Bucky can see Tara's surprise and joy clearly, but he was confused to see horror and disbelief and disgust in Susan's face...He thought being sisters and all, Susan would be happy and surprised for Tara.
He promised himself to ask Susan soon about this, but right now, he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, "I apologize for smelling you, Miss Tara, but I was concerned.". Tara looked at him with a small smile, "It's okay...This is wonderful news for me...I'm gonna be a mom...", looking even more joyful, hoping that when she gets out of here, Derek would be worried and anxious to see her again, and of course, he will be shocked to find out that he's gonna be a father.
Susan took a deep breath, inhaling deeply as she apparently saw Bucky's confusion when he glanced at her, and smiled an almost real smile, "Yeah...You sure are...I'm going to be an aunt...", before glancing at Mo and remembering what he also said.
"So, you're a gorilla shifter?", Susan asked, hoping to distract Tara out of her daydreaming, and Mo nodded, "Yep. And it's all thanks to the Quantonium that landed some hundred years ago, on my home island, Skull Island. Apparently, people call me King Kong for some reason.", with a shrug.
Bucky stifled his chuckle, "Maybe because you don't know this, Susan, but that was a movie where we came from. Steve and I saw it when we were kids.".
"Did it even have sound if it was that long ago?", Susan chuckled. "Well, it was in black and white still...", Bucky rubbed the back of his neck.
"Anyway, it's very nice meeting you, Mo.", Susan smiled as she shrunk back down to take his hand... and realized she was still a bit taller than him even at the smallest she could go. "Ten feet... about like Mum and Dad...", she whispered to herself.
Mo exhaled softly, now having Susan up so close, and somehow, she's even more beautiful in Amazonian size, and chuckled warmly, "All my pleasure, Miss Susan.".
Susan smiled softly, "No, just Susan, please.", and Mo blinked before nodding, "Alright, Susan.", taking her hand, and suddenly, he felt something...almost like really strong sparks...He paled, realizing that Susan is his soul mate, but that means his soul mate is Bucky's niece!
Of course, he obviously didn't say anything, nor was he even so sure... it felt like what he had been described in his youth about his people finding their soul mates... but here? With her? Not of his tribe? Maybe it was the Quantonium connection then? Still, he needed at least more time to think which he certainly would have plenty of for sure. The attention then quickly turned back to Tara with her news though Bucky obviously could tell something was wrong with Susan in terms of the news. If they would have a moment alone, he was sure to ask.
"So... is it just the two of you?", Susan asked as both men/Quantonium infused shapeshifters shook their heads. "No, we've got at least four other 'inmates'.", Mo explained. "They're obviously more... monstrous.".
"Tara, you think you'll be alright for now?", Susan asked. "I'm just asking because I'm a bit worried how we're both probably going to take the others.". Susan was almost sure she'd take it better than Tara... but of course, she never could be so sure.
"I.. I'll try...", Tara grabbed Susan's hand... or almost did until she realized she was practically going to pick her all up like one of her old dolls before Susan once more reached 50 feet. "You're going to have to teach me that if I'm the same as you now.".
"Quantonium infused, correct?". The two of them heard a more regal British voice. "That's right...", Susan looked around. "Tara and I got flattened by a whole meteor of it right before... her wedding.".
Both girls obviously blushed as Tara instinctually covered herself despite her new outfit. She knew for a fact that she had been 50 feet and fully naked in public, and some sick creeps redressed her and obviously saw everything.
"What is it with Earths and Quantonium?", Bucky rolled his eyes, and the British voice chuckled, "Perhaps because of the fauna and flora, or maybe because of sensing that the Quantonium has younger and older cousins of meteorites or such like from a planet or more.", revealing Dr. Cockroach.
Mo laughed heartily, "Somehow either of those reasons makes sense to me, Richard.", before glancing at the girls' surprised looks, "Susan, Miss Tara, this is Dr. Cockroach, formerly Richard.".
Dr. Cockroach bowed his head, "Greetings, ladies. Mo is correct. I used to be Richard Delance, but for quite some decades, I have earned the nickname of Dr. Cockroach. You can call me Dr. C, Doc for short.", with a polite smile.
Susan exhaled slowly, realizing that Bucky and Mo trust him, and replied, "I see what you mean by monstrous...By your name, I guess you got yourself changed in a lab, huh?".
Dr. Cockroach smiled, "Precisely, ma'am. I'm technically human as I still have my human body, and perhaps brain as well, but the rest of my body is cockroach as you can see clearly.".
Tara was obviously trying to refrain from either screaming or squashing him there as Susan tightened her grip on her hand. "It's alright... just deep breaths.", Susan whispered as Tara followed the instruction.
"Pl- pleased to meet you, D-doctor...", Tara stammered. "Well, at least she's not crushing me with a shoe, so that's a good sign.", Doc cleared his throat.
"I'd like to see her try with me!", a gruff voice called out before they saw a fish ape humanoid start charging towards them.
"Link, hold up!", Bucky tried to stop him as Link leapt over him... and got caught in a giant gorilla hand as Mo shifted into his more primal form.
