Gizzybot checked the portable scanner as the 2 sick girls and Delmarians sat in chairs.
“Well, good news and not good news.”
“Good news first.” Vinn insisted.
“Well, most of you are fine. Minor vaccine side effects, weird senses of taste and food tolerances, as expected, albeit a little quick and harsh. Should pass soon and next shot should be less severe next time, maybe don’t go partying and eating carnival foods right after. The bad news is for, Vicki.” She said solemnly. Her eyes went watery before she even explained. The feeling in Vicki’s soul was already strong the second she heard her name on the bad news. “Your cancer is back.” Gizzy concluded.
“I don’t understand.” Jack said. “She’s got a brand-new body, how can it be back?”
“Now, before you get too grim, there are some positives here to mention. Unfortunately, in some cases, even a fully cloned body clear of all cancer can develop the same cancer. Your body just has the tendency to produce aggressive pancreatic cells and no environmental factor was at play, but it’s a good thing these side effects got everyone concerned, because it led to early detection. Pancreatic cancer is…well, you know you had it before, and it damn near killed you. We have options. Option 1, we just clone you again with no cancer but since it only took 3 years for this body to develop it, it’s likely it will keep showing up, even with medication you’re likely looking at 5-6 years asymptomatic per clone before it happens again. The other option is, ironically, a massive dose of the vaccine. This vaccine is actually used in cancer treatment with some good results, and that reaction you had is likely the smaller dose detecting the cancer. Everyone else just got the expected symptoms.”
“So it’s treatable, or curable?” Jack directed to the point.
“With a very high dose and very careful diet, curable. The medication will actually modify your immune system to kill cancer before it even becomes detectable on scanners. So this is very easily fixed, but you have to listen carefully. If you take this medication in the mutated form and high dose, it takes several days to a week to work, and you CANNOT ingest anything except sterilized approved food rations. Any foreign contamination such as bacterial infected foods, alcohol, recreational drugs or even some soda products can mess with the medication, and it will consider the contaminant part of YOU and build it into your body permanently. That means, no sex, no snacks, no beverages, and ONLY the pre-packaged foods we give you. If you do that, you’re fine. If you fuck that up, side effects are permanent and unpredictable.”
“I understand.” She said.
“Good. Because we’re gonna do a full memory copy, and back you up now, because once we start this, there’s no going back, and anything that goes wrong we can't clone out, so you’ll be cloned from your last DNA sample and scans, today. It’s kind of a one try thing, and then the alternative is back to daily meds and cloning you from scratch every 5–6 years when symptoms return. Zero contamination. Not so much as a damn tic-tac.”
Vicki sat at the game night table, looking depressed as she broke the seal on her vacuum packaged and utterly tasteless protein goop serving. Jack gave her a loving pat on the back as everyone else tried to look like they weren’t enjoying their bland food orders. Vinn drank greedily from his coffee thermos as Nicole clinked with her fishy protein shake.
“Been drinking a lot of coffee today.” She muttered.
“I’ve been really tired, I didn’t sleep much.” Vinn said, looking suspicious.
“I slept on top of you. You were dead to the world the whole night.”
“No, I was awake most of it.”
“Awake and snoring?”
“Okay, so I slept good and don’t feel like I did, so I’m drinking a lot of coffee. It’s not a big deal.” He defended.
“So…” Silverback diverted. “Anyone do anything interesting yesterday?” he asked, changing the subject.
“I swear my boobs feel bigger.” Melody blurted as everyone suddenly broke the fog and was on the same focal point.
“You know, they did feel bigger now that you mention it.” Silverback noted as Dee rolled her eyes in annoyance.
“Is that why you were so…zippy?” she smiled.
“How about we don’t talk about sex.” Jack blurted.
“Well, trapped in a house in lockdown, we got one night out and everyone got sick. What are we supposed to report on?” Hyde asked. “Vicki has cancer, even I feel bad about that, and it’s been one day of everyone moping around the house. There’s nothing to report or talk about. I personally would like some real damn food today, but we can’t order it in front of her while she eats vacuum sealed slop, and you insisted we all have dinner together. Everyone is exhausted, I took a nap earlier, I never do that. What should we be talking about, Jack? Enlighten me?”
