No Foolin' By Ariel Montine

Chapter 2 ~ How do I look?

The Story So Far:

Gail and Leo are aliens who crash on earth. Neither Aunt Emma, who found them and took them in, nor anyone else can tell, since they are disguised as humans. Gail's crush,Kevin sets off a device that puts him into a rainbow light cocoon.

Confused? You'll still be after this chapter of No Foolin'!

No Foolin'

By Ariel Montine

Chapter Two ~ How do I look?

Kevin now could not be visible on the couch  Instead of a kaleidoscope of colors playing over him, a brilliant white light surrounded him very much like a cocoon.  It was not going to be possible to leave Kevin on the couch in the den in that condition.  Besides us not wanting to overwhelm Aunt Emma should she see him, he might need some otherworldly medical care.  Leo handed the scanner to me and the book so that he could get what we needed from the storage locker.  

I noticed a stud stuck out on what I had been calling a book but was really a device meant to initiate a transformation.   It had been depressed before, even when I had noticed it in the swing before Kevin had sat down.  That meant that it had been triggered some time in the past.  Since it was similar to many of our portable one shot devices, I surmised that it didn't go off because there was no charge of magical energy stored with in it at the time.   I wondered how many transformations were left in it before it burned itself out. From the looks at the size of it , I guessed no more than a dozen.

Oh! I can be so dense sometimes!  I had in my other hand the scanner and I could have a look see.   I scanned it and found that it had the standard precautions to preserve the mind after the change.   It's biometric sensors would read the individual's gender and age within a certain range in order to preserve them.   Messing with either of those could lead to identity death, which was not acceptable to our culture.  It was indeed a one shot device which could only be triggered a total of four times.  It read that it had absorbed a full charge of magical energy and that three changes remained. 

I wondered around inside of its workings stumbling on subsystems that were beyond my technical background to understand.  I was looking for some kind of control center that would allow a particular template to laid in for the transformation.   I had no luck with it and wondered why such a basic thing would be so hard to find.   I was frustrated that I was no further along .  I took some solace in knowing that with the usual safeguards in place that unless he was really a transwoman, what ever came out would be a boy of about the same age. 

"Leo, I am no closer figuring out what is happening.  All I know is that it has the standard safeguards and its a one shot device with 3 charges remaining."

"Sis, help me roll him onto the stretcher.   We'll take everything down and sort it out there." I helped Leo roll Kevin on the stretcher and we had him on his back and secure for transport.

I took the book and scanner and tucked them both in with Kevin on the stretcher.  "I'm ready, let's go!"

We took Kevin's cocoon on the antigravity stretcher down the stairs to the basement and the fun room.   It was bright and airy due to the inspired use of lighting.   A large picture window on one wall apparently looked out at the garden in back of the house.   This wonderful illusion also doubled as a media wall.   We passed a billiard table and ping pong table on one side and a recreation of a 1950's soda fountain on the other side.  The soda fountain was totally functional including soft drinks and was one of the perks along with the media wall that she had installed in the basement in the wake of her money from her best seller.  Comfortable chairs were scattered around the room in ways that encouraged small group chats.   If the ping pong table were folded up it could accommodate a large gathering.  In the rear was access to the restroom and beside it a closet door.   This closet door had a biometric lock on it that only my brother and I could open.   Leo opened the door and inside the small space also opened the storage locker from the pod where it was hidden from sight. 

To all appearances it was a closet within a closet, looking to measure three feet by four feet and seven foot high. But appearances were deceiving, since when we were inside, it was a much larger room which had other room doorways that were scattered among the wall's perimeter.  It was into one of these rooms that we carried Kevin which was outfitted as the pod's sickbay.    The pod's cabinet is dimensionally transcendental, meaning that its exterior and interior exist in separate dimensions.

We transferred Kevin in his cocoon to the  biobed which began monitoring him.   It was certain of two things from the readings.  Kevin remained alive and well and he was being transformed into something different from ordinary.  Leo had taken the scanner and book that we had carried into the sickbay on the stretcher that we had transported Kevin.  He explored its contents much as I had done with the scanner trying to find a clue to the transformation that it had initiated on Kevin.

