Cheshire chapter 2

by fhwrege

Trials of the first days of a young breakthrough.

I became aware of a soft rumble as I drifted awake. Slowly opening my eyes I found myself still wrapped in a blanket and there was a large black furred arm cradling me. I smothered a giggle, the rumble (not quite snoring) was coming from Tygeara. "Ruth." I corrected myself. She liked the name I'd come up with for her but said she'd feel better if I called her Ruth, at least in private with friends. I thought it made her seem more like a new older sister or young auntie so I didn't mind.

Not wanting to wake her, I focused; between one heartbeat and the next the world washed in silvery white and I drifted through her arm to stand next to the bed. When I was here living things glowed with a "light", though the light generated by sentients was brighter. I took a moment to look around. Ruth's light was bright and warm next to me and one of Tokki's was in the living area nearby. That she was a redux meant I could see filaments leading off to other nearly identical lights both nearby and more distant. I'd given up trying to count them at "lots". Satisfied, I "let go" and everything returned to its normal color. Quickly I padded away on my digitigrade feet to take care of the reason I woke up. On my way back I detoured past the cove. It was lit from below and the water was so clear it looked like open air. At the edge a series of wide steps led to the water. I walked down and picked one that was just far enough above the surface that I could dip my feet and most of my calves in and kick them without splashing water to where I was sitting.

I watched my fur flow back and forth in the water as I thought back to last night. All the panic I'd felt then was gone. Daddy hadn't taken long to get over the sight of me with fur. In fact he didn't do much more than blink when we found out I could fly (by manifesting white glowy wings), change my size, (from full size to as short as one foot in height) and phantom shift like I had to get clear of Ruth. I could even shift just one body part at a time, and hadn't finding that out been fun. I shivered at the thought. Poor Tokki, she'd turned around from cooking to see my disembodied face hanging in the air behind her and the rest of me still sitting at the counter 20 feet away. I didn't know who screamed louder, her or me. Luckily a dim glowing mist hid where my disassociated parts would normally connect. Despite the creepiness of that, Daddy handled it better than finding out what Mother had done to trigger my breakthrough. The detective had said Aunt Beth would be alright; her son Billy had managed to get the hockey stick away from mother and the police had arrived before she broke her way back into the house with the axe she'd taken from the shed in the backyard. Despite being covered in blood that wasn't hers she tried to lie her way out of it by saying Billy was the one that attacked his Mom and me. I was glad that Aunt Beth had both video and audio security footage to prove otherwise.

Mother. I rolled the word around in my head. I felt no emotional attachment to it. Thinking back I realized I hadn't called her Mommy since my first birthday the year she'd moved us to Oregon. I didn't realize I was crying until my tears fell into the water in front of me. They flowed faster as I realized the woman I'd called Mommy had been buried under a stranger for over two years. Sobs escaped me before I reeled it back in. OK. Deep breaths. I still had Daddy and Grandma Alice and I would get to see them tomorrow (or was it today?).

I sat watching my feet as I kicked the water and let my mind wander. I realized my thinking was clearer now than it was before my breakthrough. Not only was I remembering larger and more complex words, but I was learning new words easily-even from different languages. I didn't really feel smarter or more grown up but some of my former interests felt so shallow now.

I blinked as it registered that my feet were a different shape. While I'd been distracted by my thoughts they'd elongated and grown a leathery webbing between the toes. I'd grown my own swim fins! I covered my mouth to muffle the giggles, sound carried over water easily and I didn't want to wake Ruth. I swung my legs over the next step down and looked at them. I frowned when I realized my feet now pointed straight "down" from my legs. Walking on them would be impossible. As if triggered by the thought of walking my feet started shifting back; 30 seconds later and I had my land legs back. OK, that was good but I was still dripping water. Standing up I realized I could "see" the water, even where it was soaked under my fur. I tried visualizing the water flowing out, and off, of my fur and a tremor shook my legs, spraying water everywhere.

I had to smother giggles again; I wasn't perfectly dry but at least I wouldn't drip on the rugs. I went back up the steps and toward the main living area. Padding in I could see the three clocks on the wall, one each for Chicago, New York and Munich, the one for Chicago was at 5:30 am. A little further in I could hear Tokki working at a console. She hadn't moved so I was able to enter the area in full view, not that it mattered. She was so focused on her work I still had to knock on the counter to get her attention.