“How about we do another game night?” Blurted Nicole, “We got cards against Delmar, we could start a Dungeons and Dragons campaign?”
“We’re already 8 mythical creatures in a dungeon, if Gizzy shows up we got the d Dragons.” Silverback noted. “I say renovation project. Nothing like hard work and creating stuff to distract you. We got plenty of rock between this place and Vinn's to hollow out. Anyone want an indoor pool or a garage?”
“Oh, I do miss the pool.” Mel said, looking sad. “And the ocean. And the…pond down the road.”
“We do have two fish people who can't go outside to the surface.” Vinn shrugged.
“Vinn, not all of us are construction workers.” Dee noted. “We hired you guys originally because we can’t do that kinda stuff.”
“I learned.” Nicole snipped back. “It’s called trying something new. I’ve done demo and stone cutting and I learned from Vinn. So half the people here can do construction and an indoor pool would be nice since we’re stuck in here for forever plus two more weeks.”
“Okay, then you guys start blowing up rocks, some of us have to stay near a bathroom because we can’t stop shitting!” Dee barked. “Ever since that damn injection.”
“It’s settled.” Yawned Hyde. “Those with construction experience start the pool, and those of us without, do whatever we wanna do…like take a nap.”
“Bro, you need some coffee, I can make some coffee. This is my coffee here but I can make you some different coffee and you’d have your own coffee.” Vinn said nervously as Hyde slumped over and just fell asleep. “Shoulda had more coffee.”Vinn shrugged.
“Is he okay?” Mel asked.
“He’s just…asleep.” Dee noted, checking him and looking perplexed. “Guess the shots really just make Delmarians extra tired…except ones that drink a ton of coffee.”
“See? I’m gonna get him some coffee and make myself some more coffee, anyone else want coffee?” Vinn asked.
“I could use one.” Jack said getting up to help.
“I got it. It’s cool. 5 black espressos, one for you, 2 for me, 2 for Sleeping Bull here 5 black espressos.” He nodded enthusiastically as he got up.
“I can’t have coffee.” Sighed Vicki.
“Hey… I know you feel like shit. No coffee for a week, just caffeine infused orange juice in a tube, but soon you’ll be cancer free forever. You’re gonna be fine. Let's just go to bed early. Hell, Hyde’s asleep already and Dee either went off to bed or to shit herself to death. Vinn and Nicole can play cards with Mel and Silverback, and we’ll figure this out tomorrow, fresh and early.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
“I’ll definitely still be awake.” Vinn said confidently.
“You known what, screw it.” Silverback said. “I’m the foreman here, Vinn is the best demo guy, and Nicole and Mel can provide support. Let’s just start the construction. We can do prepwork, drill for blasting and start edge cutting.”
“Why are you so peppy? You got a coffee problem too?” Nicole asked.
“I just feel…alive. I gotta do something. I feel 70 again…which for you non Eridani means young." He flexed.
“I’ll say.” Mel smirked. “Sorry, too personal. No sex talk. So that pool, are we talking smaller or bigger than the one outside we can't use that’s full of dead bugs?”
The house was silent, 5AM, Vicki wide awake in bed with worry and hunger. She patted for Jack and noticed he wasn’t there. She made her way to the kitchen, thinking he would be sipping an old-fashioned by the fireplace or staring out the window. She heard the rustling in the maintenance room near the tunnel entrance and to her surprise, Jack was halfway adorned in tactical gear and loading a weapon.
“Jack, what’s wrong?” she whispered. He didn’t answer. “Jack, why are you loading your guns at 5Am?” she asked. No reply. She approached him with her heart fluttering and skin tingling as she realized he was still in his slippers and silk boxers, loading empty magazines and random tools instead of flashlights and grenades. His eyes were barely open, droopy and lifeless, objects falling as he missed the holster. “Jack, are you asleep?” she asked.
“Plywood in section 3, don’t argue, just bolt it in place, move out.” He muttered, opening the door and heading to war like a zombie.
“Shit.” She said, following, unsure what to do, grabbing a pistol and a loaded mag just in case. He headed to the air duct and began setting up an imaginary tripod for a distance shot.
