carl watched as Larry shoveled the food on the tray in front of
him into his mouth, "Is there any possibility that your devise caused
him to change?"
Larry looked up across the table at Carl with a confused look, speaking
with a mouthful of food, "My devise only regulates the temperatures and
circulates the stasis fluid."
"What about the fluid?"
"Not a devise, Just simple cryogenic fluid combined with a nutrient
solution." Larry swallowed what was in his mouth. "Any moron can
reproduce the stasis fluid."
"There will be an investigation."
"Why?" Larry dropped the fork he held onto the tray. "My devise worked
flawlessly, I will need to create something so it will detect something
like this in the future. How was I to know our first test subject was a
mutant going through burnout? I thought you said his injuries came from
a house fire?"
"He was from a house fire."
"Did you happen to ask what caused the fire?" Larry's eye brows arched
upward.
Realizing Larry had a point Carl got up from the chair. "Alright, I need
to go check on the patient. Are you going to be okay here?" Larry nodded
and began shoveling food once again. "Then I will have to talk to the
relatives and explain what happened." Larry nodded again.
###
Kelly followed the nurse though a door into another room. The short row
lockers and benches along each side told Kelly this was some type of
locker room for the staff. Through there he was led into a large
bathroom that had several shower stalls along the wall and toilets along
the opposite wall. "Okay lets get that gunk cleaned off you okay
sweetie?"
Kelly was already too overwhelmed with everything that had happened
today to care that this woman treating her like he was some kind of kid.
All the fighting, that one asshole calling him a whore, as if he was
even female and then the little Japanese girl that fought like she was
some kind of Samurai god or goddess in her case. Being really short and
treated like a kid was the sanest this nightmare has been so far.
The nurse turned on the water, checking its temperature before turning
and helping Kelly out of the doctors coat. "Jump on it sweetie, I made
sure the water wasn't too hot."
Reaching his hand into the cascading water, Kelly felt its temperature
for himself before stepping in. Once he was in the water the nurse
stepped away for a minutes, Kelly saw her now standing on the other side
of the low walls of the stall wearing a plastic coat, that looked almost
like a rain poncho with gloves made for the hands.
The nurse began working on Kelly's long hair. "I'm surprised you haven't
said anything?"
"What do you want me to day?" To Kelly his voice sounded squeaky very
much like a little girl. "Not like any of this is real, this has been
one big nightmare from the beginning."
"Sweetie I hate to tell you this, but this is real." The nurse continued
working on hair that could not be his own. "You are at the Atlanta
Regional Hospital, you're in the burn center."
"Sure it is." Kelly's high pitched voice annoyed him. "Next thing you're
going to tell me is that woman can really turn herself into a battle
axe!"
The nurse chuckled. "I know a few I think of as an old battle axe but I
doubt they can turn into a real axe."
"So the axe woman is not real?" Kelly asked. "What about the ferryman,
the one who brought me back across the river Styx?"
"No sweetie, those don't really exist."
Kelly was truly confused now, how could his dream nurse not know of the
others in the dream if he was still dreaming? Damn when would he wake
up? When would the nightmare end? "Okay if I was burned so badly that
they sent me here, why don't I have any burn marks on this body?"
"You're a mutant sweetie,and a really cute on at that. I doubt anyone
would even guess if it wasn't for your eyes."
"My eyes?"
"They are a very unusual color. When we're done here you can see for
yourself in the mirror."
Once the nurse had finished rinsing out His hair, Kelly reached for the
handle to turn off the water. "Hold on sweetie we ain't done quite yet!"
The nurse grabbed his hand. "We gotta put some conditioner in your hair
or else we'll never get a brush through it." Kelly stood still and let
her use the conditioner to wash his hair a second time.
"I feel like a little kid doing this!" Kelly groaned.
"Sorry to say this but with how you look it's hard not to treat you like
one."
"Okay so if this is real, when do I get to see Helen?"
"Who's Helen?" the nurse asked.
Hah! Kelly thought, That proves I am still in the nightmare! How could
she not know who Helen is, either Helen is waiting or she would be in
the hospital too and the nurse would know that! At the very least Helen
would be listed on whatever paperwork they have.
After rinsing the conditioner out of Kelly's hair, the nurse reached
over and turned off he water before wringing out what water she could
from Kelly's hair. Wrapping Kelly's hair in one towel, the nurse then
wrapped another around her body, up under her arms. "Are you going to be
okay if we go to a mirror?"
"Why wouldn't I be okay?"
"Well sweetie I'm not sure what you looked like before, but it can't be
anything like you look now."
"When I wake up, I'll have a good laugh over this crap." Kelly realized
he giggled like a little girl when he laughed.
The nurse led Kelly over to a counter that had several sinks built into
it and a large mirror along the back wall. Standing behind Kelly with
both hands gently but firmly on Kelly's upper arms, the nurse turned
Kelly so she was looking straight at the mirror.
Kelly saw the girl in the mirror looking back at him. The nurse was
right that girl was very cute with her large almond shaped eyes and
slightly upturned nose. A white towel wrapped around her like women
always did, along with another with another towel on her head turban
like concealing her wet hair. Her skin had a medium olive complexion
which reminded Kelly of the younger woman from the last part of this
dream, her skin has looked exactly the same tone much like many of the
Greeks and other southern Europeans he had spend many years around.
Everything about the girl's looks screamed small innocent little angel
except for her eyes. Kelly leaned forward over the counter to get a
better look at the eyes.
The first thing that stood out about her eyes was the color. Reds,
oranges and yellows made up the color of her irises. The colors almost
looked like flames that began at the outer part of the iris that pointed
in toward the pupil. Her pupils seemed to have shorter radiating lines
of black that make her pupils appear as if they were tiny black suns in
the center of the bright red, orange and yellow irises. The whole effect
made it seem as if her eyes were on fire.
"Whoa!" Kelly sputtered. "Those are some freaky eyes!"
"You know," the nurse standing behind her informed, "some colored
contacts could hide those easily." Kelly continued looking at the image
of the girl in the mirror. "If you think you're going to be okay, I'll
go grab some things so we can dry your hair." Kelly nodded, not taking
his eyes off the mirror. The nurse stepped out and was back in less than
three minutes with a hair brush in one hand and a blow dryer in the
other.
"Think you can hop up and sit on the counter for me sweetie?" the nurse
asked as she plugged in the blow dryer. Kelly jumped on the counter and
sat with her side to the mirror, one leg dangling off the edge of the
counter. Unwrapping the towel from the girls head, the nurse began blow
drying her hair.
Twisting around to look at the nurse. "Thank you," Kelly said.
"For what?" The nurse smiled at the child.
"For trying to help me." Kelly returned the smile. "I'm Kelly."
"So you've already picked a new name?" The nurse realized the girl would
have to do this, but so soon? While she did not have any experience with
mutations but coming to terms with such drastic changes this quickly
could not be healthy.