Unexpectedly, the book began to be the source of a holographic projection.   Both of us were mesmerized when we perceived it to be our mother who had begun a scholarly explanation.

"This device is the demonstration project for our anthropological studies of the inhabitants of the planet Siluria. As you know, Siluria, is a perplexing planet which we have detected with a device at it's core that renders most higher functioning of physical laws to be non existent.  At the same time, we would expect that when science has been damped down that magic would flourish.   However the magical aether exist very thinly but still function.   the basic necessities of life are provided by magic.   The Silurians developed the ability to draw in the small amounts of the aether and within their bodies magnify the magic so that it can be powerful enough to be put to use.  The Silurians are a pastoral people who live simply.  

"The lack of function of anything utilizing scientific laws within the environs of the planet Siluria has made research limited to remote sensing from outside the limits of its influence.  The aether on Siluria is not strong enough to support magic to teleport any of its inhabitants from off of their world.  It would not seem to be a priority to them since they are daily acting to provide the basics to survive.   In the interest of having some subjects to study when no natives would be possible to examine first hand, this transformation device was hardwired to only produce a transformation to a Silurian.  It is calibrated to occur over seven hours, to ease the transition to the new form.   It is hoped that close observation of transformed individuals may bring added understanding of the Silurians."  What followed her explanation was a projection of  typical male and female Silurians from their observations.  They looked much like my brother's and my natural forms.

The projection ended and both I and my brother gasped. "Mother, knowing that they had little time may have either thought it was a stasis generator or tried to put both her and also my father into the cocoon stasis state.    She triggered it  hoping to survive the crash and nothing happened because it was uncharged.   Now it is turning Kevin into a Silurian, Leo."

Leo took another look at the biobed readings.  We had both been trained as medics which was fortunate since we had to use the biobed on ourselves when we got sick because Terran medicine would not know how to deal with our real selves.  "All I can read right now is that Kevin is alive.   There is no indication yet on how things are progressing.   We may not know till Kevin emerges from the cocoon in what's left of the seven hours."

"I'm glad we got Kevin down here out of sight.  Oh goodness, I guess I will have to cover for Kevin until we know what has happened to him.  That will be easiest.   Leo can you keep watch on Kevin for me? My band got close enough to Kevin so I can set it to emulate his appearance.  I can take his place this evening and tonight.   Before I go we can use it to clone another band with Kevin's form in it.  Kevin can take over being himself wearing the band no matter what form he looks like afterward, hopefully. "

"Ok sis, I will watch over Kevin and tell Aunt Emma something so she wont worry about you being gone.  I guess I could tell her you are sick and needed to stay in the  pod closet where you could be treated.   Make up some excuse to come over first thing in the morning."

"I will Leo.   I will have to go quickly to escort Kevin's kid brother Jerry home from the after school program like he always does.  See you soon."  I made some adjustments in my band .   It changed me into being percieved as Kevin although my real self was unchanged. I went out the way we had come in, up the stairs out into the den and thru the backdoor to the yard where Kevin's bike waited for his return.   I got onto it and started peddling to Kevin's brother's school.

I guessed that I was a good enough actress aided by the band which prompted me to act in masculine ways in order to not break the illusion.   I was even on the verge of cursing myself, only I saw it wasn't required to keep up the respect that Kevin had earned.   It did not seem as appropriate in the environs of Jerry's elementary school.  Jerry was young, aged 9 and at that age where it was easy for a child to appear androgynous,    Jerry's long hair, sense of fashion and meek demeanor encouraged a feminine perception.   If it were not for Kevin's reputation, Jerry would likely find himself being abused.   Looking at things now, Kevin's cursing was oddly attractive since it was an outward expression of his love for his brother.

Jerry came running out of the school and straight into my arms in much the same manner as I had run into the arms of my big brother.   I enjoyed the hug and spoke to Jerry with the compassion that I had witnessed between them.  "Thank you for coming to meet me, Kevin.  You don't know how much it means to me that you care so much for me."