“JACK, WAKE UP!” she yelled, slapping him and jarring his position. He drew a knife and took a swing in her direction, “JACK! She yelled, “It’s me, wake up!” she yelled as he suddenly jolted to attention and hollered out, swinging his knife towards his back. She noticed the bug on it and racked the pistol, shoving him to the wall to hold him still, firing 3 shots to kill it. He stood dumbfounded, looking at her and back at the air vent, now with 4 holes in it, 3 bullet sized and one large hole where apparently a bug had chewed its way through a rusty spot.
“Why am I in the tunnels?” he asked.
“You were sleepwalking…sleep mission-ing.” She corrected. “You got bit, hold still, I’m giving you the booster.” She said so frantic she barely noticed her own little nick on the back of her hand from the bug’s defensive struggling.
“Gizzy bot stood there, arms crossed, examining Jack's face.
“Well…the boosters work great. He’s fine.” She shrugged.
“He’s just…fine?”
“Yes…this is why we made you get shots. He’d be in the fetal position convulsing in pain right now while we stabilized his vitals, but the vaccine worked and the booster was administered so fast, good work Vicki, that the venom did almost nothing. So side effects aside, I’d say that’s a very promising impromptu live test.” She nodded in approval.
“He’s sleepwalking and gearing up for war. Hyde’s falling asleep, Vinn has had enough coffee to kill a human, presumably fighting fatigue, and Dee is shitting to death. This thing has some wicked effects on sleep and energy levels.”
“Yea we knew that, but frankly we rushed the vaccine because 600 humans were threatening to break quarantine if we didn’t open a nightclub, so thanks to human intelligence, we had to kinda cut some corners and rush the damn thing. So it works, you’re welcome and thank you for participating in human trials, now we know sleep issues are to be expected, and maybe we can break it up into 2 shots or something. Kinda even it out. Hurt your hand?”
“Scraped it on the gun.” She lied.
“Well good thing he keeps them clean and polished because if you got tetanus as a foreign contaminant after taking the cancer meds that’s gonna fuck you all finds of up. Have you had a tetanus shot in the last 5 years?”
“Yea.”
“Good, because we can’t give you one now, or it could contaminate your blood. So be glad you are lucky there. Just for the hell of it… I’m bringing a full body scanner down here and checking the rest of you. We know what your problem is, but let's be safe and scientific about this and get everyone else looked at.
Gizzy sat in a chair and removed her decorative doctor glasses as Mel sat alone on the medical table.
“Yep…your boobs are getting bigger.”
“What?”
“And your hearing is getting worse, but that’s from old age. You’re what, about 150 now?”
“104, thank you very much. My boobs are getting bigger?” She blinked. “Are you saying they GOT bigger, or they are GETTING bigger?”
“Still growing by the looks of the scans. Slowing down, but it’s likely every shot is gonna boost you a cup size or so. Otherwise, you’re perfectly healthy, and these full scans would show anything. So…you’re gonna need to order some new bras.
Silverback sat on the table looking nervous.
“Congratulations…your girlfriend's boobs are getting bigger and you are very healthy.
“Nice.” He smiled.
“In fact, you are TOO healthy. Your vitals have actually improved; you basically stopped aging and started leveling out.”
“I’m getting younger?” he smirked.
“No, you’re just not getting older, and your old age problems have stabilized. You FEEL younger because you’re healthier, like you were 20 years ago. You’re getting a boost of hormones and your organs are running at peak efficiency. Basically, you’ve had a rejuvenation of youth and health, not reversed aging. It’s slowing down, but with every shot you’re likely to get another boost. So enjoy it. Enjoy the boobs too. You got double lucky on this thing.”
Vinn sat on the table, looking terribly tired.
“Well, the only thing wrong with you is that you’ve had about 40 coffees in 2 days. Any reason?” she asked.
“This is gonna sound weird but… I’ve been craving dairy.”
“Odd food cravings and taste alterations are expected.”
“I don’t think you understand, doc. I’ve been on Homicideball steroids twice for military games, this is stronger than that. I crave the dairy. I’m drinking coffee because I’m sneaking in the creamer.”
