I've been sitting on this a while and it was about time I posted it. Story not complete, but as with my other work, I'm always tinkering away over time.

-CS Fox

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Chapter 7



Sometimes it’s possible to reach a point in your life where you realize everything is going to be different... and if you want to survive, you need to change.

Beverly was at that point.

She felt a crushing guilt for what she'd done, and what she'd been forced to do.

She couldn't sleep because of it.

The only way to balance things out was for her to adopt Duchess. The poor pup was just like her and Joel now, but she didn't have reasoning skills in the way they did. Motherhood was a mantle that Beverly had pretended to wear before, and it wasn't hard to take the role again.

The first few days were really bad. Duchess didn't understand what she was, or why things were so different. She only had animal instincts and very raw emotions, which she expressed openly.

Duchess needed help with literally everything. She didn't know how to eat or drink in her new body. She didn't understand nudity and whined when Beverly had tried to put her in a diaper... even if she didn't understand what a diaper was, she definitely needed them. Duchess was as untrained as her and Joel.

Duchess never walked upright. She preferred crawling or scampering around on all fours, and Beverly wasn't sure there was a point to correcting her. She was a dog... well.. half dog now... but more dog then anything else, so why teach her to be otherwise? She wasn't sure it'd even be possible.

Like a dog, Duchess did like to nuzzle and lick people in the face… it was one of the few things that made Beverly laugh, although Duchess avoided Joel after he yelled at her when she tried it on him. Duchess seemed to deal with all external stress by cuddling. Seeming as if to place her trust in anyone who showed her affection... and being as Joel was emotionally cut off, Beverly bonded quick with her.

There had been a few set backs. Duchess suffered seizures when she first regained consciousness. After careful investigation from the Doctor, they had determined the cause to be her adjustment to seeing colors for the first time in her life. The Doctor was excited that the virus had constructive properties on top of all its other mysteries, but was no closer to explaining any of it.

Duchess didn't like the guards. She growled and hid whenever they approached. Her sense of hearing and smell seemed to be twice as good as Beverly's and Joel's, and both of them already had senses a cut above humans. She'd start growling at the door long before it opened. Thankfully the guards never came near her. They stayed close to the lock, only dropping off and picking up supplies periodically to sustain the containment room's three occupants.

It was already day six or seven since Duchess had arrived. Beverly was starting to worry that the passage of time was becoming too hard to tell. Each day was roughly like the last. She'd wake up usually in need of a change, and find Duchess cuddled close to her in the same state. After changing herself and Duchess, she'd get food and feed Duchess... and then... Nothing. She'd have the rest of the day to try finding something to quell the endless boredom and avoid the occasional glare from Joel.

“Maybe we should try teaching you to speak?” Beverly asked Duchess. Duchess wagged her tail a little and licked at her nose, not understanding.

“I think it might be possible Bev,” boomed the overhead voice. “It’s certainly something that an experienced psychologist like you could attempt.”

Beverly frowned up at the window, instinctively knowing what direction to look at the mirrored glass. “I don’t work for you anymore. Assume everything I do for Duchess is atonement for the damage I caused.”

There was silence. The Dr. was interested in the results, despite whatever reasons Bev might have for doing them. It was rare for any scientist or psychologist to study the so called ‘Mowgli Syndrome’ that Duchess inadvertently fit into.

Beverly sat down with Duchess in her lap, the two little furs looking a bit of an odd pair, as Beverly tried to blunder her way through a ‘monkey-see’ ‘monkey-do’ session of mouth movements and sounds; trying at first just to have Duchess mimic moans and grunts.

The Dr. and two research assistants were watching and making notes from above when another assistant came running into the lab.

“Dr. the test came back from the Montana pigs.”

Dr. Sahaluv grinned. The pigs had been vital in making an inoculation for the original form of the H2N5 virus… Originally the virus had been a killer; if contracted, you would die, it was simply a matter of time. Through the pigs, they had made an inoculation to render the disease harmless. Joel had contracted the disease in the days before the inoculation, and he had miraculously survived only to become what he was now. A patient zero of sorts. They had taken some of his saliva in the same way someone takes venom from a snake when he had last been tranquilized.

“And??”

“Dead. Within less then an hour of receiving the injection. Whatever strain of the virus Joel has, it’s genetically similar under the microscope, but not the exact same as what killed his mother and sister. Its more than likely that the saliva alone is toxic.”