"No that's what my name has always been. I guess it works for boys or
girls, although I guess I will have to pick a new middle name. I don't
think Michael will work now." Kelly giggled.
"I think you've got a point there sweetie." The nurse smiled wider. "My
name's Nancy."
"Thank you for helping with all this hair Nancy." Kelly frowned. "I've
never had my hair long enough to even run a comb through it since boot
camp. I wouldn't know what to do."
"Well then you best pay attention, as I'm sure they'll be sending you
home within the next day or two."
"Home?" Kelly's face went pale as he remembered the house fire. "The,
the fire wasn't a dream. I don;t have a home anymore." Kelly's eyes
watered up and she began to sob.
Nancy put the brush down as she turned off the blow dryer then wrapped
her arms around the small girl trying to console her. "It's going to be
okay sweetie, you have family here. Mr. Kontos has been here since they
brought you in."
"Jake's here?" Kelly sniffed back the tears.
"Refuses to leave from what I hear." Nancy smiled at the girl she was
holding.
"OH SHIT!" Kelly shouted. "Jake can't see me like this!"
"That's why we're getting you cleaned up and presentable sweetie."
"No I mean... I'm a girl!" Kelly hands clutched onto Nancy like her life
depended on not letting go. "This can't be real, it can't be!"
Nancy hugged the girl tight. "It's okay sweetie, cry it out. I'm here
and I got you." Nancy knew the small girl she held was probably older
than her and a mutant no less, but the girl seemed so fragile she
couldn't have stopped herself from consoling the girl if she wanted to.
"Everything alright Nancy?" The nurse that had been sent to find Kelly
some clothes walked in from behind them.
"Yes, everything will be fine," Nancy answered. "Reality just caught up
with her is all."
"I found some underwear and some scrubs that should fit her over in the
children's ward." The other Nurse sat a stack of folded clothing on the
counter. "I think everything should fit her alright." The other nurse
turned to leave. "Oh, doc Peters wants to see her soon as you are done
in here."
Seeing that the small girls crying had ran its course Nancy went back to
drying and brushing out Kelly's hair after helping her to wash her face.
Reaching over to the clothes the other nurse had brought Nancy found a
pair of pastel pink panties and held them out in front of Kelly. "Okay
sweetie lets get you dressed."
"You can't be serious?" Kelly looked at the pink underwear.
"What's wrong?" Nancy seemed confused.
"They're girl's panties!"
"Uh yea." Nancy looked directly into Kelly's fiery eyes. "They kind of
fit the situation. Now step into them." Nancy held the panties so that
Kelly could put them on.
"But they are pink!" Kelly continued to protest.
"It's underwear, and any girl will tell you that you do not want to go
without them," Nancy explained. "What color they happen to be doesn't
matter, it's not like you're going to go around flashing everyone are
you?"
Kelly shook her head, realizing that Nancy was right, no one would see
what color of underwear she had on and lifted her leg so that Nancy
could help her put them on. Once the panties were pulled into place, the
towel that had covered her body was tossed onto the counter. Nancy then
held up a training bra for Kelly to put on.
Looking down at her chest, Kelly saw the had the beginnings of breasts
but nothing anywhere near large enough to require a bra. "Do I really
need to wear that?"
"It's not for support," Nancy explained. "It's for protection. You're
going to be very sensitive there since it appears that you have began
puberty. A shirt rubbing against your breasts all day long will be very
irritating."
Holding up her arms, Kelly let Nancy help her put on the training bra
and adjust it in place. It felt strange to have it on but Kelly did have
to admit her chest didn't seem to jiggle so much with it on. "It looked
like its a tad too small for you," Nancy said as she inspected her work.
"You'll have to get measured for a proper fit when you get home, I think
you may be a bit too large for training bras and need to move up to a
regular bra, but this will do for now."
Now dressed in pink underwear and bra, Kelly's resistance to wearing
clothing that screamed girl died and he put on the scrubs that had been
brought for her to wear, which was also a pastel pink color. Slipping on
the pink flip flops she let Nancy lead her out of the womens locker
room.
Chapter 19
Nancy led Kelly out a different door that opened into a hallway. Kelly
kept her head down trying to avoid letting anyone see her eyes as the
two walked down the hall, Nancy gently holding Kelly's hand the whole
way. They made a turn into another hall and a short ways down that hall
Nancy stopped in front of a door. Kelly saw the plaque on the wall
beside the door read. "Exam Rm 9." When no one answered the knock Nancy
opened toe door and led Kelly into what was obviously a standard
doctor's examination room. A padded exam table occupied the center of
the room. Off to one side sat a cushioned metal chair, on the other side
of the exam table a metal stool on wheels sat between the exam table and
a counter that had a small sink. Above and below the counter were
cabinets with various sized drawers that were labeled to show what must
be their contents.
Motioning to a scale on one side. "Let's get your weight first sweetie."
Kelly stepped up on the scale and Nancy adjusted the weights until she
was satisfied. "Seventy eight pounds!" Nancy stated as she pulled the
height scale up that was attached to the scale and checked Kelly's
height. "fifty four inches, that makes you four foot six."
"I shrunk!" Kelly quavered.
"I think you're about average for your apparent age." Nancy replied
while picking up a tablet off the counter. "Let me get that info into
your chart. Could you jump up on the bed while I do that?"
"My apparent age?" Kelly quizzed.
"Yes, you look to be just starting puberty so you are somewhere between
the ages of nine to thirteen," Nancy informed the small girl. "I would
say eleven but the Doc will be able to determine that better once the
exam is complete. Now up on the table please sweetie."
Nodding her head, Kelly went to the side of the exam table before
realizing she was too short to get on it without help, noticing it had a
step built into the end, Kelly went over to that using it to get up on
the table.
After taking her blood pressure and temperature, which she noted on the
tablet also Nancy smiled. "Okay I'm going to go get doc Peters, you
going to be okay here for a few minutes by yourself?"
"I'll be fine." Kelly smiled.
"Good, I'm glad you're doing okay so far with what has happened." Nancy
stepped over to one of the cupboards above the sink pulling out a
hospital gown. "Doc's probably gonna want to give you a complete
physical so strip out of those clothes and put this one sweetie."
Handing Kelly the gown.
"Why did you have me put these on, knowing I had to take them back off?"
"For one, to give you some modesty. You didn't want to walk over here
showing everyone your tush did you?" Nancy grinned. "Once the Doc is
done you can put your clothes back on."
Kelly remembered how much he hated physicals, especially the prostrate
exam. "Is, is this a full physical? Prostrate exam and all?"
Nancy chuckled. "No, no prostrate exam. We don't need them." Seeing how
Kelly cocked her head giving Nancy a confused look. "Women don't have
prostrates sweetie." Kelly sighed in relief. Nancy pulled the privacy
curtain out enough to conceal Kelly from the door before she left.
