AFP Medical Services, Australian Federal Police National Headquarters, Canberra

Science advances one funeral at a time Attributed to Max Planck

Alexa turned up fifteen minutes early for her post-incident evaluation appointment.

She completed the required paperwork, then waited to be called in. It was about thirty minutes later when she was finally called into Alberta Miller's office.

"Hi, Alexa, I'm Alberta. I'm sorry for the late start, as I've been taking a crash course in paranormal psychology. On the line is Professor James Denison."

"Hi, Alexa, I'm James, do you mind if I find out what type of shifter you are?"

"Wedge tailed eagle, sir."

"Please call me James."

"OK, James."

Alberta said, "Does the type of shifter matter?"

"Well, you see, wait... sorry Alexa, it's rude to have this discussion when we're here to help you."

"James, it's fine. I've been the main person coordinating the integration of the paranormals into the AFP, and the incident that happened with me yesterday was while I was trying to start the same thing for the ADF. If anything, I'm interested in what you say to compare it to what I've been saying."

"OK. Well, the nature of the animal can have an influence on the person. The more integrated the animal and person is, the more the positive aspects of both sides integrate into their psych. The less integrated, the more likely that negative aspects from either will come to the surface during times of crises. At least, that's what I understand."

Alexa realised that James wasn't a shifter but seemed to have a good understanding of the Paranormal. She realised that he was probably a magi.

"So, James, can I guess you’re one of 'those', since you're not a shifter?"

Alberta, who'd been looking a little shell-shocked up to this point, picked up on that and said, "Those?"

"Alberta's cleared, so are you going to come out of the broom-closet, James?"

"Wait, of course, your surname is Smirn, isn’t it? Sam Smirn's your dad, isn't he?"

"Yep."

James started laughing. "I'd heard what had happened at that last combined council. Serve's Gordon right. Sorry, Alberta, the paranormal world's a bit small. We usually end up knowing someone, who knows someone, and so on. I'm not a shifter, but I am paranormal, a magi, magic user."

Shaking her head, Alberta tried to get the conversation back on track. "So, Alexa, is your experience the same as what James is talking about?"

"Yep. Up until these last few months, I'd really lived two separate lives. I hadn't integrated my shifted form and my human form that much. When shifted, I was an eagle, when not shifted I was a human. So, I was high-strung, nervous, and not confident, which was the normal me. Since then, I've been forced by all that was happening to intentionally shift to an eagle and, I don't know really what to call it. I want to say 'integrate', but that's misleading. Maybe, ‘let both sides of myself hang-out with each other more?’

"So now my panic attacks don't happen, I have a much better control over myself, I am much more confident, easy-going, sure of my own self-worth and ...(mumble)."

James said, "Sorry, Alexa, I didn't catch that last bit?"

Alberta said, "I think that was on purpose. Is that something you'd prefer not to talk about?"

Alexa sighed. "No, I just find it a bit embarrassing. My eagle self finds deportment and looks very important. I think it comes out of her interest in preening herself - which is a vital skill for flying creatures with feathers. So, since we've integrated, I find myself wearing a bit more makeup, spending more on clothes to get higher quality and a better look, better skin-care products, all that sort of thing."

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Alberta, obviously now fascinated, asked, "Do you, the human side, object?"

"No, it doesn't work that way. Because we're more integrated, we're also more united. What matters to one of us, matters to both. And, well, I have to admit that it's been fun seeing people's reactions to the new me." By this stage Alexa was blushing.

"So, what happens if the…" Alberta checked her notes, "the shifted form is aggressive?"

"My younger brother’s a Tasmanian Devil. These are hyper-aggressive and territorial, so since his first shift a month or so ago, I've noticed a big change in him. Because he's been spending most of every weekend shifted with his sister, besides a couple of days of having his temper closer to the surface, he’s now back to what he was like before he shifted, but I don’t know, he’s more.