Tokki started. "Oh! Good morning Sydney. You're up early. Couldn't sleep in?"

I shook my head, "Not really. Um, Tokki? Have you done my swimsuit yet?"

Tokki's eyes unfocused for a bit before she answered, "Yes we have." She pointed at a table set up next to a curtained area. "It should be in that pile over there. Thinking of going for a dip are you?" She smiled, "I'm Maryanne by the way."

I nodded, "Thank you Maryanne. Yes I'd like to. If it's okay and if there is time?" I walked over to the table and carefully sorted through until I found it. I picked it up and blushed-they'd adjusted it from the one I'd had. It was a modest suit that went all the way to my neck but they'd made it in the same dark blue as Astra's costumes. They hadn't put stars on it but they had however left a small diamond shaped keyhole an inch below the neck that would let my fur show through.

Maryanne smiled as she answered. "It should be fine. Breakfast will be served between 7 and 8. You can be damp but not dripping wet. You also need to be ready to go to meet your family by 10.

We set up a changing area for you behind those curtains." she continued, "Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Also there aren't any fish so you won't need to worry about scaring them, but Ruth will start doing laps at 6 and there are a few of me planting kelp fields. You can look but save any questions for above water if you can? "

"I'll try ma'am." My ears dipped at the half serious tease. I'd asked a LOT of questions last night. Stepping behind the curtain I looked closer at the suit. Donna had put a lot of thought into the design. A one piece, it covered me from just above mid-thigh to my neck and a swim skirt would hide the top of my tail and hang to just below the legs of the suit. Fasteners Donna had labeled "zip" and "clip" (one on each leg and one on the back) let me put the suit on loose and then secure it without rubbing my fur the wrong way. I managed the legs easily enough but I pulled fur as I fought with the back for a minute or two before thinking of "detaching" my hands and face so I could get a direct view instead of awkwardly reaching behind me. The back fastener clipped just above my tail so I didn't have to thread it through a hole and zipped to the second clip at the base of my shoulders, and two more clips that closed the back in the pattern of a nine part star ending just below my neck. So they had put one on. It had central oval with eight spars radiating out from it. Superficially it looked like Astra's crest but even if the parts were connected the actual shape would be different. I liked it.

On a whim I "dismissed" my body so I was left looking at just my head in the mirror. Giggles mixed with laughter as I went through the poses I could remember from the stories and shows that grandma had shared with me.

I was on "eyes over wide toothy grin" when the curtain opened. "Someone in here is having way too much fu...HOLY SHIT!" Maryanne yelled as she stumbled backwards and fell to the floor gasping.
"I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry. Maryanne I didn't mean to scare you." My apology rushed out as I faded all the way back in. "Please don't be mad." My ears and tail were tight to my body as I watched her lay back on the floor and shudder. Confusion added to my misery when I when I realized she was laughing. "What?"

Maryanne managed to gasp out, "Oh oh oh crap. A-a-apparently another me seeing that wasn't enough to prepare me for seeing it in person." She raised her arms and weakly waved me over. "Come here you unintentional rascal. Hugs." She wrapped me up as I buried my face in her shoulder. Deep breath, "Whew. Hush now. You didn't do anything wrong or bad. It's my own fault for not knocking first." She said while kissing my forehead and stroking my hair and ears. "I don't know if I'd call that fun but. Wow! What a rush."

A rumble came from the direction of the sleeping area. "Couldn't you get your 'rush' a little more quietly?"
Oops, we'd woken Ruth. I exchanged looks with Maryanne before checking the clock, "Do we get any leniency for it only being 5 minutes early?"

Maryanne gave me another hug and a kiss to the cheek before answering, "We can hope but keep your cute handy." She gave a wink, "Just in case. Now help me up."

We were on our feet by the time Ruth came around the corner in her human shape while doing what looked like warm up stretches. She took one look at us and grunted, "Maryanne you should be ashamed. Hiding behind Sydney like that." She turned to me, "And you, your giggling cuteness, are you planning to join me this morning?" She walked over and hugged me.
I hugged her back hard. Even in human shape Ruth was solid as a rock it felt good to not hold back. "If you don't mind." I blushed.