Once undressed Kelly put on the backless gown and climbed back up on the
table. Sitting there waiting, Kelly began to realize the pink underwear
and scrubs were not so bad compared to the hospital gown and wished she
still had them on. It was not long before Nurse Nancy and the doctor
that had pulled Kelly out of the tank of nasty jello came into the room.
"Hello Kelly!" The doctor smiled at Kelly. "I'm sure you are feeling
much better now that you've had the chance to get that slime off you."
"Yes, thank you." Kelly nodded.
"Okay since your manifestation caused such an extreme change I would
like to do a complete physical on you, is that okay?"
"Can, can Nancy stay?" Kelly begged.
"Of course I'll stay sweetie!" Kelly felt the warmth of Nancy's smile.
"Yes of course," the doctor stated. "It's procedure when a male doctor
examines a female patient that a nurse be present." Stepping over and
sitting down on the metal stool. "So what can you remember, that is
before we pulled you out of the tank?"
"Um, it's kinda confusing," Kelly began. "I remember the people
attacking the house and the firebomb, but it feels kinda like the weird
dreams I was having too. Both seems so real but not at the same time."
"Dreams?" the doctor asked.
"Yea," Kelly continued. "In one I my old C.O. had put me in the motor
pool as punishment for a bar fight I had gotten into off base. That
really did happen but it was a long time ago. Then these two women came
and talked me into helping them rescue the one woman's little girl from
Nazis. There was allot of fighting and we saved the girl, but the girl
was no ordinary little girl, she took the battle axe that the one woman
had turned into and went freaking ape-shit on the remaining Nazis
tearing them into hamburger with the Axe after it grew."
"That sounds like your mind was trying to cope with the pain and
situation you were going through," the doctor stated. Kelly nodded
knowing turning into a girl was crazy, but the dream was too far out
there to be real.
The doctor began Kelly's physical, doing his best to explain what he was
doing as he went. Finally reaching what Kelly thought was the end, the
doctor stated. "Okay only one more thing to do. I know it's
uncomfortable and embarrassing but all women go through it."
Knowing what the doctor was referring to Nancy spoke up. "Is that
necessary at her age Doctor?"
"On a normal person I would say no, but with Kelly I think we need to
know if the changes she has underwent are complete."
"Sweetie." Nancy took Kelly's hand. "Remember how I said women don't get
a prostrate exam?" Kelly nodded. "Well there is another one a different
one that women have to go through."
Kelly's eyes went wide as she bean to realize what Nancy was telling
her. "You, No, no way! I don't want anything stuck up my..."
"We all go through it sweetie, it's uncomfortable but it doesn't hurt,"
Nancy apologized. "I'll be right here holding your hand okay? Now lay
back for the doctor."
Completing the external exam the doctor produced a clear plastic
Speculum that was sealed in clear plastic from a drawer in the exam
table. Showing it to Kelly then explaining that this was the smallest
one available, specifically sized for teenage girls and that he would be
as gentle and quick as he could. Kelly gripped Nancy's hand tightly when
she heard the doctor rip the package open. "Now is going to feel cold,"
The doctor stated. When the cold plastic touched her Kelly screamed.
Nancy had been holding the scared child's hand when the doctor started
to inset the speculum. Kelly began to scream then suddenly the exam
table was covered in red smoke and Kelly was behind the head of the
exam.
"COLD!" Kelly screamed at the doctor. "Holy fucking shit! Why don't you
let me dunk your balls in a glass of ice water so you know how that
feels!"
Both Nancy and the doctor stared at Kelly their jaws agape. Nancy was
the first to say something. "Kelly sweetie, how did you get over there?"
"I jumped!" Kelly was not finished yelling. "You'd jump too if someone
put something that cold on your, your, well down there!"
"Kelly you did not jump." The doctor finally found his voice. "I believe
your mutation allows you to teleport."
"I did what?" Kelly looked to Nancy as her jaw fell. Nancy nodded.
"You disappeared from the table and reappeared over where you are now
Kelly." The doctor stated.
"Oh my god!" Kelly's hand flew up covering her mouth. "The woman in the
dream could do that!" She spoke barely above a whisper.
"Can you do it again?" the doctor asked.
"I don't know, I don't know how I did it that time?"
"Okay, It's nothing to be concerned about Dear," The doctor cautioned.
"Can you get back on the table while I see what I can do about warming
this up a bit?" Kelly nodded then began walking slowly back around the
table to get back on it. Holding the device in his gloved hands until it
had absorbed some of the warmth from his hand the doctor tried again.
This time Kelly did not vanish, but squeezed Nancy's hand hard.
"Sweetie, not so tight," Nancy winced. "you're extremely strong."
"Sorry." Kelly looked up at Nancy releasing some of the pressure as a
tear ran down the side of her cheek. "I, I can feel it."
"I know sweetie." Nancy squeezed Kelly's hand. "It's very
uncomfortable."
"No." Kelly kept her eyes focused on Nancy. "I can feel myself wanting
to jump. I think I know how I do it."
"Okay all done." The doctor removed the speculum from Kelly. "One last
thing, now this is almost as uncomfortable but necessary Kelly. Can you
not teleport on me please?"
"I think so," Kelly chocked out.
Kelly gasped when she felt the doctor's finger penetrate her. Tears
streaked down her cheeks as she fought the urge to jump away from the
fingers that had invaded her while his other hand pushed down against
her stomach. "Okay al ldone, no more invasive tests. And Kelly it
appears that you are one hundred percent female now."
"Oh goody. Lucky me," Kelly deadpanned.
Nancy looked down at the girl. "Yes it is lucky. Much better than being
halfway or any other strange combination that could and has occurred
with some mutants."
"What could be worse that being turned into a girl?"
"Try snake scales instead of skin?" the doctor assured. "Or tentacles
instead of arms and legs?"
Kelly averted her eyes from the two. "I, I guess being a girl isn't that
bad."
"Hey its has its perks!" Nancy chimed in. "Bat those pretty eyes a
couple times and I bet you can get the boys to do most anything for
you." Kelly groaned at that remark. Nancy turned to the doctor doing
exactly that, batting her eyes and striking a pose, and in her best
southern bell accent. "Doctor would you be so kind as excusing us so
that I can help Miss Kelly get properly dressed? I do believe she has
exposed herself enough for one day and would like to regain her
modesty." The doctor smirked at Nancy's antics then left the room. "See
it works!" Nancy chuckled, Kelly fought it but found herself giggling
along with Nancy.
Chapter 20
Mark and Jake waited as patiently as they could in the small room the
nurse that had came out to get them, led them to. She had said the
doctor was finishing up an exam and would be there as soon as he was
done, and that he needed to speak to Kelly's next of kin. Both men
feared the worst as they sat waiting in the overstuffed chairs. They did
not wait for more than five minutes although it was five minutes that
seemed to take hours before the Doctor came in and sat down in a chair
opposite of the two men.
"How's Kelly?" Jake barked just as the doctor sat down.
"Mr. Kontos, Mr. Payne, I'm Doctor Peters. I head the burn unit here at
the hospital."
