A week earlier, before the mutation
Rockwell carefully looked over a statute of DNA, making sure that it was correct and firm too. He pulled out his tablet and wrote the progress down as well. Then he noticed one of the pairs was slowly falling down. He managed to hold it up and turned to his right. "Glue, please." He began, holding his hand out to the right.
Then glue was placed in his hand before pulling away. By his side is Ginny, back when she is a human. She is dressed in a teal shirt, jeans, and sneakers. At the same time, she was wearing a lab coat with the same logo as Rockwell and had her long blonde hair in a tight bun. She is new here at TCRI and was placed with Rockwell as her supervisor. She smiled at him as she watched him put glue on the pairs and hold it until it dried.
Satisfied with the results, Rockwell took a step back and examined it. "Thank you, Ginny." Rockwell smiled at her.
" Anytime, Rockwell," Ginny responded to him.
Rockwell only chuckled. "I told you, call me Tyler." He exclaimed. "We are co-workers and should be treated like friends."
Ginny nodded, looking down at the floor. "Sorry, sir." She apologized.
" Don't be." He then places his hand on top of her head and then gives it a good ruffle. He chuckled at Ginny's reaction as she tried to get his hand off her head and fix her bun. He turned back to his work desk and continued on his statue.
While he is working, Ginny hears whispers coming from two scientists in the same department as her and Rockwell. One is a male, and the other is a female. The two are older than her but younger than Rockwell. She listens to their gossip.
"Can't believe they allowed a kid in and worked with us." The male scientist whispered to his co-worker.
The female scientist nodded. "Yeah, tell me about it." She whispered back. "Maybe she bribed her way in."
"Or maybe she is blackmailing Eric to get herself in and work here." He replied.
She scoffed. "Kids. They think they are so mature but only fooling themselves."
"Hey!!" Rockwell shouted, arms crossed and glaring at the two. "If you two are done talking, get back to work!!" He ordered them with a stern voice.
"Yes, sir!!" The two scientists nodded and rushed off.
Ginny felt tears falling from her eyes. She is indeed younger than the people here with better degrees and more experience, but it never bothered her that she had to deal with it. But the gossip spreads like wildfire, slowly burning her like she is trapped in an endless forest with no way out of danger.
Rockwell noticed her distress and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Ginny?" He spoke calmly. "Hey, are you alright?"
She wiped her tears off and faced him with a fake smile. "I'm fine." She told her.
Rockwell sighed. Since Ginny was hired here, some of his co-workers here had not been so gentle with her. When tasked to look after her, he was the first to help her get used to TCRI work and the different ways of science here. He loves working with her and loves her attitude and her calm soul, like a water stream on the brook.
He patted her shoulder. "You know you can tell me anything." He stated. "I am your supervisor and your good friend. If those gossips get to you, I can report them to Eric." He added.
But Ginny just shocked her head and removed his hand from her shoulder. "I'm okay." She told him. "Those gossips are meaningless and false rumors. They don't mean anything." She turned around. "Let's get back to working on the statue." She makes her way to their table.
Rockwell frowned on this. Ginny was like a daughter to him. Even though he and his wife offer to give her and her family money, Ginny refuses to take it and says she would instead earn it then be presented. As stubborn as she is, she needs to stop thinking like an adult and enjoy being a teenager.
The evening had rolled in, and daytime New Yorkers left for home, even Ginny after finishing her shift. She walked down the sidewalk, passing citizens and apologizing to them but faced a harsh glare from them. She sighs of this; this is New York.
She looked down at her hand, her weekly pay. She counted them as she walked alone. She sadly sighs, almost but not enough. She put the money inside her jean pocket.
Money had been very tight after the city had to use the money to pay for the damage the invasion left, and the EDF had to remove the remaining parts of the Krang. And because of it, she had to be let go for the past three months. She's lucky she landed a job at TCRI on recommendation from a flier and got in. But it is hard to get in because she is only a teenager and could never get in. She is grateful that Rockwell stepped in and managed to get her in. Even after he offers to give her and her family money, she can't take his money. She wants to get it her way, with no pity or sympathy. Sure, it is a bit rude, but it has been challenging since the death of her parents, and no one dares to step in when they need anyone. So it had been her and her older brothers who had to do everything.
She heads to the nearby apartment building; it's not fancy but stable enough. She ran up the stairs and entered inside.
She opens the door and walks inside. The apartment had hardwood flooring, white walls, and a vast window. There is a couch, a sofa chair, a rug, a tv on top of a bookshelf, a tall lamp, and a coffee table. The kitchen is big enough for three people and has a dining room with a huge table and six chairs. To some, it is; it is relatively plain. But to Ginny and her family, it is home.