Ruth nuzzled my ear and let me go. "Well we wouldn't want Donna to have wasted her time. She did a good job. You look very pretty in that suit."

I blushed, "Thank you. Oh! Do you know if Donna intended the shape on the back to be a crest?" I held my hair to the side and turned so Ruth could see.

Ruth looked at Maryanne before answering, "It's possible. Are you saying you're thinking of picking a name?"

I looked at them and shifted on my feet, "Yes. Since I don't look human anymore I think I'd feel better with a 'cape' name. And since Donna already put a fitting symbol on this it feels right if the world knows me as my Grandma's little star. Her Rionnagh."

Maryanne took my face in her hands and gave me a kiss on the bridge of my nose before letting me go and saying. "That was from Donna. She's very happy you like the pattern and wants to know if you want it on any of the other clothing?" I picked three outfits so I'd have options for different situations. Then they had me pose and took pictures to send to Donna. After that Maryanne chased us off, telling us to go swim.
Ruth watched with amusement as I ran ahead and jumped out over the water. I drifted in the air while I thought about what I wanted. The flippers from before reformed quickly and I felt something on my neck. I touched it tentatively. Gills? Finally my fur altered to be water repellent.

Ruth called from shore, "Are you just going to hover there pequeña or are you going to get in?"
I looked over my shoulder at her and giggled like a furry imp before dropping into the water. Transparent lids closed over my eyes as I swam in circles and got the hang of breathing water. Finally I couldn't contain myself. I shot up out of the water, did a flip and then dove down at full speed, swimming as fast as I could through the channels with my laughter echoing off of the walls around me.

I heard a splash as Ruth jumped in after me. I circled a pillar as I waited for her to catch up and then took off again. Her laugh was a subsonic rumble as she gave chase. I managed to stay ahead of her for a few minutes until I tumbled after a wrong move and she caught me up and attacked me with hugs and nuzzles.

After one last hug Ruth let me go and had me swim next to her as she did "laps". They were a (mostly) underwater race course that included slaloms that could go any direction, jumps that took us through the air, and they were long. She started with the speed we'd been going and raised it from there. Not far into the first lap I realized I'd formed a water version of my flying wings and the faster we went the brighter they glowed and the more "attached" they were to my body. By the third lap they were shining as bright as the sun and I was enveloped in light from my nose to the tip of my tail.

Partway through the forth lap Ruth suddenly slowed down and stopped. As my glow faded I noticed an orb floating on the other side of her. It followed us as we surfaced.

Ruth turned to me, "Apparently time got away from us lucecita. It's almost seven." She kissed my forehead. "You're going to need to go on ahead, just follow the orb. It will take you through a shortcut. I need to feed the real big me before I join you."

I gave her a hug before asking, "Does the shortcut go through water at all?"

Ruth tilted her head to the side before answering, "Dr. Brock assures me it doesn't. I'll see you soon." After one last squeeze she let me go.

I rose clear of the water and followed the orb toward shore. Part way there I shook the water off and started shifting back to land form. I heard a snort and turned to see Ruth's eyes twinkling back at me. My ears dipped in a blush and not for the first time I wondered if the feline traits I was displaying were just part of my breakthrough or if they were affectations I used because others found them adorable and made them (and by extension me) feel better. I shrugged shyly and gave Ruth one last wave before stepping on shore and letting gravity reassert itself. I almost started flying again when my legs wobbled beneath me. I giggled. Ooops. Right. I'd forgotten I needed to walk on the "balls" of my feet now as I didn't really have heels anymore.

After a few shakey steps I found my center and followed the orb up a short path to a door hidden in the wall. It opened to admit me and I found myself in a long, arched hallway lined with alcoves containing doors, hundreds of them in many different shapes and sizes. The orb led me through a short series of them until one opened into a large cafeteria type space. Dozens of Tokki were sitting at different tables, gathered in groups of similar dress and hair color. Could one person be different cliques? Reduxes were weird.

The orb led me to a table where Kim sat with Dr. Harte and a man I didn't know. He stood and greeted me. "Good morning Ms. Scott. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Dr. Adam Brock, a professor of Physics and Extra-reality theory. What you see around you is the result of my studies coming to fruition. Would you be so kind as to join us?" He asked and gestured to an empty space at the table.
"Thank you Dr. Brock. I'd like that." I threaded my tail through the open back of the chair as I sat.