"Is Kelly..." Mark choked on his words.
"Mr. Kontos, In our records you are the next of kin for Kelly Lekka."
Doctor Peters looked at Jake then to Mark. "Patient confidentiality as
it is, this can only be discussed with immediate family."
Jake looked over at Mark. "Don't worry I'll be right out to tell you
everything." Mark nodded, pissed to be sure but he understood the
Doctor's reluctance.
Once The door closed behind Mark the doctor began, "Okay this is a very
complicated situation Mr. Kontos."
"Is Kelly dead?"
"Mr. Kontos, that is part of the complication. No Kelly is not dead, but
he doesn't look like himself anymore."
"I kinda figured that," Jake clucked.
"Mr. Kontos, you seem like the type that doesn't beat around the bush so
I'll just come out with it. Mr. Lekka is a mutant."
Jake's eyes widened at hearing this. "That can't be true, I've known a
few mutants they don't manifest that late in life."
"From what has occurred and the facts that we do have, we have come to
the conclusion that Kelly Lekka was a low level mutant to begin with. He
probably didn't even know himself."
"Okay if that is true then how do we suddenly know he is one now?"
"Kelly has completely healed all injuries from the fire, including any
previous injuries and or scars he had prior to the fire."
"So Kelly's alright!" Jakes eyes lit up.
"Yes physically Kelly is fine, better than fine."
"So when do we get to see him?" Jake leaned forward toward the doctor.
"Mr. Kontos, this is not the same Kelly that you know, at least not
outwardly. Kelly appears to be the same person on the inside but the
outward changes were drastic."
"What are you saying?" Jake barked. "He's not some kind of monster now
is he?"
"No, quite the contrary, other than an unusual eye color she appears
completely human in all respects."
Jake scooted a bit further forward in the chair. "Then what's all this
bull..." Jake paused realizing what the doctor had said. "You said she?"
"Yes Mr. Kontos I did." Doctor Peters sighed heavily. "Kelly has the
body of an eleven year old girl."
"WHAT!" Jake gasped.
"A little girl that is scared to death of how you will react when you
see her," the doctor explained. "I believe she really looks up to you.
Not sure how far you two go back, but she really needs her friend right
now."
"Anything he, um, she needs." Jake began to choke up. "Anything, cost is
no object, you make sure she gets it! When can I see her?"
"I assume with that reaction you are more than ready to help her?"
"Doc if it was not for Kelly I would not be standing here today! Him,
her makes no difference, it's Kelly and that is what matters."
"I'm glad you feel that way." The Doctor stood up. "I can take you to
see her now."
Mark was standing in the hall right outside as the door opened. Jake
held up his hand before Mark could say a word. "Kelly is alive and okay.
I'll let you know the rest later." Jake continued following the doctor.
"I'll meet you in the waiting room in a bit."
Nancy watched as Kelly sat on the couch in the doctor's lounge twirling
a lock of her hair in her fingers. "There is no need to be so nervous
sweetie."
Looking up at the woman who had one arm around Kelly's shoulder, Kelly
gave her a cheesy grin. "That's easy for you to say. You didn't get
turned into a girl!"
"Nope." Nancy grinned down at the small girl. "I did it the old
fashioned way, I was born a girl." Her grin widened. "It was terrible
too! All those boys that wanted to carry my books for me, do anything to
impress me, terrible!" Kelly giggled. "Oh and all the pretty clothes
too!" Nancy shuddered.
"You are just pure evil!" Jake heard a young girl giggling as he opened
the door to the room the doctor pointed out. A woman possibly thirty
five-ish sat on a couch with a young girl, both looking up at him as he
entered the room. The girl froze as all the color drained away from her
face.
Jake stopped in his tracks, it was one thing to be told what had
happened, but to see it for himself. "Kelly?" Jake looked at the girl
then to the woman.
The woman nodded at Jake and held the girl tighter. Looking down at the
girl she held. "It's okay sweetie, breathe."
Jake closed the door behind him then went over and sat in a chair facing
Kelly. "Kelly is it really you?" Jake saw a slight nod from the girl as
tears began to streak down her cheeks. Leaning forward Jake took the
girls hand. "Kelly speak to me." The girl suddenly vanished in a cloud
of red smoke. "What the hell?" Jake gasped.
The woman seemed less confused by the girls sudden disappearance. "Kelly
it's okay, please come back."
"What the hell happened?" Jake looked at the woman.
"She's very scared and emotional right now."
"But what... how...?"
"She is afraid that you won't accept her. Terrified actually." Nancy
explained. "She, she can teleport although I don't think she went far."
Nancy put her finger to her lips motioning for Jake to be quite. Soft
sobbing could be heard from behind another door in the room.
Getting up Jake walked over to the door he could hear the crying coming
from. Once at the door he spoke softly. "Kelly, you are family and you
know what I say about family. We stick together no matter what. You know
that Marie and I don't care if you turned into a three headed martian,
you are family!"
Jake could hear some noise coming from the other side of the door, some
shuffling mixed in with the sobs, right before the door slowly began to
open. As soon as the door opened wide enough, Jake knelt down and swept
the small girl into his arms. "I got your back, always have and always
will be there for you."
"What am I going to do?" Kelly sniffed back the tears.
"What are we going to do!" Jake corrected her. "First thing is call
Marie and let her know what happened, then get you home."
Kelly's eyes got wide hearing Jake mention his wife. "Ma, Marie? We have
to tell her?"
Jake pulled Kelly back far enough to look her in the eyes. "You really
want her to find out on her own?"
Kelly grinned up at Jake and began giggling. "You got your cell phone?"
"Oh no!" Jake moved back and got to his feet. "I don't care what you
look like now, I know that look anywhere."
Kelly held her hand out palm up wiggling her fingers waiting on Jake to
give her his phone. Glancing over to Nancy Kelly winked. "Can I please
call Marie and let her know I'm okay?" Kelly lowered her head but kept
looking Jake in the eyes, giving Jake the best puppy dog eyes she could.
"Please?"
Turning to look at Nancy who was sitting on the couch laughing. "Did you
teach her that or is it natural for females?" Turning his attention back
to Kelly. "Not gonna work, I have three girls that have already worn out
that trick. I'll call Marie, then after I've explained all this, I'm
sure she'll want to talk to you."
Chapter 21
Marie was busy packing a suitcase that she had laid out on her bed. "You
are in charge Kay, and your brother has already been told this!"
"Yea momma, Mike and I have heard that already," Kay replied. "What I
don't understand is how is bringing Uncle Kel home from the hospital a
family emergency? And why would daddy fly to Athens if this was such an
emergency?"
Twisting her neck around to look at her oldest daughter. "Close the
door." Kay walked over to the door shutting it. "Come sit with me,"
Marie sat down on the bed beside the suitcase patting her hand on the
bed beside her. Kay walked over and sat down by her mother. "Kelly is
not Kelly anymore."
"Well yea, he got burned pretty bad from what every said."
