It was the summer holidays, 2 girls, Maria & Jane, both 18, were window shopping.

“It sucks when U can only see the merchandises & can’t buy them.”

“Now is the holidays…might as well find some work to do.”

“Maria…U know what happened last summer when I get a job at the fast-food outlet…”

“Just because of that U are afraid of working?! Just admit that U hate work.”

“Maria! Not so loud…” Maria ran as Jane chases her until…

“I see U girls are having fun.” Both stops as they turned their head to the man, quite handsome, early 20s, wearing a black suit, sitting on a bench, “I am sorry to interrupt, but I overheard that U 2 are looking for a job?”

“Thinking of…but my friend here hates work after an incident at her previous workplace.” Maria noticed the glare from Jane.

“I do have a job offer for both of U…do U wish to know more about it?”

“As long as I don’t have to work much & get the first week allowance on the first…” Jane’s eyes widened as the man took out a wad of notes, $100 notes.

“My company requires people to undergo drug tests. Not dangerous drugs I assure U, we will insert a typical flu virus into your body & anti-flu drugs will be given to U to see their performance.” Seeing the eyes of both girls widening, “If the 2 of U agree, this will be yours & I will personally pick both of U up in the next 2 days.”

“I’m not sure…” Marie said, slightly cautious, “I heard people going for these tests but never come back…”

“U got my word that nothing will happen to U. Everything will be provided for your 10 days’ stay.”

“Everything?” Both replied in surprise.

“Yes, everything.”

“We’ll take it!” Jane happily took the cash from the man, “Ohh…we forgot to introduce, name is Jane, & this is Maria.”