A Tokki who introduced herself as Ginger came up at that moment pushing a cart containing covered trays. Scents began wafting to me as she started removing lids. I was hungry enough after my swim that the smells started my tail lashing back and forth of its own accord in agitation beneath my chair. Then my stomach growled even louder than it had last night. My ears went flat and I tried to sink into the chair from embarrassment.

Ginger smiled and, at a nod from Dr. Brock, served me first. She made a breakfast burrito starting with over a pound of steak and adding plenty of eggs, beans and a few vegetables. My eyes boggled when she set it in front of me and began serving the others. It had to weigh almost three pounds! My shyness only kept my hunger in check in that I managed to chew and swallow each bite before taking the next one. I'd found out last night that the Tokkis that cooked took their jobs seriously. The flavors were good enough that, despite my resolve to eat slowly it was still gone before Ginger had finished serving the others.

I sipped my drink and nibbled at the fruit and cream she'd set by me while she whipped me up a second burrito as big as the first one. I took a bite and curled my feet around the legs of my chair at the flavor. If anything the taste was even better than the first one.

Dr. Harte smiled at me, "Well young lady, your morning workout seems to have given you quite the appetite." I felt my ears droop. "Easy. No need for that child. After Ruth's arrival two weeks ago I spent several days studying up on transformative breakthroughs and those with Darwin powers such as those the Young Sentinel Grendel has displayed. The one thing many of them have in common is the need for food to 'power up' as it were."

I looked at her, "Darwin? Isn't that shapechanging?"

Dr. Harte's eyes twinkled, "Not quite. A Darwin shifts to adapt to situations and environments. A shape changer often has just one or two forms they can change to, though not always. She shook her head, "It can get quite confusing. Especially when it's not known if a specific breakthrough has Darwin abilities or is a 'supernatural' shapechanger, such as a werebeast, vampire or a Kami to give a few examples."

"Oh." I looked down at my food and frowned. I was half finished with this one already. "Does that mean I'll end up eating like this every day?"

Dr. Harte shook her head. "I don't think so. Ruth is only feeding her full Tygeara form twice a day now. When she first came here it was every 2-3 hours. The caloric demand seemed to lessen as her body became used to the changes. If your adaptations are similar to hers your appetite will dwindle in a day or two."

I relaxed a bit. If I couldn't stay here I didn't want to eat daddy out of house and home. Wait. "Ruth feeds at full size as Tygeara doesn't she? How do you find enough food to feed a grown Kaiju twice a day?"

Dr. Brock smiled, "I cheated of course." and gave a wink at my questioning look. "While Ruth is technically a transforming Ajax she does have a very large reservoir of what could be considered Psychic energy or (if you prefer) Mana, that self regenerates. Normally she uses it for her breath-weapon but each use needs a relatively small amount of it. With her consent I was able to bind part of it to our little realm and form the sea that now serves as her 'apartment' as well as add more features and expand some of the existing ones. One of the features I expanded was the ability to create food. I placed a 'larder' in a sea cave that provides enough food to satisfy a hungry Kaiju. It renews within an hour and won't spoil." A sad look crossed his face. "Unfortunately any food made here evaporates like a dream if you try to take it outside of our boundaries."

Oh. So that meant no miracle cure for world hunger but, "OH! Is that why Tokki is planting kelp? Is she planting other crops?"

Ginger smiled at me, "Yes it is and yes. Anything we grow here is real and can be used outside of our boundaries. My agricultural corp has become by far the most numerous of me." She gestured at my plate, "Do you have room for another?"

I blinked and looked down. I was down to my last bite and my mouth still watered when I looked at the tray of steak. I managed a meek, "Yes please." as my ears dipped.

A human sized Ruth joined us as Ginger was putting it together, "My word cachorra. Did you leave anything for me?" she teased.

My ears dipped further when I looked at the trays and realized that, as far as the steak and eggs went, I hadn't.

"Well Ruth what do you expect? You're late." Ginger teased her in my defense. "You'll just have be satisfied with fruit and cream until I can bring you something else." She handed me my third burrito before asking Ruth, "Your usual then?"