Dr. Sahaluv frowned. This confirmed his suspicion. Joel’s body had created a mutant strain of the H2N5. No vaccine, no inoculation, and thankfully not contagious except in the form of a bite. The fact that the saliva alone didn’t cause an effect was a bit worrisome… but that might only apply to pigs… maybe if he were to find another human.. nooo… no more human test subjects. He needed more sleep, no more thinking like that.

“Note everything in the log, I want the full transcripts of the experimental results on my desk before the end of the day.”

The lab assistant nodded and ran off to accomplish the task.

Dr. Sahaluv rubbed at his temples. This was dangerous grounds. They were looking at something amazing… but was this a medical breakthrough or harbinger of mutagenic plague… he couldn’t be sure.

Tests…. Tests tests and more tests were what he needed.

Back in containment, Beverly was confusing Duchess more than helping her. Duchess simply wanted attention and affection, and there seemed to be no cognitive pattern for understanding speech or even trying to replicate it. After thirty minutes with no sounds reproduced, but lots of licks to her nose… Bev gave up.

It really was like trying to teach a dog. She may have the ability to move her maw and form words more like a human, but it’d probably take years to get her mind creating higher thought.





Chapter 8


It was somewhere around the tenth day after Duchess had changed forms. Dr. Sahaluv had studied the data again and again, and although the psychological study of elevating an animal to a new level of evolution was damned interesting, it wasn't clearing up his big questions about the molecular changes that occurred from the virus.

He needed more testing, and to get the best results, he needed cooperation. He had spoken to the retarded Lt. Commander, and he had a temporary stopgap he could try.

“If you can promise not to bite anyone else...” Dr. Sahaluv said over the speaker to the occupants below. “We can have another nurse tend to all of your needs.”

Joel growled and flashed his teeth, sitting up slightly and letting his wings spread out like a hawk about to take flight toward its prey… even if there was no one in the room to attack, he still hadn’t forgiven the lies that had been told to him. Bev was quick to jump toward him and instinctively her long tail wrapped around his shoulders.

“No… I don’t know about you… but I don’t like changing my own diapers. If we have to endure this; we should allow a nanny. We don’t have to comply with anything else, but someone to help us would be good.”

Joel continued to growl… he looked at Bev’s long tail like he was going to bite it. She’d been learning lately to use it more and more like a third paw almost on instinct. Even though Joel was mad; after thinking about the situation, he eventually allowed himself to quiet and concede the point.

“Fine… but the nurse better not ask about any tests or come in with a needle,” he huffed, closing his wings.

“And no green armor either,” Beverly added. She took a seat on her bed and Dutchess was quick to lean and put her head in her lap. “It scares her,” Bev said of the little furry girl.

Dr. Sahaluv nodded unseen to them. It wouldn’t be too hard to get a replacement. The problem was going to be indoctrination and understanding of the secrecy and gravity of the project. He wondered if he could just shove some RN into the room and not inform her the subjects were contagious and that she might end up a permanent resident if she did a shoddy job… …he shook his head, nope, unethical science was creeping in on his sleep starved brain.

As another thought for gaining Joel’s cooperation, the Dr. had toyed with the notion of getting more entertainment for the subjects. He wasn’t sure it was a good idea to allow them more electronics, which could be potential tools or weapons if a mind was creative enough… but at the same time the room was under 24/7 supervision and security was alert enough to tranq any rebellion.

“It may take a day or two, but we’ll get someone,” Dr. Sahaluv said into the mic.

Beverly seemed to visually relax. She sat quietly petting Dutchess. Although a bit frightened at times, Dutchess was adapting and seemed to accept her new body in her own way. She was still every bit a dog, licking, whimpering… but at the very least she had been able to use her new arms and legs to greater effect when crawling. She still hadn't developed the concept of being able to 'grab' things with her paws though.

Joel returned to playing his video games. He only had a few pre-installed on the memory of the PSP. He had already beaten them many times, but playing something over and over was preferable to staring at the ceiling or having to talk to the furry liar across the room from him.

After a few hours of sleep Dr. Sahaluv started to formulate a plan. They'd need a childcare specialist, and they'd likely need a dedicated observational psychologist, never mind having one go into the holding unit, Bev would see through it given it was her profession.

The problem was that the Dr. was a biologist and research scientist and did not understand emotions or humanities all that well. Considering his options he could focus testing on Duchess, since it would be more like animal testing given her intelligence level, but Bev would never allow that. He had two unwilling test subjects in there and the key to his research would be getting their cooperation again.