“So just drink creamer.”
“Milk is gross. It’s fluids rung out of alien tit glands.”
“Yea, and it’s delicious.”
“God, it’s so good. How is it that good? It wasn’t good before.”
“Well you’re craving it so you can either drink your milk and stop being a baby…there’s irony there. Or don’t, and crave it. It’s gonna diminish soon, but then you’ll need another shot, and it’s gonna be back. That’s how this works. The symptoms fade, and then you get another, and they come back but less strong, and eventually you just have no reaction and full immunity. But in the meantime, welcome to the dairy side and lay off the coffee.”
“I just…you have noticed Mel, right?”
“Vinn, Just make protein shakes in the morning, and try not to get titmatized by Mel's ever-swelling milkers. You’re gonna be fine.”
“But they are getting bigger?” he asked.
“yep.”
“Fuck.”
“I know. It's horrible to have massive titties around you. You’ll live. Next patient.”
“I feel fine.” Nicole shrugged.
“Oh, you may not feel fine after this. So um…this is unexpected.”
“Wait…what?”
“Due to your unusual biology and Menacodian adaptive DNA, you…are gonna get real damn fuzzy.” She said trying to word it right.
“Like light-headed and dizzy?”
“Nope. Furry and, covered in fur.”
“Why?” she asked.
“This is awkward for both of us but you have taken a small dose of mutagen that is supposed to make your immune system turbo-powered. Except it’s made for humans, and you’re 99 percent human. The fish part is the wild card, and it’s working too good on your skin cells, so your body is temporarily adapting to what it thinks is YOU and you are currently a little bit Delmarian.
“Am I…" she cringed.
“Not pregnant, relax."
"Oh, thank god, I never want kids. The whole idea of pregnancy seems more alien to me than my husband."
"But actually, don’t relax, because you are going to express a few Delmarian genes for a while.”
“I’m not any part Delmarian. I’m 99 percent human and 1 percent fish. Why does my immune system think I’m part Delmarian?” she asked.
“Honey…” Gizzy said with a smile. “You’re married to Vinn and doing great in the love department… You’re 120 pounds, and in your sexual prime. Do you really need me to explain how you might technically be a few percent Delmarian by mass right now?”
“Oh Gross.”
“It’s a natural thing, but the medication is not, so it can't tell the difference, but it will wear off, so I guess you’re gonna get a little fuzzy, and you don’t have to buy the cosplay gear. You’re switching from team zombie to team werewolf, try and make the best of it. But also bear in mind if Vinn likes it too much, and you get the next shot with a higher uh, Delmarian to Nicole body mass…it’s gonna get worse.”
“Great!” she yelled.
"Yep, so you can either go celibate for a month or, congratulations you're a furry."
"SHIT!" Yelled Nicole
“SHIT!” yelled Dee.
“Yea, that’s what the pills are for. Explosive random onset diarrhea is one of the common symptoms, you just got it real bad. I would blame your alcohol consumption, but I can't preach about that, I'm drunk right now." Gizzy said, taking a sip from her thermos.
“I can’t do anything. I’m just running to the bathroom every hour. I can't go anywhere, I can't do any content streaming if I have to pause and run away suddenly. I certainly can’t have sex.”
“Well you CAN have sex, I would just suggest only in the basement shower where you have a very short distance to run to a toilet and a floor drain in case you fuck that up.”
“Oh my god, my life is over.” She sobbed.
“Oh you think you got it bad, watch Nicole for the next 4 days and tell me how bad a little Montezuma’s revenge is. Or I dunno, be glad you don’t have…fucking cancer?”
“Oh, yea okay.” Dee said, looking ashamed.
“Basic sleepwalking.” Gizzy shrugged as Jack shook his head.
“Well, that’s fine and dandy unless you’re subconscious is a trained killing machine.”
“Yea, you should probably sleep alone for a while and in a locked room. Should get better soon…and then come back with the next shot less bad.”
“What in the hell is narcolepsy?” asked Hyde.
“Well…” Gizzy said as he slumped over and slid down the wall. “No point in even explaining at this point.” She muttered to herself.