"No, there's more," Marie leaned closer to her daughter. "Turns out
Kelly is a mutant."
Kay's hand shot up to cover her mouth as she gasped. Looking her mother
directly in the eyes, Kay knew her mother was serious. Kay remembered
back in high school when a boy had started manifesting during class It
had scared not only teh students but the teacher as well when the boy
began screaming and bat like wings began growing out of his back. "How,
how bad was his mutation momma?"
"It, it was..." Marie searched for the right words. "I guess its best I
show you." Marie reached over and pulled her cell phone out of her
purse. Bringing up the picture Jake had sent her from his phone, she
handed the phone to Kay.
"Uh momma, the girl's a real cutie but you were going to show me a
picture of Kelly?"
"Honey that is Kelly."
Kay's eyes darted back to the picture and grew wide and her jaw dropped
as she sat staring at the smart phone's screen.
"Now you know why it's a family emergency." Marie stated. "We have got
to get her home and away from those redneck bigots in Atlanta. Your
father has went to talk to friends of his that can help. I am going to
go pick up Kelly and drive her home."
"Take Mike with you, he can help with the driving." Kay was now very
worried. "Kel also taught him how to use a gun and to fight if something
happens."
"I don't want any of you kids to get hurt."
"Momma!" Kay shouted. "We don't want you to get hurt either, Take
Michael with you!"
"Mark is staying until I get there, he'll be driving back with me."
Marie explained. "So no more talk about this. One thing I need from you
while I am gone, I want the spare room that Kel always used cleaned and
ready for her to move in."
"Yea I guess she's a little young to live on her own now." Kay giggled.
"No problem momma, it won't look like the same room when you get back!"
Noticing the look in her daughter's eyes. "Nothing extravagant honey,
the wrapping may have changed but it's still your uncle Kel on the
inside."
"I won't go overboard, but she will need a vanity and it will need to
look like a girls room, she is a girl after all."
"Okay a vanity and paint."
"Maybe some pictures and a feminine lamp," Kay continued. "No girl in
her right mind would have that horrid lamp in her room that is in there
now!" Kay grinned. "And I promise not to let Sarah put up any boy band
posters! What do you think her favorite color is?"
"Honey this is Kelly we're talking about."
"Okay then Sarah can help pick out the new color."
Kay helped her mother finish packing then carried the suitcase down to
the car for her. All four of Marie's children saw her off before going
back inside the house. Kay herded everyone into the kitchen and sat them
down at the table. "Okay everyone we got a room to redecorate before Mom
returns! Mike you're our muscle and assembler in this. Sarah you need to
help me with picking out the paint and things for the room."
Their youngest sister spoke up. "What do I get to do?"
"Anne, you have the most important job of all!" Kay stated. "You have to
pick out the the new stuffed animals to live in the room." Anne's eyes
lit up and a huge smile came across her face. "So everyone go grab your
things, we have shopping to do!" As the younger girls ran off to get
their purses. "Mike I need you to follow us in the truck. Once we are
done at Ikea you can come on back. I'll take Sara and Anne to pick up
the rest of the things we need."
Mike smiled knowing he would not have to spend the entire day following
his sister around on one of their shopping quests. "Okay I'll grab the
keys and meet you guys outside."
###
Marie found the driving actually relaxing after everything that had
happened, that is until she reached Atlanta. Between road construction
and traffic it too nearly two hours to get from the outskirts of the
city to the hospital. Once she found a parking spot, Marie dialed Mark's
number to let him know she had arrived. He had told her that he would
meet her at the entrance and take her to Kelly's room since the hospital
was very large and a bit overwhelming to navigate in at first.
Leading Marie down the corridors toward Kelly's room he leaned close.
"I've been telling the staff that is on right now that Kelly is your
daughter. Only a handful down in the burn center know the truth and most
of them are not on duty now."
"Good!" Marie grinned. "No sane person would get between a mother and
her child."
"From what I know of Jake's plan, he's going to get Kelly a new identity
to hide her from the MCO."
"Yes, Jake and I talked it over." Marie replied. "Once Jake gets back
from Greece, she will be our legal daughter."
"I don't see why he flew to Greece to do that?"
"When you think about it later on, look up the name of the current prime
minister," Marie chuckled.
"Oh crap let me guess, one of you is related to him?" Mark grinned.
"You could say that, he's my father and he loves Kelly like his own
son." Marie grinned over at Mark. "Why do you think I call Kelly my
little brother?"
"I always thought it was because he and Jake were so close."
"I met Jake though Kelly."
"Here it is." Mark stopped in front of a door, the plaque read 'RM 207'
"Want me to get lost for a bit?"
"Would you mind?" Marie asked. "I really could use a little private time
with her."
"No problem," Mark chuckled. "Want me to bring you back a cup of coffee
or something?"
"Sure coffee would be great, thanks Mark."
Mark returned about forty five minutes later to find Marie up on the
hospital bed holding Kelly who was asleep in her arms and Marie fast
asleep with her. From the look on their faces both had been crying.
Pulling out his phone, he sent a text message to Jake letting him know
that Marie had arrived safely and another to Kay's phone with the same
message before falling asleep in the chair himself.
Chapter 22
Kelly stood in the cockpit of his sailboat trimming the large spinnaker
billowing out over the bow as he adjusted his course downwind to give
him every available ounce of speed the wind could grant him. Helen sat
just forward of his position smiling back at him, wearing that Dark blue
bikini that set off her figure so well, the wind blowing though her
hair. Kelly smiled back at his love. He could not ask for more, it was a
piece of heaven, the wind at his back on the boat he loved with the
woman he loved, his soul mate.
Kelly would have never believed that such a think was possible as having
a soul mate. To Kelly a soul mate was a fictional idea only found in
those romance novels women so loved to read. No, it was an idea that did
not exist, an idea that drove women to look for something impossible to
find. An idea that kept many women from finding happiness in their life
and instead hunted to fill a void, an emptiness within their soul that
could not be filled, or so Kelly thought until that void had been filled
within his own soul. Kelly never knew this emptiness existed within him
until it had been filled and filled it was, as Kelly felt he would burst
at the seams if room his soul occupied within him was forced to contain
a single bit more of whatever souls were measured by.
Smiling, Kelly gazed back over to his love, where she sat. Helen smiled
back then her image seemed to blur and begin changing. Helen shark and
took on different features, seconds passed and in her place a small girl
sat. Kelly knew he should recognize the girl but from where eluded him.
The girl wore a one piece bathing suit, similar to what one would expect
of a small girl that age to wear, tie dyed in Reds, yellows and orange
colors. Her waist length long dark hair whipped about in the light wind
propelling that propelled the boat forward on its course. Brushing the
hair out of her face, she looked over to Kelly smiling.
Kelly saw her eyes and knew beyond any doubt that he knows this girl.