“He’s calmer now then he’s been for a while. But what has replaced the over aggression is an…immovability, yes, that’s the word I want. He will not back down, at all, except when he chooses to. You know that Tassie Devils will drive even feral cats out of their territory?"

"No, I didn't."

"They will. Utterly fearless and will not back down. So, now, if he believes in whatever it is, nothing seems to move his resolve to see 'the right thing' happen. No price is too much. It's cute to see how protective he's become over his twin sister."

"Isn't that a bit dangerous?"

"No. He's training himself. I saw it this week, where someone was gossiping about his sister at school. He was talking to me about what was the legal situation and brainstorming with me strategies to 'bring her down'. Actually, it was a little frightening. He'd used to be a lot more laid back about life, now he's motivated, even a little driven, focused, his schoolwork is improving, he's become more respectful and helpful at home. He's really grown. Of course, I find it a bit funny because he's sister doesn't need the protection."

"Why is that?"

"Well, her shift animal is also a predator, and she's been getting more and more integrated as well. Her shifted form's given her the patience of an ambush-predator, plus the confidence of an apex predator. You see it in her eyes. She can just stop in place and stare down anything. She has also settled down, not so much academically, but she's been hitting the gym and is bulking up something fierce. It’s probably not been covered, but one of the advantages for shifters is that we will put on more muscle for less effort than non-shifters. But the funniest thing about the whole protective brother thing is what her shifted animal is."

"OK, I'll bite, what is it?"

"A seven metre long, half tonne, apex dinosaur, Australovenator."

"So, will they be bullying their peers?"

"They’d better not! The shifter community instils into our children that they do not pick on non-shifters, well, pick on anyone, really, but especially those weaker than ourselves. We purposely use the term 'baby seal bashing' to reinforce that. Unless it is a life-or-death issue, they are not to use their better strength, hearing, sight, etc."

"So that never happens?"

Alexa laughed. "Of course it does! We’re human, after all. I was talking to a koala shifter the other day who was really embarrassed because he'd smacked down one of the non-shifters he worked with."

"A koala shifter? Wouldn’t they just be constantly spaced out? How's that work?"

"To put it simply, a Koala struggles to get enough food, because the stuff they eat is just so hard to digest – and toxic. This means that they get a bit protective of their food. This workmate had been picking on him, purposing knocking his food tray off the table, that kind of stuff. Because he was also suffering from a bit of sleep deprivation that week, stress and all the other stuff, he snapped and challenged him to a 'friendly' sparing match at their work. He wiped the floor with him. Just for context, the workmate is training for, well, like a SWAT team.

"They've since reached a truce and he's working through the issues in his life. Seeing a doctor about his sleeping issues."

Alberta shook her head, appalled at how far she had let the conversation go off-track.

"Right, let's get back to why you're here. Can you walk me through what happened leading up to this incident?"

---***---

“Thank you, Alexa. Your insights have been helpful, and I admit this whole supernatural thing is very interesting for me. I agree that we’ll have to keep a closer eye on how things progress with PTSD and shifters, but unfortunately, we’re not going to really know until enough people go through trauma.

“The old saying of the straw that broke the camel’s back is, unfortunately true. Someone can get an adverse reaction the very first time they are exposed to trauma or can go through the same thing dozens of time with no effect. There’s no rules here. Close, supportive, family will help it not to occur, substance abuse will encourage it to occur. Outside of that, and a couple of other danger signs, all we can do is spot it early and support people through it. I suspect the large emphases on ‘family’ in the paranormal community will help a lot with this.

“I’d like to see you again every six months if that is possible, Alexa. Would you object to me doing this to help me develop a baseline with paranormal mental health?”

“You will need to clear this with my boss. I don’t have any objections, but I also don’t want to get to the point where I start seeing myself as a lab animal.”

“OK, hadn’t thought of that. OK, yeh, right. Didn’t think of that at all. Hmm. I’ll think this over and talk with your Boss.”

“Thanks, goodbye James.”

As Alexa walked out, she looked back at Alberta and noted the far-away look in her eye. Academics.