A glimpse into the Hawkins' lab. Joyce goes through some changes. Thanks to Master of the Bioy foe helping with this. Thanks to all for following this story! Let me know what you think!

June.22/1976

Inside of the Hawkins Scientific Institute. Scientists in white lab coats bustle the narrow halls. Martin Brenner, head of the lab walks with authority. He meets with a distinguished looking woman in a black dress suit.

"Miss Sprav," he acknowledged.

She spoke in a thick German accent, "Doctor," she corrected.

"Right..."

Lotte Sprav was known to be an uptight and also controversial figure in her homeland, so much so that she had to find work elsewhere and of all the places it had to be Hawkins, Indiana.

"So good to finally meet, Doctor Brenner," her handshake was firm and well gripped.

"Likewise, Doctor Sprav, I have much to go over with you. We are indeed very pleased about your work. Your legend precedes you." They both shared in a rather diabolical chuckle. Brenner led her down a secret set of stairs, this led down to a secure set of doors that you could only pass through with a DNA sample. He assures her that everything for her would be set up to get into the restricted parts of the lab. The doors led down a hall, he walked her to a foggy window. Sprav was distracted by the armed guards, she was used to it back home but this seemed strangely out of place.

"What do you have in there?"

"Still not exactly sure."

There was a lot of snarling and growling but the room was kept so dark and with what appeared to be something like a green smoke filling the room it was hard to figure out what it could be. Sprav was a bit disturbed by how calm Brenner was. She wasn't sure exactly what else Brenner did here and maybe she didn't want to know.

"Is it some kind of side project?"

"Actually, I was thinking it could be used in your work," he smiled.

Sprav almost came close to laughing but the seriousness on Brenner's face made her catch herself. "You can't really mean...I do not toy around with beasts. I am no mad scientist!"

"Yes, I know but we've tested this things DNA and it is reacting very interesting..."

Sprav was intrigued, "And you think this will help in the future of women studies?"

"And beyond."

"Where exactly did you find this thing?" She couldn't contain her curiosity or joy.

June.22/1986

Hawkins, Indiana. Joyce Byers' house. Joyce was saddened that Nancy left in such a hurry, something about remembering to have to get up early. She knew she frightened her. The way she bolted away like that; and here she was only trying to help, Joyce had to go and ruin the connection she had to the outside world.

She stared at herself in the bathroom mirror after dousing her face in water, she felt so strange after coming into contact with that fog. The woman she saw in her reflection seemed off, it was her no doubt but way more off than usual. For one she was smiling and another, those eyes were like emerald.

"Don't you feel good?" The scary version of herself asked.

Joyce froze in fear, she felt like passing out but answered herself, "I-I must've finally lost it!"

"Well, you lost maybe the one friend you had in this world. How does it feel, Joy? To drive everyone you care about away from you?"

"Hey, fuck you!"

The reflection laughed back at her, showing her sharp teeth. Joyce was getting more freaked out by this. She checked her teeth to be sure they were normal and not the wolf fangs her other self had sprouted.

"She'll be back...maybe. she likes you. Do you like her?"

Joyce felt shy all of a sudden, "Yes..."

The monster laughed, "Yes a nice little schoolgirl for us!"

"Huh?"

"Please, you know you want a piece of that!"

Joyce wasn't sure what to say, "I have no idea what you're talking about! You think I'm some kind of predator?"

"Come on, she's in high school. Sleeping with a woman was on your bucket list wasn't it?"

"Yes but..."

"But what? It's perfect. You haven't been laid in years. It's time to feel appreciated again."

"But I'm not attracted to Nancy Wheeler," she protested, her voice cracked a little so it wasn't that convincing.

"Sure about that? You can't deny your feelings, Joy. You have to take what's yours!"

Joyce put both hands on the top of her head as if ready to pull her hair out of either side. "This is so crazy!"

"Don't be ridiculous."

"Even if I did want Nancy...she would never want some old crazy woman like me!"

"I think she's already into you. Tomorrow she certainly will be," she smiled so devilishly.

Joyce gulped, "What does that mean?"

"Forget it. It's late. Time for you to get some beauty rest."

Joyce thought she'd take her delusion's advice and go lie down, clear her head. She was sure she'd be fine.

Nancy woke up feeling somewhat refreshed. She was trying to piece together what happened the previous night. She showered, got dressed and found out Steve called. She contemplated, wondered if she should bother calling him now or later. Then she remembered Joyce. She should go check up on her and see how she was.

She had these weird memories, something about a green mist or fog surrounding Joyce's home. She wasn't sure what brought on that nightmare. She saw her bike lying in front of the house, weird she hadn't ridden that in ages. She bikes over to Joyce's.

She was getting some wicked Dejavu walking up to the front door and ringing the bell. The door flung open and out stepped a young woman.

"M-Ms Byers?"

It was Joyce but you almost couldn't tell, she looked like a younger sister even a daughter if she ever had one. Sure she still had the messy hair and old clothes but no wrinkles or cow's feet to speak of.

"Hello there, Nancy!"

"Y-you...look great." Nancy found herself slightly intimidated, she was like a babe and she still looked like a little girl.