Those reddish orange eyes were so familiar and so different. Kelly had
seen those eyes before but no matter how hard he tried he could not
remember the girls name. Searching his memories he membered seeing those
eyes like that twice before, once on the woman who gave him the new
blade and on the child that sat there on his boat, but where had he seen
this small girl before? Kelly wanted answers but finding them within
himself evaded him.
"You, I should know you!" Kelly commanded. "But you are not the woman
that gave me my new blade."
"Yes we do know one another, very intimately. "The girl giggled. "And
yes I also gave you the weapon."
Kelly's face bore a look of bewilderment. "No, it was a young woman that
gave me the blade.
"It was I," The girl tried to explain. "I... for us to survive, I was
forced to change."
"You are that woman?"
"Yes, I was but no longer. For both of us to survive we both had to
drastically change. The room for our souls to exist together was
insufficient, I had to either lose part of myself or change so that my
whole being could fit within the space that existed. Your changes are
just as evident." The girl waved her hand, motioning at Kelly.
Kelly looked down at himself, finding that he now had the body of the
little girl. "Noooo!" he shouted.
###
"NOOOO!" Kelly sat both upright in the bed, almost knocking Marie out of
the bed as she did.
Mark sat up in the chair he had slept in quickly looking around as his
hand dove inside his jacket to his holster. Realizing no threats existed
he relaxed.
Marie wrapped her arms around the small girl. "Shhh, it's okay I'm here,
agapi mou, mikroula mou, I'm here."
Burying her head in Marie's chest, Kelly began sobbing. "She told me
that she did this to me!"
"Who did what to you honey?" Marie's voice was calm and reassuring.
"The girl with the fiery eyes, she did this, she changed me."
"It was only a dream," Marie began rubbing Kelly's back. "Just a dream
honey. Everything is going to be fine." Placing her hand under the small
girl's chin Marie gently pulled her head up so she could look the girl
in the eyes. "Jake should be with Pappa by now, between the two of them,
they will work something out." Marie smiled wide. "Do you think you
could get used to calling me your mitera?"
Kelly sniffed back the tears and smiled up at Marie. "You... you and Jake
would do that?"
Marie's smile widened. "Was there ever a doubt? Since the day we met you
have been my family. You were my prostatis, now Jake and I will be
yours."
Kelly remembered back to the days he had lived in Greece. When he left
the military jobs were very scarce and the attitude toward ex-military
was nothing like it was today. Out of work and with no marketable
skills, at least no skills the corporate world wanted, he had taken the
only job that his military skills excelled at, he had joined a mercenary
team. Now a days they are called things like independent contractors but
whatever name used, they are hired guns. Kelly was part of the team that
was hired by a Wealthy Greek businessman that had just began his
political career. His daughter, Marie, had been kidnapped. Only three of
their 8 man team had survived, but they were able to return Marie to her
father. Marie's father had given all three positions in security. The
need for action eventually drove the other two back to their old life,
but Kelly had no love for fighting, to Kelly is was only a necessity,
not a life choice.
Marie saw the faraway look in Kelly's eyes. "You okay honey?"
Hearing Marie's voice. "Huh, what?"
"You looked like you were a thousand miles away," Maire chided.
"Uh, I guess I was," Kelly sputtered. "I was thinking about Greece."
Marie knew that many of Kelly's memories of that time were not good
ones. "Shhh, That was a long time ago. Lets think about the preset and
get ourselves ready to go home."
Kelly nodded. "I'd like that. I can't wait to see Helen. How is she?"
"Helen is still in the hospital," Marie intentionally left out that
Helen remained in intensive care, the bullet from the attack lodged
dangerously against her spine. And while Kelly had used his own body to
shield her from the majority of the flames, her left leg had been burnt
badly enough that the doctors had discussed amputation. Marie was unsure
if they had preformed that procedure or not before she had left for
Atlanta. Marie turned and got out of the bed before Kelly saw her tears
start, the thought of what happened to two of her dearest friends,
people she thought of as her family too much for her to hold back. "I
need to use the rest room." Marie darted into the rooms bathroom closing
the door behind her.
After calming herself and washing her face Marie came out of the
bathroom asking Mark to go out to her car and retrieving the smaller of
two suitcases that were within the trunk. While Mark was gone Marie
ushered Kelly into the bathroom so she could get the small girl ready
for the day and their trip home. Marie disappeared back into the
bathroom after Mark returned with the case, finally reemerging gently
pushing Kelly out in front of her.
Mark's jaw dropped when he saw the young girl who was once one of his
best friends emerge from the bathroom. She was dressed in a knee lengths
white dress that had a yellow design along the hem, the neckline and the
sleeveless arms. A yellow cloth belt also accented the dress, and her
hair was pulled back into a long pony tail by a yellow ribbon tied into
a bow.
"You laugh and I'll--" Kelly began to say.
"Kelly!" Marie scolded. "We discussed how I expect you to act."
"Yes ma'am," Kelly lowered her head in defeat.
Marie pointed a finger at Mark when she saw he was about to say
something. "And you will watch what you say around Kelly now, she is a
young lady and no longer you're old, 'drinking buddy'. Do I make myself
perfectly clear?"
"I, I was just going to say she looked very pretty," Mark quickly
recovered.
"Um huh, I bet that is what you were going to say." Marie gave him a
knowing look. "Now if you would please show us the way to the doctor so
that we can get whatever paperwork out of the way and have Kelly
released so we can all go home."
Mark picked up the small suitcase and led them out of the room to an
elevator then down to the waiting room that Mark and Jake had sat in for
most of the previous day. Several nurses were at the counter, one of
which was Nancy, the one that had been so helpful to Kelly the day
before.
Nancy smiled wide when she saw Kelly walk in with the two. "Kelly how
are you this morning sweetie?"
"Hi Nancy," Kelly waved then turned to look up at Marie who was still
holding her hand. "Nancy helped me allot yesterday before they let Jake
and Mark see me."
"Hello Nancy," Marie smiled at the younger woman. "Thank you for helping
Kelly. You cannot imagine how much I do appreciate you helping her
thought this."
"You both are most welcome," Nancy smiled looking at Kelly. "If you
three will follow me, Doctor Peters wanted me to take you directly to
the conference room when you arrived. Nancy came out around the side of
the counter and turned toward the large double doors to the left of the
counter.
Mark and Marie began to follow her, Marie stopped when she realized
Kelly had not moved. "Kelly? Kelly honey?" but Kelly was staring out the
large glass doors at what appeared to be a crowd of people outside.
"Kelly?" Marie squeezed the girls hand. "What's wrong?"
"What's going on outside?" Mark looked at Nancy for an answer.
"It's those people form Humanity First, somehow they found out there was
a mutant here. So far its been a peaceful protest so security can't do
anything more than keep them outside." Nancy sighed. "I wish they would
go find something else to waist their time with, this is a place for
sick people not a clan gathering."
Mark's opinion of the nurse went up several notches when he realized she
was comparing them to another highly prejudicial group that was infamous
throughout the south. "Lets get this over with and get Kelly as far away
from those bigots as quickly as we can."