"I love you too, Jerry.   What did you do in the after school program today?"

"After we got thru with our homework, I got to work on my project again.   You have to see it when we get home!"

"I'm sure it is amazing like everything that you do.  I can't wait!"

We soon had pulled up and parked our bikes in the bike rack by the garage.   I opened the door which was unlocked because Kevin's Dad's car was home.  The one time I had been over to Kevin's house for a birthday party, I had discovered the basic layout.   Bedrooms upstairs with Kevin's and his brother's  and at the end of the hallway the master suite with Kevin's parents.   The main living area was on the ground floor.  There were stairs leading to a basement but it had been out of bounds when we had been there.  Instead of going upstairs as I expected, Jerry started to go down to the basement.  When he saw I wasn't following, he said "Please, Kevin"

I let Jerry gently lead me by the hand down the stairs and thru the forbidden door into the basement.   It looked about the same size as ours except that there was a bedroom sized room which used part of the space.   When Jerry opened the door, what I saw inside looked very pink .

"Kevin, please have a seat and I will change and be out in a little bit.."  Jerry pointed me to one of the comfortable chairs which had a video wall remote control laying next to it and disappeared inside the room.

I had on Style Network watching, "How do I look? and enjoying myself while I waited.

I heard from behind me the door open and Jerry ask me "How do I look?"  I turned around and did a double take!  Kevin's sibling (and better spell it Jeri) had stepped out looking gorgeous in a new party dress which I surmised had been the project that she had been working on.   Jeri was an incredible actress to pull off being Jerry by day.   I hoped that I would discern the details but till now I would go with the flow.

"Sis, you look amazing!  I can't believe how beautiful you are.   That party dress you made is amazing!"

She came up and gave me a hug and a kiss on my cheek.  "Thank you brother dear!  You know just what to say!  I wish that you didn't have to bluster so in order to protect me.   Its not you and you scare most of the girls away"

"Not all of them away, there are some who are interested in me in spite of my act."

"You know, Gail is a keeper.   You really should ask her out so she can get to know the real you."

Further conversation was interrupted by the voice of their Mother over the intercom, "Linda, if you are changed, please come up and set the table for Mommy."

She answered the intercom, "Coming Momma!" and she took off gracefully up the stairs.    

Even though I could expect to be excused from Kitchen duty, I wanted to come upstairs to be part of things.   There were wonderful smells coming from the kitchen.  

I sat down with their Father and asked him, "Is it alright if I go over to Gail's house to study? I dropped by there on the way to pick up Linda.  We decided that we should be partners for the school project coming up."

"Of course, Kevin.  Be sure that you have your cell phone on in case your mother needs a delivery made that can't wait.  I'm glad to see you take an interest in Gail.   She's a wonderful girl."

I laughed and said, "I would imagine you would be glad if I took an interest in any girl.   I like things at my own pace."

"I suppose that the reputation that you made for yourself to take care of your sister doesn't help.  We need to come up with another solution and Linda needs to be able to be herself in public instead of putting on an act the way that she has to do now."

"I want to do anything that I can do to help, even if it means moving away so Linda can get a fresh start ."

"Thank you, Son!  I hope it won't come to that!"  I hoped it wouldn't either but I felt like it was the right thing to say.  I guessed that I had a pretty good idea of the situation.   I was even more thrilled for my Kevin that he would act like that just to protect his sister.

Linda came out wearing her apron and told us, "Gentlemen please come in! Supper is ready!" she took off her apron and put it in the kitchen before coming into the dining room where their Father pulled out the chair and seated his wife and I pulled out the chair and seated Kevin's sister.

I smiled when I saw each place setting had a glass of sweet tea.  The food was heavenly as we dug in.  I hoped that Kevin and I would get together.  Perhaps I might be invited to supper.  I would just love that!

The rest of the evening was uneventful and I finally made it into Kevin's room.   I had resolved that the best thing for me to do was to sleep thru the night.  Even though the answer would be known in the middle of the night , I could do nothing to act on it without giving things away until the morning anyway.  Kevin's bed was lumpy but in spite of it I managed to get a good night's sleep.