It took a little more time then Dr. Sahaluv had thought. He got the support of the Lt. Commander, and within a few hours of formulating his plan, they had base PR put out a job request through the DoD for 'a unique childcare' position without too much information on what the job entailed. He also had another for an 'observational psychologist' put out. The salary for both was six figures which would certainly attract a lot of applicants in this economy. It also offered full medical, and what must of seemed most unusual of all; it required an extensive background check and eligibility for a security clearance.

Within an hour of posting the notice they had 20 applicants, by the next day they had almost a hundred. Dr. Sahaluv was choosey, he went for college grads, aiming for those without families and with resumes that showed some experience in child development. After the third day he had a list of 18 suitable candidates and had the background checks started. A week later he had three psychologist applicants and seven childcare applicants invited to the base

Interviews were... interesting. He had one of his research staff sit in with him. Not having much sleep and no recent breakthroughs in his research, he was on edge and irritable. It was also a careful dance on what he could and could not tell the applicants.

His final selection was Stephanie, a 24-year-old professional nanny who had worked for military families and one very high ranking admiral before; and Cedric, a 32-year-old widower and observational psychologist who had done juvenile hall studies of some significance.

It had been eight days since his offer to get help for his test subjects and he was finally ready to bring in his two new employees. He met them both on the empty lot seven stories above his underground facility.

"Dr. Sahaluv, it's good to see you again," Stephanie said with a smile. She was in her best dress suit. Cedric was standing with her, he had tight braid cornrows and a white suit that was very stylish.

Dr. Sahaluv had slept four hours in the past forty-eight. He didn't crack a smile or offer his hand to them. They were on base, and the facility entrance was an inconspicuous guard tower in the middle of a field on the northern center of the base. It was Dr. Sahaluv's first time in the sunlight since the interviews.

"You've both sworn in and passed your background checks," Dr. Sahaluv said without preamble. "I'm assuming you both know by our level of secrecy that this is not a regular assignment, correct?"

Cedric gave a curt nod. "I've never made more than 45 large for child psychology. For what you're paying... my guess is you have detained child soldiers or something less then ethical?"

Stephanie looked a bit surprised, and a little confused. She didn't suspect anything out of the ordinary even though she had a huge salary.

Dr. Sahaluv just shook his head. "That's a good guess, and obviously children are involved, and there's a dumbass Lt. Commander who would like to think he has child soldiers, but I'm afraid it's more complicated than that," he paused a moment, thinking how best to frame his project. "Let me ask you this, would you condone the incarceration of children if it meant the end of the H2N5 virus? And possibly other medical maladies like cancer, HIV, and virtually all sicknesses?"

There was silence for a moment. Cedric was grim faced. Stephanie thought for a moment longer. "This is where the H2N5 vaccine came from?" she asked, without really thinking.

Dr. Sahaluv nodded, which was a slight lie, since he had helped in that, but the cure had come from pigs, not subjects bravo, charlie and delta. "We're on the cusp of understanding the next stage of human evolution," which is exactly what the Doctor liked to tell himself, and technically it was possible that his findings could do just that.

"You said it first Dr., we're already on board," Cedric said. Stephanie nodded, trying to hide her uncertainty. Dr. Sahaluv breathed a sigh of relief. He could bring them in now.

"The complex is seven stories underground. We have four security check points to go through, including two decontamination rooms. I'll explain as we go. Stephanie, you listed on your resume you change diapers, get ready for a lot."

Stephanie screwed her face up. Diapers? Child soldiers? Something told her she'd be earning that six figure pay check.












Chapter 9


"Bev, Joel, we have a child care specialist that can see to your needs starting later today."

Joel was napping, or really pretending too. Mainly out of boredom and he immediately got up. Bev was quick to look toward where she knew the doctor often stood when watching them through the directional mirrors. She had Duchess in her lap, and she looked up dreamily at the announcement.

"There will be stipulations though," the Doctor added. "We haven't figured out a way to meet your demands regarding the 'green armor' and still guarantee safety for a worker, soo... we're going to need to put some faith in you three not to bite any once else... unless you want a forth bed in there."

Joel and Bev looked at each other. Bev was a little surprised by the move, it showed a step in the right direction away from dehumanizing the two of them. She nodded. "I would never bite any one... the only time I have... you made me," she frowned up at him.