Marie's attention was still on Kelly who continued to stare out the
doors into the crowd. "Honey please tell me what it is?"
Kelly looked up at Marie. "It's, I don't know how to describe it. There
is something out there. It's making my stomach feel weird."
"Come on honey," Marie pulled Kelly gently, lets get go see the doctor
and get you out of here." Kelly nodded, glancing over her shoulder once
more as she let Marie lead her out of the room they were in.
Nancy softly knocked on the door before cracking the door open just
enough to stick her head in and telling all those assembled that Kelly
was here. Nancy held the door letting Kelly, Marie and Mark into the
room then began to leave.
"Nancy please stay, This also concerns you." Dr. Peters spoke. Nancy
stepped back into the room closing the door behind her.
Larry sprung up from his chair grinning as he came up to Kelly with a
small plain white plastic box slightly smaller than a shoe box. Holding
the box out to Kelly. "I made this for you last night."
Kelly took the box hesitantly. "Thank you." Not knowing what else to say
and afraid of insulting him by asking what it contained.
"Please everyone have a seat," Dr. Peters swept his hand across the
table in a motion to show show the empty chairs. "Kelly, you may not
remember Larry," Motioning to the short devisor standing in front of
her. "He built the machine that saved your life and it was Larry who
realized that you were going through severe burnout."
Looking at the man standing in front of her that was not much taller
than herself. "You saved my life, thank you so much."
Larry's grinned from ear to ear, then pointed at the box. "I made this
for you last night. Instructions are on the inside of the lid. It's not
a devise, its a gadget, a gadget mind you so perfectly safe."
"What does it do?" Marie's concern for Kelly apparent.
Larry's grin grew larger showing his crooked teeth. "It makes contacts
for you! Colored ones! So you can go around humans without them knowing
you're like me."
"I'm like you?" Kelly sounded confused.
"What I believe Larry is trying to say is that you both are meta-humans,
mutants." Dr. Peters interjected. "Larry here is a highly skilled
medical devisor and gadgeteer. Of course we do not know the extent of
your abilities, but at least one of your abilities have already
manifested." Kelly blushed when she remembered the first time she had
teleported.
"Is Kelly there now?" Kelly heard a familiar voice, but not one from
anyone in the room. Spotting the conference phone at the end of the
table near Dr. Peters, she realized they also had a conference call
running on a speaker phone.
"Pappa is that you?" Marie grinned.
"Yes darling, is Kelly with you? I want to hear her voice."
"I'm here Mr. Papangelou," Kelly stated.
"My my," the voice form the speaker phone chuckled. "You do not sound
like yourself any longer!"
"I don't look much like my old self either!" Kelly giggled.
"No I guess you do not at that! Jake allowed me to see a picture he had
on his phone," they heard laughter from the speaker phone. "Before this
family reunion gets going too far, Kelly, do you have any wishes for the
name on your new birth certificate?"
"I'd like to continue going by Kelly, it works for a girl's name too."
"Good, good, What about a middle name, Michael is not a gender neutral
name."
"Moira," Kelly said, the name popping into her mind without even
thinking.
"Interesting choice," the sound of chuckling came over the speaker.
"Okay now that we have that out of the way--"
"You're not going to ask for a last name?" Kelly inquired quickly.
Laughing came over the speaker once more. "Kelly you know I have always
considered you family. It is with great joy that I can use my money and
position to make that a reality. It's Kontos my dear grandchild." The
laughter continued,
Dr. Peters spoke up. "Sir is that all you need from us at this end?"
"Yes Doctor, and please keep up the great work you are doing, you will
see my gratitude arrive shortly." The speaker sounded once again.
"Maire, I'll be coming for a visit soon also. I haven't see the family
in some time and I do wish to meet my newest grad child in person."
"Yes pappa, we can't wait, see you soon." Marie said her good byes right
before static came over the speaker along with a dial tone.
One of the five men sitting at the table Kelly had never met before but
immediately recognized what they were since Kelly once held the same job
spoke. "We've been contracted by Mr. Papangelou to provide a believable
distraction for the Kontos family so they may leave without the local
population knowing. In this I will pretend to be Kelly, escorted by my
associates who will fulfill the role of a bodyguard over me, when we
leave the premises. It is our goal that anyone wishing harm to your
daughter or family will follow us Mrs. Kontos. I will then board a
private jet that bears marking of Greek nationality with a flight plan
that shows the aircraft is destined for Athens Greece. This aircraft
will experience engine trouble while crossing the Atlantic and be lost
at sea. Kelly Michael Lekka will be listed as one of the passengers."
Kelly thought about their plan, while it was a bit over done it was
simple and if done correctly could never be discredited. She hated the
fact that to the world his old life would be completely gone, but then
wasn't it gone now? She could never go back to running the shop, who
would believe a pre-teen owned and operated an automotive garage? No,
she knew this would be the best way, but one thing bothered her.
"How are you going to pretend to be me?" Kelly looked across the table
at the large mercenary. "You're like six foot tall and I highly doubt
even a blind man would mistake you for a girl!"
The man leaned forward in his chair grinning as his image began to blur,
quickly shrinking and changing to an exact double of Kelly, right down
to the clothes and how her hair was pulled back, strange reddish orange
eyes and all. "You're not the only mutant in the room sister." His voice
even matched Kelly's as he continued. "Now we need to learn about your
teleporting, Can you do it at will or only when you're scared?"
"I'm pretty sure I can do it when I want." Kelly stated.
"So you do not know?" her double asked.
"Um I haven't tried it."
"Then try it!" Kelly's double demanded. "Teleport back to your room,
then back here."
Kelly closed her eyes and let herself imaging she was back in the
hospital room she spent the night in. She felt something happen and
suddenly she could see a large part of the wing of the hospital they
were in in a strange red light, this strange vision focused on her room
and just as suddenly she was there.
Kelly heard a scream a woman changing the bed linen had seen her
teleport in. Kelly teleported to the other side of the bed and caught
the woman before she fell to the floor, gently picking up the
unconscious woman and laying her on the bed before teleporting back to
the conference room but into the chair on the other side of Marie.
"Okay I can do it at will." Marie and a few others jumped when she
reappeared. "I think I may have a limited range that I can go. When I do
it I can only see about fifty yards or so."
"You can see where you want to go?" Dr. Peters seemed genuinely
interested.
"Of course!" Larry scoffed. "All teleporters and translocators must have
some means so they don't re-materialize into a solid object! At least
the ones that don't get themselves killed doing exactly that! Kelly's
trick is being able to see where she will land."
"Yes but I can't see past the parking lot, so I can't jump past the
protesters and news crew that are outside."
Kelly's double spoke up. "Do you think you can land inside a moving
car?"
"Bad idea!" Larry warned. "If the car moves out of her range during the
transport she could be injured badly."
"Okay then," Kelly's double continued. "A stationary car, into the
backseat lying down?"
"I'm pretty sure I can do that." Kelly grinned.