"Grandma, Owen, Ethan?" She called out. "I'm home."
Sitting on the chair is an older woman with white hair in a bun, dressed in a long nightgown and slippers. Her eyes are blue like Ginny's. This is Sofia. She smiled warmly at Ginny. "Welcome home Ginevra." She greeted her. Ginny walked to her and hugged her. "The boys are in the kitchen."
"Thanks." She kissed her on the forehead and headed to the kitchen.
Leaning against the kitchen island table are two young men. One has blonde hair, and blue eyes, dressed in a white t-shirt, denim sleeveless vest, pants, and boots. The others have blonde hair and green eyes and wear an orange tank tops, pants, and boots. They are Ethan and Owen, the two older men of the family.
Ginny walked behind them and gave them a bonk on the head. "Hey, you two knock heads." She chuckled.
"Hey, sis." Ethen smiled. "How's life as a scientist?"
"Not quite busy; got word that we are having a school field trip coming to TCRI tomorrow." She answered.
"Nice." Owen grinned. "Be sure you show them the Brains, like the ones on Jupiter Jim Attack of the Martian Zombies." He chuckled.
"Owen! Gross!" She laughed at her brother's goofy side. After laughing, she faced them. "So, how much did you guys make?"
The boys pulled money from their jeans pockets, and Ginny pulled hers out. They placed them on the island table and counted them.
"Okay. That should be enough to pay for the rent and dinner tonight." She declared.
Ethan nodded. "Good." Then he turned to her. "You go get the food."
Ginny points at herself. "Me?!"
"We got our night shift tonight, and we need to be ready for it," Owen added.
"Sorry, sis." Ethan frowned.
Ginny grunted and sighed. "No, no. It's fine." She replied. "But be sure Grace and Jacob get back home safely." She added.
"Yeah, yeah. We know, Mom." Owen rolled his eyes.
Ginny took the money, shoveled it into her jeans pocket, and headed out to pay for the rent and grab dinner. Ethan and Owen watched her leave; they had a frown on their face. They love Ginny, she has been a great help, but she never had time for school or friends. They want her to have enough life as a teenager and not waste her life working till death.
The supermarket is busy; many people are out shopping for food and home-based items. Ginny had a choice of meat, carrots, and cucumbers, a choice of a sauce, and grabbed a box of rice as she put it inside the basket. She nodded, happy with her choice, and headed to the checkout aisle.
She walked past the book aisle, only to stop and look at one of the shelves. A comic book of Jupiter Jim stood, based on her little brother's favorite movie. She let out a smile. Her little brother loves Jupiter Jim and anything that has space. She wanted to get it for him, but the price of the comic was above her pay.
She frowned. "Mental note Gin. Make enough for Christmas." She told herself. No matter what, she will get that comic for him. She headed to the checkout.
In the kitchen, she cut the carrots and the cucumbers into slices and threw them in a pan. She checked on the chicken cooking on another pan and saw it was at the right temperature. She removed the chicken and replaced it with creamy mushroom sauce.
While cooking, she heard the door open, and a voice called out. "We're home!"
Ginny felt a smile on her face. She pauses her cooking and walks to the living room. Coming in with Ethan is an eight-year-old girl with long blonde hair in pigtails and blue eyes, dressed in a pink dress, sneakers, and shorts. By her is a boy her age, but he has brown hair and blue eyes. Wear a Saturn logo shirt, shorts, and sneakers with a bandage on his left knee.
She opened her arms wide. "Grace! Jacob!" She hugged them tight. They are their little siblings, the twins. "How was school?" She asked them.
"We got to learn about space!" Grace answered with a happy voice. "And we learn about the stars and planets!!"
"Like Jupiter Jim!!" Jacob exclaimed. He starts running around the living room, acting like he is flying, while Sofia watches with a smile.
Ginny walked to Ethan. "Did Jacob behave well?" She questioned him.
Only for him to look away and rub the back of his neck. "Well.."
Ginny frowned. "Well, what? What happened?" Concern grew in her, worried for the sake of her little brother.
Ethan sighed, then faced her. "His teacher told us that Jacob had punched a kid at recess." He answered her. "Jacob told me his side that the kid called Jupiter a fake and a loser. And..well, you know how he gets."
"Yeah.." Ginny nodded slowly.
"Things had been really hard for him since he was diagnosed." He added.
She sighed and nodded. After their mother died, they found out Jacob was diagnosed with Autism, and raising an autistic kid is pretty rough. But Ginny always did her best to help him.
