OHAY I didn't see ya there!

Yes, I have another chapter done and I am, once again, posting from an undisclosed location. Enjoy and review please, I want to see if all of this work is worth my time!

Ella's breath caught as Logan held a mirror roughly the size of the handheld computers the scientists carried around to her face. Her eyes were no longer small and chocolate brown- they were large, catlike yellow orbs. Her nose was flattened, and her face was triangular and aqua-blue- she reached up to run her fingers over her skin when she saw her hand move out of the corner of her eye. Three long fingers and a thumb on a thin hand flexed in front of her. She looked back into the mirror and touched her plum-colored lips and stroked her catlike nose. Her eyes rose to her hairline- the thick black hair was carefully braided into the tribal fashion and was currently flowing over the table, as it wasn't tied back. Blue ears peeked out from under the tendrils of hair. She touched them, giggling. She could see her facial features in the Avatar, but just barely.

Logan held out a hand as Ella tried to sit up. "Relax- you're not used to the new body yet. It's a good idea to take it slow." A crash told them that Rayne had decided to not take it slow. Katherine, who was tending to Tiara, told her to hold tight while she untangled her from the wires.

Ella turned to her left and saw Brandon in a lab coat and oxygen mask, tending to Daegan's Avatar. Daegan's handsome face was shown well in his Avatar. He tugged slightly on his braid and held up the end, staring at the queue in fascination. Brandon watched with jealousy in his eyes.

A coughing sound came from her right. To her surprise, Alexandrea was sitting up, rubbing at her throat and whimpering quietly. Tiara was already standing and rubbing her shoulder. "'C'mon, Alex...this is a new body...you can do it..." Alex took a deep breath. Ella saw her mouth move. The girl cleared her throat and tried again. "My...name...is...A-lex-an-dre-a...Alex-an-drea. Alex. Alex!" the girl covered her mouth to keep from squealing. "Alex! ALEX! I can talk!" she was beaming so hard, Ella thought her Avatar's face might rip. Everyone was watching the rebirth of a young life. Even Rayne seemed to be holding back a smile.

Ella felt something in her stomach as she watched Alex smile and Tiara throw her arms around her friend, laughing. She looked down at her body. Peeking out from the pale blue hospital gown were long, spindly blue legs. She rolled her ankles and wiggled her toes, wondering why her feet were intriguing her so. She pictured herself in Alex's shoes- she hadn't been able to speak for years, yet now, with this new body, she could. As she went through motor control tests with Logan, she remembered Jake, her sullen brother sitting grumpily in his wheelchair when she ran into his apartment, and had jumped onto his lap, as a smiling Tom followed, walking in behind her. That was the only time he never smiled when she visited; those first few minutes when they were getting settled in. The initial happy-to-see-her smile was brief; the laughter seemed forced the rest of the time.

She frowned as she slipped off of the bed at instruction. How he must have felt when he got these legs, she thought as she took her first steps. A rush of emotion hit her with the force of a tidal wave. She bent over, trying not to sob in her new body. Crying was meant for long nights in her room.

"Ella? Ella? Are you alright?" Logan was kneeling next to her. Ella didn't feel fully relieved by the tranquilizer syringe he held. She felt a presence over her and she looked up at Jim's kind face. Jenna was kneeling by her other side. She reached for Logan and gently lowered the syringe. "Give her time," she said gently. Logan nodded and stood to go help Alex and Tiara. Ella remained in her hunched position until she composed herself. Face calm, she stood up and saw Daegan and Brandon watching. She smiled. "Let's test this thing out."

Short chapter, but yeah, Ella finally got into her body! Huzzah!

-V