Susan widened her eyes in surprise and amazement as Mo growled at Link, giving a huff and a thump of his other hand, and Link groaned, "What is it with you, Mo? Every time I do a sneak attack, you always get me!".
Tara shivered against Susan, holding her hand tight, and Mo gave a roar, and a bellow sounded out from another place, and Link blinked, "Fine, fine. I won't scare her off or the other one! Now, can you please let me down?".
Mo huffed, narrowed his eyes, looking at him, and Link held up hands, "I promise, Mo!", and Mo grunted before lowering Link down and letting him go, and Mo shifted back, now human, but still 50 ft high unlike before.
"Good. Keep that promise.", Mo glared at Link, "We have ladies, not men you can gang up on. Learn the difference!", surprised that he did that with Link, but when he saw Susan rearing back in fright and shock, something snapped, almost like he wanted to protect Susan.
"Come on, Mo, it's prison! Beat up the biggest guy!", Link huffed as he crossed his arms. "Right... you beat up Insectosarus!", a more laid-back voice called out before a blue jelly blob with an eye started to slither out from the same place the others were.
"Now, hold on, Bob, that's totally different!", Link argued as Bob got up to the group. "It's like beating up a baby.".
"How? He's way too big to be a baby.", Bob looked confused, and Link sighed as he covered his face upon that response.
"Uh, Susan, Tara, this here is The Missing Link, or Link... and that's Bob. It's an abbreviation of Benzoate-Ostylezene-Bicarbonate.", Bucky explained. "And as you might notice... he doesn't have a brain.", Cockroach added.
"Turns out you don't need one. Totally overrated! As a matter of fact, I don't even...", Bob suddenly gasped. "I forgot how to breathe! Don't know how to breathe! Help me, Dr. Cockroach! Help!".
"Suck in, B.O.B.", Dr. Cockroach rolled his eyes and sighed after Bob shook him. "Thanks, Doc. You're a lifesaver.", Bob slapped his shoulder with a smile.
Tara widened her eyes, "Y-you're not going to hurt us?", and Link looked affronted, "I'd never beat up a woman until in defense! And sorry that I went for the surprise attack. Sure is the first time we got two giantesses in one time alone.".
Tara gave a tiny smile, "I guess that makes sense...since we're so big anyway.", and Mo nodded, "Yep. And speaking of size, you're not the biggest ones unlike Link said. We have the last one, Insectosaurus. Now, he's a cuddle bug and he does mean well, just mind his size.".
A bellow sounded out, and thumps sounded out, and came around the corner, waddling is a humongous caterpillar bug, standing upright, instead of crawling like normal tiny ones in the world.
Tara gasped, widened her eyes, "Now I know how you feel...", glancing at Bucky, and Bucky chuckled, "It's quite shocking when you realize the height difference between all of us, but eventually, it gets normal around here when we hang out for a long, long time.".
"Do you two have names?", Bob asked. Susan gave him a look and then shrugged. "Well, yes, obviously. I'm Susan Carter-Rogers and this is my adoptive older sister Tara Murphy.", Susan explained as Bob waved his hands.
"No, no, no! I mean your monster names! What does people scream when they see you coming?!", Bob explained. "Uh... we don't have ones...", Tara said.
"Not yet anyway.", Mo huffed as he rolled his eyes. Bucky replied, "My monster name is Shadow Beast.", and Susan raised an eyebrow, "Huh, catchy.", and Bucky chuckled.
A bell sounded out, and Link sighed, "Sounds like orientation time.", before Monger's voice echoed through speakers, "Monsters except for the giantesses, go to your rooms. And Lunch is in a half hour!".
Bucky patted Tara's hand, "Don't worry, that's General Monger. He will give you the tour. Probably give you two a bunkroom. And he gives the monsters their names like he did for me. See you two at lunch, and we can catch up some more, eh?".
Susan smiled, "Thanks, Uncle Bucky.", and Tara nodded gratefully, "See you at lunch then, I suppose.". Bucky smiled, and all the monsters head back to their rooms. Susan looked back over to Tara and held her hand again, "You alright?".
"The truth? Not in the slightest...", Tara admitted as Susan nodded. "If I'm honest, I'd agree... but we'll get through this together. At least this is better than being dead, right?", Susan smiled, reassuring her.
"I suppose.", Tara sniffled as she was almost wanting to cry again as she rubbed her belly. Susan sighed softly, seeing the gesture which strikes both happiness and anger...One half of the baby inside is Tara's, her big sister's genes, but the other half is Derek's, that bastard's genes...
She then helped Tara up, "Come on, you heard Uncle Bucky.", as the other monsters finally exited into their rooms, and another door opened, with General Monger appearing in a jetpack, flying and hovering.
"Welcome, Susan Carter-Rogers, and Tara Murphy.", Monger replied as he got up close, "Now, it's time for your orientation, and step carefully. Please follow me.". Susan squeezed Tara's hand, and they followed General Monger out of the main social room, into a hallway with a moving platform that fits both of them.