"Good I want you to teleport once more, this time stay in the room but
look to see how close the car needs to be for you to port to it."
Kelly did as she was asks this time appearing beside a window in the
room. Pointing at the window which had its blinds closed for privacy. "I
can go the furthest straight that way, and I can see just past the
second street light in the parking lot."
"Great, Okay you said you saw a TV crew?" Kelly nodded. "That's good,
your departure will be covered on local possibly national news. Alright,
Mrs. Kontos you and the Fed with you leave the room five minutes after
us, walk to the south entrance go out and get into your car. You should
drive," he pointed at Mark. "Doctor, give her your number. Mrs. Kontos
once the car is nearing this side of the building call the doctor's
phone, he can help direct you and let Kelly know when to port out to the
car. Any questions?" Kelly's double looked around at everyone in the
room. "Good, Kelly I want you behind the door when we open it so that
anyone that gets a look inside does not see you." Kelly nodded. "Okay
people it's show time!"
Once the five minutes were up, Marie and Mark left, Nancy locked the
door behind them. "Just in case." She grinned back from where she stood
by the door.
Kelly walked over and gave Nancy a big hug, Thank you for everything."
Larry came up to Kelly. "While we wait, lets show you how your contacts
work. Larry all but drag Kelly over to the table where Kelly had left
the box. Opening the lid Kelly saw the directions just as he had told
her. "Now it has enough chemicals to make maybe ten sets right now,"
Pointing at the directions. "It lists what you can use to refill it with
here." Looking up into Kelly's eyes. "So what color? I think a dark blue
or brown would work with your features? You can always change color
later but then people may notice the change."
"Brown, most everyone in Jake's family has brown eyes."
"Brown it is!" Larry adjusted a dial then hit the single red button on
the interior panel. Thirty seconds later a panel opened that held two
small water filled chambers each one with a single contact in it.
Nancy who had been watching from behind the two. "Here let me help you
put them in. Doing this take a little practice and a mirror sweetie.
Nancy picked out the first contact, knelt down and explained what she
was doing as she put it in Kelly's eye, then she put in the second one.
"How's that feel?"
"Kinda weird, like I got something in my eyes."
"I've been wearing them for years," Nancy stated. "Your eyes will adjust
to having them in quickly, then you won't notice them at all."
"I hope you're right, they are driving me nuts right now."
Larry pulled out a folded bunch of papers out of his lab coat offering
them to Kelly. "This is information on the school I went to. It's a
special school for mutants, Mutant high!" Larry laughed at his own joke.
"It's something for you and the family to consider. It's the one place
on earth that you will be safe from humans like those outside.
Kelly took the stack of papers then gave Larry a hug. "Thank you Larry."
Kelly closed the contact maker machine then stuffed it under her arm
when she heard the doctors phone ring.
It would have been impossible for Mark and Marie not to noticed the
cloud of red smoke that suddenly appeared in the tight confines of
Jake's car, but as suddenly as it appeared it coalesced into the form of
a small girl lying in the backseat clutching a handful of papers and the
white plastic box under her arm.
"Home James!" Kelly giggled from the backseat.
Chapter 23
An hour later they had left Atlanta and were on their way back to
Florida when Kelly realized something. "Marie, I mean mom, the double,
the guy that is pretending to be me, was wearing the same dress I'm
wearing right?"
"Yes honey, why?" Marie answered.
"And it's possible that that he could have been seen leaving on TV?"
Kelly continued.
Marie's eyes went wide when she realized where Kelly was going. "CRAP!
Mark pull over now!"
"No Mark, keep driving!" Kelly ordered. "I can get to the suit cases
from here and change."
"Young lady you WILL NOT teleport inside a moving car!" Marie chastised
Kelly.
"Who said anything about porting?" Kelly giggled. "The backseat folds
down!"
Marie turned to glare and noticed Kelly's eyes. "What happened to your
eyes?"
"Nothing," Kelly grinned. "Why?"
"They're brown now," Marie saw Kelly lose the fake look of surprise and
burst out giggling. "Do you really want to be grounded before you get
home?"
"Sorry I couldn't resist," Kelly held up the plastic box. "While we
waited on you to get the car, Larry showed me how to work this and Nancy
helped me put them in."
Reaching back with one hand Marie held Kelly by the chin while
inspecting her eyes. "That is amazing, your eyes look completely normal
with them in." Marie continued to inspect the contacts. "Your eyes used
to be blue, why did you go with brown?"
"I wanted my eyes look look just like my new mom's."
"Horseshit!" Mark coughed.
"I think it's very charming that she wants her eyes to resemble mine."
"She sucking up!" Mark laughed.
"Well if she is," Marie chuckled. "She doing a good job at it."
Kelly pulled one half of the backseat down revealing the contents of the
trunk. "Are the things that fit me all in the small case?" Kelly asked
without turning around.
"Yes honey," Marie answered.
Dragging the case out into the backseat, Kelly opened it and began going
through the items Marie had brought with her. Kelly discovered a pair of
blue jean shorts that she slipped on under her dress. Finding the shorts
too small she dug around through the case until she came up with a pair
of shorts made out of a jersey material.
"Those I think will fit you honey," Marie watched as Kelly ruffled
though the case. "Not sure if you want to wear something that eye
catching though."
Kelly looked at the shorts, the color could have been either dark pink
or orange, but the splotches of black yellow blue and red gave the
shorts a wild almost fiery quality, she decided she like it and pulled
them on. Although she was not about to admit to liking the wild very
girlish color. "I think this is exactly what I need to wear, it will
draw attention away from me and what I look like."
"Well then there is a matching tank top in there too," Marie shrugged.
Kelly dug out the matching top, pulled the dress off and quickly put on
the top.
"She right you know," Mark stated. "anything to draw attention away from
her looks, or makes her look different than what people will see on the
television. Hide her in plain sight!"
"I think I understand," Marie agreed. "Kelly turn around here so I can
take out your pony tail." Kelly did as she was told allowing Marie to
remove the band that held her hair back. Digging into her purse she came
out with a brush in her hand and began working on one side of Kelly's
hair, parting it along the side and making the front half fall in front
of her shoulder before having Kelly turn so she could do the same with
the other side. "There, what do you think Mark?"
Mark adjusted the rear view mirror so that he could see Kelly without
taking his eyes off the road. "Wow, I think we could use you in witness
protection. Kelly you look completely different."
Several hours later and much closer to the state line with everyone
hungry they pulled off the highway in Valdosta. As much as Marie was
against fast food, getting Kelly home as quickly as she could was more
important to her so instead of stopping at one of the many restaurants
she made the decision to go to the fast food drive through. Kelly
insisted on a dozen double cheese burgers much to Mark's amusement,
although after he watched her polish off all twelve before he could
finish the one he had he did not find it as amusing.
"My god kid, where do you out it?" Mark chuckled. "You got a hollow
leg?"
"Believe it or not, I'm still kinda hungry," Kelly sounded
apologet