"Thank you. Want to come inside?"

Nancy happily obliged and entered the home. It looked different, cleaner. The smashed in TV was gone. They sat on the couch and drank tea.

"I think I had a crazy dream last night...there was all this green stuff and we were in a closet...," she struggled to trace back the steps of this dream, like a thick green fog, "Wait! That really happened didn't it?"

"Yes...pretty crazy."

"And that stuff did this to you?" She was still amazed but also terrified.

Joyce remained calm, her eyes a tint of green, "I've heard no complaints."

"This still seems wrong," she was quiet for a moment. She had an idea but she knew just how risky it was, "What if we go visit that lab?"

Joyce smirked, "You want to break into a secret government lab?"

"I didn't say break in. It's a long shot but we deserve answers."

It was surprising to see how a young girl like Nancy could act so assertive and sure of herself, "You're sure?"

"Yeah," she hesitated a bit, still a little unsure about Joyce's new look and behaviour, "Do you want to come with me?"

"Just let me slip into something more comfortable and I'll be right with you," she hopped over the couch and ran to her room. Nancy was startled by her energy, she really did de-age some how, like she was 20 years younger. She came back wearing a hooded sweater and jeans, nothing out of the ordinary, "Let's go!"

They walked up the trail behind the house. Joyce kind of skipped along and acted like she didn't have a care in the world. "Are you ok, M..."

"You can just call me Joyce you know. Or Joy."

"Oh, ok."

Joyce looked her up and down with this kind of knowing smile, kind of cheeky, Nancy wondered if she should be worried. They kept walking and out of nowhere Joyce put her arm around Nancy, getting a little too close. "Can't be too careful around here."

They both heard cracking, like sticks and leaves getting crunched. There was movement up ahead but it wasn't government agents or monsters, it was Steve and his friends. They were drinking beer and for the most part up to no good.

"Look who it is," said Carol with some snark.

"Miss Goody Two Shoes!" Tommy said mid-belch.

Steve smiled awkwardly at her, "Hey, where have you been? Want a beer?"

She shook her head, "Likely not a good idea."

"Yeah, where have you been?" Carol asked.

"Who is that?" Tommy was floored that he hadn't noticed who she was with.

All eyes were on Joyce; Nancy had to think of something fast, "Um, this is Joy. She's from out of town."

Joyce waved shyly, "Hi!"

"You know, she kind of looks like you know who," Tommy laughed obnoxiously, Carol did also followed by a reluctant Steve.

Nancy remembered the phone call, "Hey, sorry I missed your call."

"It's cool."

"Did you want to maybe hangout later?"

He seemed unsure, "Something actually came up...rain check?"

Joyce noticed Tommy and Carol holding some laughter in.

"Yeah, sure," Nancy knew he was rejecting her, he'd likely go out with someone like Joyce the way she was now.

"We should get going, Steve," Tommy said after crushing his empty beer can.

"Yeah. Check you later, Nancy," Steve said walking by.

"Check you later, Nancy," Carol mocked.

"Hey, Joy, what you doing later?" Tommy joked causing Carol to elbow him.

Nancy had never felt so helpless. Joyce brought her into a hug after they were out of sight. "Forget about him, Nancy."

"But..."

"You could do a lot better."

"I'm such a loser," she sunk her face into Joyce's bosom.

"You are not a loser, Nancy Wheeler."

Nancy felt something weird under Joyce's sweater, "Joyce what is that?"

"What? Oh sorry, I almost forgot. I've been meaning to get this off my chest..."

She unzipped her sweater partially to reveal some very ample cleavage, like her breasts were ready to explode under pressure. Nancy's eyes widened, her eyes were like saucers. "Whoa!"

"I know right?"

"Those look so nice."

Joyce heaved her chest forward, "Want to feel them?"

"Huh? No, not here!..I mean not ever!"

Joyce laughed and pulled her back into a hug. "I've been thinking about you. I really like you, Nancy," she sniffed Nancy's hair.

"I like you too."

"I feel like you're my only friend...maybe the best friend I've ever had."

"R-really?"

"Yes. I get so lonely. Don't you ever get lonely?"

"Yeah...I guess so..."

"You're so cold...we should go back."

"Go back to your place?"

"Yes. We can go to the lab some other day. It's not going anywhere."

She gave Nancy her hand which she accepted and they headed back. Unknown to them, there was a camera watching them from the top of a tree.

Doctor Brenner watched them with his security team, observing their actions all the way back to Joyce's home.

Doctor Brenner's assistant made notes, "Are you sure we're ready for the next phase?"

"Yes. I've gotten the results I wanted. This should be promising."

"I still don't see why we have to subject them to this." Every so often Brenner's colleagues would question his decisions even if that meant their jobs.

"We've never tested this on the public. I have to know. Plus I don't like it when people try to hone in on my research and jeopardize it. It serves this woman right for meddling."

His young assistant remembered something he meant to tell him sooner, "Oh, sir. We believe Doctor Sprav has been located."

Brenner smiled thinly with pride, "Good. Bring her to me."

More soon! Things get steamy and complicated. The Sapphic Zone: Special Needs (a Jennifer's Body story) coming soon!