“Call me Jorden. Well, enjoy your shopping.” He shook both their hands, “I will pick both of U up here 2 days later.” Jorden left & the girls happily shop with the cash.

~~~2 days later~~~

“Hello girls, early by 5 mins I see.”

“Nice, U are punctual as well.”

“Customer service must be at its best Maria.” Jorden nodded, “I’ll be driving the 2 of U there personally. Shall we go?”

The duo took Jorden’s car & they headed to the medical plant, which is several miles away from the city.

“The place has a very high security…” Jane notices the large number of guards around the place.

“Rumours of sabotage by rival companies forces us to do this…though I myself don’t know why they need so many.” Directed by the guards, Jorden drove the car to a stop outside a large building. They were then ushered in to meet several scientists.

“These are the girls?”

“Yes doctor.”

“Thank U for your hard work Jorden. U can go back now.” The head scientist gets the other scientists to usher the girls away.

“Doctor, will U update me on their progress?”

“It is not needed…”

“Why is that?” Jorden noticed the guards getting tense.

“We are doing top secret experiments here. A normal employee should not meddle into it…unless U want to be a part of it.”

“I thought this is only a flu drug test! Why is it a top secret?!” Jorden grabbed the scientist’s collar, but the guards pulled him back.

“If I let U go…” The head scientist adjusted his collar, “Problems will arise & our Boss will not be pleased…” He gestured the guards, “Take him away & lock him somewhere, I will consult our Boss.

Jorden swear & cursed as he was dragged away. The head scientist grin, Two new guinea pigs…

Maria & Jane were ushered into different rooms. The room was relatively small, a window, bed & an enclosed bathroom. There is also a telephone at the bedside, where both can communicate with one another. They were made to wear a large grey hospital gown with nothing underneath & their belongings being separately kept.

For the first 3 days, nothing happened as the girls talked through the phone, checking on one another. The scientists came in to check on them & on their request, they got them a TV each, to ease their boredom for the next few days. On the fourth day, they were injected with the flu virus, which made them weak & nose running badly.

“Arghh! Feels bad.” Jane calls Maria from the phone as she grabs a tissue to clears her nose.

“Yeah…” Maria sneezes, “They say we need to get the virus to bloom before they administer the ‘cure’.”

“When will that be? U know my muscles aching…are U sure this is a flu virus?”

“Let’s hope we don’t go down with fever…that will be worse.”

The 5^{th day arrived & the scientists came & gave them another injection. All the girls wanted now is to get well & get the hell out of this place.}

“The doctor says the drug has a side effect…”

“Yeah I know…make us go relief ourselves every two hours once the drugs kick in.”

“Better drink more water…who knows when we will die of dehydration.”

“Touchwood Jane!” Maria cried out, “I don’t want to die so early, I haven’t even dated a guy yet!”

“Heh…sorry…just being optimistic about things…”

“That’s pessimistic to me…” Maria yawns, “…very sleepy…talk to U later Jane.” She puts down the phone. Laid on the bed, falling asleep rather quickly.

That night, Jane could not sleep even though she was sleepy. Her muscles were aching badly & her body feels very warm, keeping her awake. It was only after she asked for some painkillers that she finally slept.

The ringing of the phone woke Jane up. She groggily picks up the phone.

“Jane! U are not gonna believe this! I can float!”

“Float?! U mean fly?”

“Yeah! Come to think of it…did U wet yourself?”

Jane looks down to her legs & sees a patch of wetness on her gown, “Eww…” She touches them, feeling its stickiness, Its not urine…

“Of course it is not urine! We came last night...”

“Maria…did U just read my mind?”

“Ehh? I thought U are talking to me?”

Maria…something is wrong! Why suddenly U can mind read? Jane puts down the phone.

Maria almost dropped the phone, I don’t know… She puts the phone down. This is weird! I thought only psychic pokémons can do that.

Jane! What happened?! Maria felt a strange sensation through her body. She could only hear Jane screaming as she probed into her. Her body too started to ache & she cried out.

Maria looks at her feet in horror, as they were being pulled forward. At the same time, her toes shorten until to her nails, which dropped off, revealing small curve nails. Her fingers shrank into little round stubbles as her arms shortened. Pink fur blossomed all over her body & a thin tail sprouted out of her back. She groaned as her jaws pulled forward slightly followed by her ears, which moved upwards, pointed at its end. Her mind was suddenly flooded with a lot of thoughts from outside; the guards, scientists, other pokéhybrids, Jane, & held her head in pain, mewing.

Jane clutched her body tight as her skin starts to harden, except for her chest & stomach area, light yellow fur blossomed. She screamed out again as sharp spines grew out from the back of her head to her back, tearing the gown into shreds. A tail pushes its way out from above her butt, spines followed suit. Her fingers & toes receded into her body, only to be replaced with sharp claws, which jutted out. She groaned the final time as her jaws pulled forward, ears moved to the top of her head, becoming pointed & collapsed on the bed.

Dr’s Log 332590:

All 3 specimens have gone through the change smoothly. The 3rd, however, jumped into cyber space before we could contain it. We have closed all the gateways out of the facility, but we are unable to trace it so far. Once the 2 specimens awake, we will start our brainwashing program as soon as possible, providing on what the Boss wants.

Jane woke up, body feeling very stiff, groaned as she tried to sit up. Her vision still blurry but is able to see someone or something in front of her.

“Maria? Is that U?” Her voice sounded slightly dry.

Uhh…Jane’s vision slowly recovered, to see a brown haired, humanoid mew, wearing a torn grey gown hovering over her, Maria? It can be? Can U talk?

Sadly…no…the change has taken my voice, but I can talk to U with my mind. Anyways, I suggest U check yourself. Maria mind read to Jane, tail swishing.

Jane lifted her fingers, or claws, which clicked as she knocks them together. Her chest, abdomen were covered with fur but her back, arms & legs are hard shells. She reached her back, feeling the spines on her head among her red hair down her back. Her tail makes her uncomfortable as she shifts herself up to a better sitting position. Her grey gown lay in tatters. She touches her now elongated jaw, feeling her wet nose. What am I?

We are freaks then… Jane looked up at Maria tears running down her face.

“I’ll help.” The familiar sound was heard by both girls as they face the TV, which flickers to life. A Porygon pokéhybrid appeared on the screen.

“Jorden?! What the…!” Both exclaimed.

“Not the time, I will disable the security of the whole complex, which will enable everyone locked up here to escape in 5 mins. The cameras too will be tweaked to lure the guards to another location.”

“How about U? Can U escape?”

“There are many loop holes in the system, I might find a way out once everyone has escape.”

“Everyone is informed?”

“Yes Jane…I will transmit the exit coordinates telepathically to Maria.”

As Maria finished her mind-send, the complex alarm rang & their doors opened. The next thing they heard were the sounds of pokéhybrids breaking out & shouts of guards.

Jane ran out & her instincts took over, let lose several spines at 2 of the guards, dropping them unconscious, “Wow…did I do that?”

Jane nodded & ran, followed by the floating Maria. Many pokéhybrids decided to follow them since they were given the girls’ descriptions by Jorden. The group arrived at the main gates, which was electronically locked…there the head scientist & the large army of guards met them.

“Breaking out I see…well it had happened & put down before…I give all of U a chance to surrender. If not…well just say that our Boss decides to exterminate the whole lot of U.” Seeing the hybrids determined look, he raised his hand. With his signal, the guards raised their rifles.

Those able to create shields, pull them out now! Maria telepathically cried out as the guards fired. Bullets fly, hitting shields, missing or hitting their targets.

“NOW!” Jane cried out in pokémon rage as she charged, knocking down several guards & firing her spines toward another few. Pokéhybrids joined in the battle in their attempt to break through the line to freedom, which was just beyond the locked gate.

Not to worry, I got that covered. Came Jorden’s voice as the gate suddenly opened, Godspeed…everyone…

Out of the 50 who tried to break out, 31 managed to escape.

“Maria…can I have some of your clothings?” Jane asked as the 31 started their long trek.

Maria mewed in puzzlement.

“I don’t feel right without clothes even though I have fur or my hard shell…”

Maria giggled Mew style, Not all of us have clothings too U know…’bare’ with it until we reach our destination.

Jane gave a out a sigh as they headed to their supposed new home.

Copyrighted by HowardLam. Any part of this should not be edited or taken unless permitted by the author. Email: yiinhaw@hotmail.com