"Can you control Duchess?"

"She won't bite anyone, not unless threatened, and even then I don't think it's in her nature. Your research assistants up there could probably tell you that, remember that I know your operation, at least as it used to be two weeks ago.

There was silence. Joel hadn't said anything. Bev looked over at him and he frowned. "If it means getting changed. I won't bite... but again, no needles, no tests."

The doctor didn't answer and the three of them were left to wait. A guard came in, armored, he set up a changing table along one of the walls. It seemed to be built with a recessed back arch to accommodate Joel's wings, but the armored guard was apparently not the new help.

It was another three hours later that they got to meet her. Duchess was the first to notice, as usual. She let out a single low growl toward the door. Bev had learned this meant someone was at the entrance to containment. Joel picked up on it too and turned off his PSP.

Two minutes later, for the first time in two weeks someone without armor walked in.

"Hi... I'm Stephanie," said the girl, with a nervous wave.

Beverly immediately disliked her. She couldn't help it. Even after all the time of waiting and repeatedly inquiring about a new nurse, she couldn’t help but feel a little animosity toward her replacement.

She was cute, and obviously more sitter then scientist. She didn’t seem awe-struck by the furry creatures she was now going to be caring for. Instead, she looked a bit more afraid, like coming upon a bear cub in the woods and a getting a nagging fear the mama-bear would be coming by to tear her apart soon.

The girl walked in stiffly and went to Bev who was sitting nearest to the door. Bev really did want a change, she'd napped earlier and woken up messy.... oddly, although Duchess was sitting right next to Bev, she didn't bark, she even started to wag her tail as the girl came over.

The girl picked Beverly up under her arms. She let out a yelp, too stunned to do anything other than go limp. She was brought over to the changing table, and Stephanie set her down on it. She wasn’t experienced enough to move Bev’s over-large tail out of the way, or to place her down so she didn’t suddenly wince as she felt her mess squish. Bev hmph’d before laying back, mumbling ‘amateur’ to herself.

The girl slowly went about her work, seeming able to put aside the absurdness of the situation to do her new job. Bev had no doubt that this sitter was probably the highest paid caregiver on government record for just that reason.

Beverly allowed herself to be changed. It was the first time someone else had ever changed her diaper in her new furry life. She still had a nagging feeling of jealousy for the caregiver doing what used to be her job.

She couldn't help a dig. “Do you know what happened to the last nurse who was here?” Beverly said in a way that almost seemed conversational.

The girl missed a beat as she was wiping Beverly. “I’m not supposed to speak with you…” she whispered, and her eyes looked toward the mirrors. She started working again, but in a very quiet voice she asked “…what happened?”

Bev just smiled. “That runt over there bit her…” she said trying to gesture with her head toward Joel.

The nurse looked over at Joel, who apparently could hear the whole quiet conversation with his ears up… he flashed his teeth in a grin. The girl quickly turned back to her work.

"And you know what happened after that?" Beverly asked, trying hard not to smile.

Pausing again and Stephanie her head slightly.

"She..."

"BEV, that's enough," boomed the loudspeaker.

Beverly frowned and looked up at the mirror. Stephanie went back to finishing her task.

"You didn't tell her Dr.?"

Up in the lab and looking down on the scene the Doctor took his finger off the comm and swore quietly. He should have known she was too smart for this.

Cedric was standing next to him and raised an eyebrow. "Something we should know sir?"

Dr. Sahaluv waved him off and pressed the comm again. Honesty would probably be the best thing here. "We've hired two new employees Bev."

Stephanie had Bev in a clean diaper and helped her off the table. She went to the center of the room and mustered as much maturity as her furry body could and glared up at where she knew the doctor was with arms crossed. Stephanie picked up Duchess, who tried to lick her face and wag her tail as she was brought to the changing table.

"Let me guess Dr... You hired a nanny and some sort of behaviorist? I'm guessing the later thought up the idea of showing us a little faith. I know your methods, kindness isn't in them."

Up in the lab Dr. Sahaluv frowned. Right, on both counts.

"She's extremely perceptive for a child Dr. Sahaluv. How old is she?" Cedric asked, leaning a little closer to the glass to try and see her the better. Dr. Sahaluv's finger was still on the comm.

"I'm 26!" Bev shouted. "And it's nice to meet you whoever you are. I'm your predecessor."