Ruth rolled her eyes theatrically, "Fine." She took a seat and looked at me. "Now that Rionnagh has a grip on hers I might lose a finger if I tried to take it." She said as she reached towards me.

I intended to just grumble at her for teasing me but my ears went flat back against my head and I started growling at her through my food. "What am I doing?!"

I think Ruth could see how startled I was at my reaction because she relented. "Oh I'm sorry pequeña. I couldn't help myself. You're still on your first day of fuzzy cuteness and far too adorable to do anything to help my self control."

My ears shifted to their "bashful" position and I relaxed again. After a few bites I felt calm enough to converse. We talked more about New Underland and Dr. Brock explained how he'd taken inspiration from the artist M. C. Escher. Since Dr. Brock could write some of his own "rules" He'd used the concepts presented in the artist's "impossible" works to create what amounted to a wide open labyrinth. He showed me pictures of fields where the "sky" was more fields and where a light directed through an arch didn't shine out the other side but out of one miles away. He'd even made it so that if you traveled in a straight line you would end up where you started.

At that I looked up from the yogurt I was ending my breakfast with. "Dr. Brock? If you can travel in any direction and not reach an edge inside, doesn't that mean that if you're outside and don't know what you're looking for, everything here would occupy the same pinpoint? And you could walk past or even through it without knowing it's here?"

Everyone at the table looked back at me with stunned expressions. They were quiet so long I started wondering what I'd said wrong.

Dr. Brock chuckled, "Young lady do you know how many fourth year students I've had that didn't realize what you just did? I have to wonder how much is insight granted by your breakthrough and how much is just you being so delightfully bright and open minded. Did you have any other questions?"
I found myself blushing again, "Yes I did. I was wondering why you have so many doors?"
He looked at me. "With so much territory, especially after the expansion, it saves time to have multiple access points to a smaller hub area."
I fidgeted a bit "Well. Yes but do you have to have a door on the hub end for each access? Could you give the doors on the far end a 'tick' so that a single door on the hub side could be set to access different doors by entering a code to 'tune' it to match different ticks?"

My question caught Dr. Brock finishing his coffee. He stopped, put his cup down and stared off into space. Finally looked at me with a thoughtful expression on his face. Dr. Harte looked at him, "Well Adam? We're all waiting for your answer."

Dr. Brock pulled a device out of his pocket and pointed it at me. After pressing a few points on it his face was lit by a glow and his eyebrows raised in startlement. After seeming to repeat the process he put the device down and turned to Ginger. "Does Sif have the design for the apiary and arboretum she wanted mapped yet?"

Ginger tilted her head as if listening before nodding. "Yes she does. She has rendered three versions for your perusal."

Dr. Brock turned to me and tapped his device. "This reads an individual's Psychic energy capacity and can tell if that amount is static or can be grown further through experience and training. You, Rionnagh, appear to have substantial capacity already and even greater potential. Would you like to help me test your theory?"

Dr. Harte fixed him with a stern look, "Adam. Are you proposing what I think you are?"

Dr. Brock looked taken aback, "Yes my dear. I am. Could you have Kim contact Rionnagh's father and grandmother and see if it would be acceptable for us to create accommodations for her here should she want them?"

Feeling stunned I managed to stammer out, "A- accommodations? D-do you mean rooms of my own? I won't stay with Ruth while I'm here?"

Dr. Brock, "While I don't think Ruth would mind a sleepover or three, her grotto was designed with her needs in mind." He smiled at me, "And considering that you would be supplying the energy to make the pocket it would be remiss of me to not offer at least a 'small' part of it for you to consider your own to share with others. Though I can think of a few people that may put restrictions on that." He finished with a wink.

I squirmed. Ruth looked as conflicted as I felt. It had been wonderful to wake up being held by someone who cared about me but once I was safe would I want that all of the time? I looked at Dr. Brock, "Would someone be just the right doorway away? At least for a little while?"

Dr. Harte answered for him. "That can be easily arranged my dear. Although Ruth might take the tiger's share of those nights. At least at first." and smiled at us.