Once dinner is ready, Ginny serves Grace, Jacob, and Sofia their dinner first and then packs the boy's meal in their lunch boxes. She handed them their boxes as they grabbed their bags and grabbed their boxes as well.
"Now, please be careful." She told them.
Owen groaned. "We'll be fine." He said. "Geez, you sound more like mom each day."
Ethan pat Ginny on the head. "Take care, sis." He smiled.
Ginny fixed her hair as she watched the two head out of the apartment. She worries about them every night, but they make sure they are fine and are still alive.
Ginny fixed herself a plate of dinner and joined the rest. The chicken is covered in a creamy sauce, the rice is cooked well, and the vegetables are roasted great.
During this, Sofia spoke up. "So, how has work been for you?" She asked Ginny.
"Huh?" Ginny looks up, rice on her fork. "Oh, it has been going fine. Work is running slow and all." She answered her grandmother. "Hopefully, things will get busy tomorrow."
Grace stopped eating and faced Ginny. "Can we get desserts after dinner?" She asked her.
Ginny sighed. "No, Grace." She replied. "We didn't make enough for sweets."
Grace let out a pout. Ginny wanted to give the siblings everything they needed and wanted, but her pay was small, and she could barely make a living.
She reached for her hand and held it tight. "But I promise that once we work hard enough, we will get you and Jacob some ice cream."
Grace smiled at her as Jacob let out a cheer of laughter. She let out a small smile. It was a small promise, but it is one that she will hold on till she does make enough.
After dinner is finished and cleaned, it is time for bed. Ginny had helped her grandmother get in bed and gave her her medication. She returned to the twin's room and found the two playing toys. Their room is a small space with two beds across and a nightstand with a lamp on. She rolled her eyes and cleared her throat.
"Okay, little tots, time to go to bed." She walked in and put their toys away, "I got work tomorrow early."
"Aww..but we're not tired," Grace whined. Jacob nodded.
Ginny faces them. "You know the rules."
With a groan from both of them, they climb on their bed and pull the cover over them.
After she was sure the twins were tucked in, she was about to turn the light off when she heard Jacob's voice.
"Sis? Story?" He asked her, staring at her with his huge blue eyes.
Ginny sighed, but not a tired one. A happy one. "Okay." She sat by his side as he cuddled close to her with her arm around his shoulder. Ginny thinks for a bit. "I got a fun story I know you will love." She started. "It's about the Adventures of Jupiter Jim and his new sidekick."
"Europa Jacob!!" He chimed in.
She chuckled. "That's right." She nodded right as she began her story. "Jupiter and Europa had landed on a peaceful planet populated by tickle aliens!!" She then gave Jacob a tickle on the stomach, causing him to laugh. She laughed, too; she stopped and continued her tale. "Yet, they are being attacked by a very hungry earthworm, trying to eat their planet. So to save the tickle aliens, Jupiter and Europa had to use their creative minds to get the earthworm off the planet."
Jacob listens to her with a huge smile.
"They tried using brute force, their weapons, and even tried to outsmart it, but the earthworm was too big for them. And that's when young Europa hatched a cleaver plan. He found out the earthworm was ticklish, so he and the aliens tickled the earthworm and caused it to run off to space. The tickle aliens are happy that the two saved them. And with that, Jupiter Jim and Europa Jacob had skyrocketed out of the planet and onto her planets to explore and save. The End." She finished the story.
"I like it, sis." Jacob smiled at her.
Ginny smiled back. "Glad you do, little bro." She replied back. "Now go to sleep."
"Okay." Jacob gets comfy in bed, staring at her. "Night."
"Good night." She leaned in and kissed him on the forehead.
She stood up, walked to the entrance, and turned the light off. She closed the door and headed to her room.
Inside are three beds, all stacked together, and a ladder too. Also have a desk with a laptop, three dressers, and a huge rug. Since the apartment didn't have enough rooms, they had to share a room. Ethan, Owen, and Ginny. Grace and Jacob, while their grandmother had her own room.
Ginny climbs up to her bed and flops down with a tired huff. She stared at the ceiling and felt tears coming from her eyes. She suddenly let out a stressful sob and cried into her pillow.
She is so tired, so overworked, and so stressed. All Ginny knows in life is that she had to work her life not to be homeless and die. She never gets to finish school or see her old friends; she has to let them go to save her own family. She had to be an adult and let go of her childish ways for her grandmother, her siblings, and Jacob. She cried herself to sleep.
Now
Ginny sobs into her pillow; she refuses to get up or even leave her new room. She slowly lifts her head and looks at her hands: three fingers, a turtle-like. Tears fell from her eyes again. She lost both her humanity and her family on the same day.