Monger started, "As Shadow Beast and the others have explained, this is a deeply secret government place, and not even the Senate knows about it. You two are the latest monsters in recent history, and even with your powers, you are extremely forbidden from going outside, and I mean, ever.".
"So basically a 'monster' prison.", Susan gave a cold tone with that as Monger stopped for a moment. "On paper... and classified executive orders... yes.", he said as he continued to move.
"But we're not monsters!", Tara tried to argue. "Okay, yeah, I'm huge and clearly I can't shrink like Susan can...". Tara closed her eyes and was trying to will it.
"Tara, stop, you're just going to hurt yourself.", Susan said as Tara opened her eyes and sighed. "So... with how secret this place is... no visitors?", Susan addressed back to Monger.
"Yes.", Monger nodded. "No phone calls?", Susan repeated.
"Yes.", Monger replied sharply. "Nothing...? Not even to at least let my Derek know that I'm still alive?", Tara asked as she could feel her heart breaking with each response the general was giving.
"Negative on that. All relations of monsters are non-existent. Same thing for your folks and all.", Monger replied, "It's better for all of you if you want to keep them safe. After all, can you imagine the paparazzi getting on the nerves of your family if anybody knew?".
Tara sobbed, upset to hear that as she wanted her parents and Derek badly, but Susan is here...with her, and she has the baby to think about...Susan replied, "You have a point, General, but it's still hard to hear.".
Monger nodded, "I know, but you are both classified as monsters, even if you two are human on technical terms. And as you can see, Insectosarus is the biggest monster, and he never broke out of here for this is like Fort Knox hundred times over!".
Susan sighed heavily, "So, mega-super-fortified, then.", and Monger replied, "Exactly. Now, as you two are sisters, and as long as your sister behaves after that huge fit back in that room, we can give you rewards for your room. Think of it as a good-behavior system, and we'll be all good, is that clear?".
"Yes, sir.", Susan replied, and nudged Tara who nodded numbly, "Clear, sir.", and Monger nodded as the platform moved on, and out, passing doors, to the farthest door that opened up to a meager bunkroom with some posters and all.
Tara sighed, stepping in, and went to curl up on the bottom bunk, and Susan sighed heavily, glancing at Monger, "Is there anything you can do?".
Monger replied, "Sorry. No exceptions. All I can say is pray for a miracle. And oh, by the way, your monster name is Ginormica, and your sister's monster name is Giganta.".
Susan sighed as Monger left and the door started to close before the room lit up, "Well, at least we're not left in the cold darkness..." Susan walked over to Tara and sat next to her as she gently rubbed her back. "Tara... I'm so sorry...", Susan obviously was blaming herself. Tara might have simply walked back inside and not hung around the gazebo for a few more moments if not for her. She didn't know if that crossed Tara's mind, but it was all the same.
Tara murmured quietly, "We're going to be here for a long time, aren't we?", and Susan sighed deeply, "Looks like it, but look at the bright side. You've got me, and we got Uncle Bucky, and we might just get new friends out of it.".
Tara glanced at her, "I don't want my baby to grow up in a prison...", with a sob as she rubbed her belly, and Susan replied softly, "But he or she won't be alone..He or she has you, me, Bucky. Even the others can be family if you let them...".
"I can't promise that everything would look up, but I do swear to be with you no matter what.", Susan smiled reassuringly, and Tara looked at her, "That's what I want, little sis.", before squeezing their other hands together. They then comforted each other before they then headed out for the communal lunch and start their new lives.
Somewhere in outer space, a spiteful and selfish alien, in a super-humongous alien ship, has sent a robot probe, but it won't reach Earth until three weeks later. And so, the monsters have new companions to play games with and such.
Bucky was enraged to hear the horrible news of the discovery of Derek's crime, and comforted Susan that a miracle will come for Tara to know the news sooner or later, and Bucky, in turn, told Mo who was furious, saying that his people would have hung Derek and thrown his corpse into shark-eating waters.
Of course, Mo wasn't one for gossip, and not wanting to betray Susan like that, he kept it secret, for it isn't personal business, but Susan's business, and eventually Tara's business when she will find out sooner or later if the miracle comes true, that is.
Halfway into the second week, Bucky found the missing part of his memory, and it happened by accident in the communal showers.
It was actually an honest mistake there, at least, that's what Bucky tried to justify to himself. While some of the others didn't really do the showers, like the monsters who could not appear as remotely human compared to the Quantonium infused quartet, the other four did share. There was a recently installed privacy barrier so the girls could shower with each other while Mo and Bucky had one to their own; of course, it was still the same room, so everyone could mostly hear each other as they washed.
"I swear, I sometimes don't know why the Quantonium did that to your body, Tara.", Susan said as she was washing her big sister's back. "I mean, my build and all, that's also the Super Soldier's work there, hence I'm a bit more like Supergirl if they allowed her to have Superman's muscles.".
Tara replied, "I guess having an hourglass figure is kind of nice compared to my former diamond figure, and of course, I'm getting a bit bigger around the belly, thanks to the baby...".