I was both surprised and pleased to see Ruth blush at that. I smiled back, "I'd like that." I looked at Dr. Brock, "You said arboretum. Does that mean I can have a tree tree house?" I felt my own blush rise as I heard Ginger giggle.
I'd lowered my eyes so I didn't see the twinkle in Dr. Brock's when he answered in a serious tone, "I'm sure Sif will be able to come up with something." He looked down at his watch, "Now if I'm not mistaken you and Ruth have a little under two hours to finish cleaning up, decide what to wear and get to our Chicago office to meet your family. While you are doing that I will consult with Sif and begin preparations to shape the new pocket." He stood and bowed slightly to me and more deeply to Dr. Harte. "Of course pending her family's approval. I will leave the details in your capable and discerning hands my dear." He handed his device to her and turned to walk off through a door that led to what looked like a study.

My new ears caught Dr. Harte's sigh as she watched him go. She caught sight of them perked in her direction and grimaced, "With everything you're dealing with now I don't know that you need an eccentric uncle added into the mix." She turned the device to look at it and did a double take. She set it down and came around the table to me. Kneeling next to me she took my face in her hands and looked me in the eyes. Then she chanted something and pulled her hands away just enough that she could pass them down my body without touching me. Finishing she sat on a chair next to me and looked…. annoyed?

I felt my ears dip as I looked at her, "Is something wrong Dr. Harte?"

"Nothing you did young lady." She reassured me with a pat on the knee. "I was hesitant to agree to Adam's proposal as it might limit your abilities. But the energy you used to help me last night is not what you seem to use to power your abilities. He can be insufferable when he's right." She stroked my cheek and became serious, "But I must warn you if you do allow us to bind a portion of your power to add to our home you will always be a part of it."

Ginger popped over my shoulder startling me, "Yeah. You'll be stuck with us forever and there are a LOT of me to take turns being the annoying sister."

"And even more of you to be the embarrassing one." Ruth snarked from her place as she rose from her chair.

Dr. Harte looked at me with concern as I started crying. "Rionnagh what's wrong?"

The tears kept coming but I started laughing, "Nothing is w-wrong. I'm h-happy b-but I can't decide w-who to h-hug f-first."

Dr. Harte smiled, "If that's the case I'll make it easier…. I'm pulling rank." I was a soggy mess but she handed me a napkin before pulling me into her arms as Ginger and Ruth looked on. Then I had to giggle as Ginger stuck her tongue out at Ruth when she beat her to me after Dr. Harte let me go.

When Ruth finally got her turn she shifted to her rest form and grabbed me up. Dr. Harte smiled and Ginger laughed. She didn't put me down again until we were back to her grotto so we could shower and get ready.

A little over an hour later we were dressed. Donna had come down to supervise and had bullied Ruth into an outfit that coordinated with mine. Dr. Harte had gotten in touch with Daddy and Grandma and they'd given their approval for Dr. Brock to begin so before we left we stopped by his workshop so I could "charge" the matrix he'd prepared. He assured me there wouldn't be anything to see for a day or two and shooed us away so he could concentrate.

With no more delays I found myself in front of the door that led to the NU office in Chicago. Looking at it I pressed into Ruth's side as I started trembling. She put her arm around me and held me close. "Easy pequeña. Kim just welcomed your family to our office and they're waiting for you."

"I'm s-sorry Ruth." I apologized as I started shaking. "I-I'm just af-fraid that w-when we open that door I'll wake up back in Oregon and all of this will h-have been a dream."

"It's okay cachorra. I'm here." She intertwined her fingers with mine and placed our hands on the handle. "Together now."

At her gentle urging I turned the handle and pushed the door open. Stepping through I found myself in a short hall with the sound of voices coming around a corner to our right. It was four steps but it felt like miles as I forced myself to walk that direction. The talking stopped as they heard the door close behind us. Stepping around the corner I could see Daddy and grandma Alice standing with Malcom. Behind them were Kim and another Tokki I didn't know standing next to a man in a rumpled coat that smelled of cigarettes. My brother broke the silence first.

"Sydney? Is that really you?" I nodded and he took a step forward and opened his arms. "Well Squirt, are you just going to stand there or are you going to give your brother a hug?" His voice choked a bit but he was smiling.

The next thing I knew I had my arms around his neck and we were both crying. He wasn't as strong as Ruth but he took my hug while Daddy and Grandma Alice reached around to hug us both. I didn't care if I cried enough to take Donna an hour to dry me back out. I was HOME.