Story and Art Forum

Milan: Without knowing the words, I guessed that Jo accepted my explanation and was ready to go to the mass. However, her next question took me aback. She apparently wanted to know if the change was caused by a divine intervention. I was raised in faith even if was not too religious. However, neither the priest nor anybody else talked about magical gender changes. Maybe it could be included in the statement God was almighty. Nevertheless, I wasn’t sure if I’d tell anybody at all. The language barrier also was a serious obstacle. I didn’t have any idea of proper words. “Neviem … Je ne sais pas,“ I remembered the proper word, shook my head and shrugged. As we reached the lookout tower, I noticed a glimpse of fear in Jo’s eyes when she spotted the ladder. However, she followed me. I offered her my hand to help her up onto the platform and waited until she steadied herself. Her mood improved when she took the binoculars and examined the surroundings. I understood partially what she said when she passed the binoculars back to me. She looked like she was amused by watching our village. “Urobíme fotky?” I asked her and took the camera. I wanted to take pictures of us and of the looks, “Sýýýýýr,” I smiled at her widely and aimed the camera at her. Hopefully, she understood.

Well done. Sounds like you are now double incontinent. That’s so good. Will you try and lose more adult abilities?

I know Parker Longabaugh has some though only Demoted To The Mechanical Nursery is in anyway complete here the others were being worked on his Patron until Patreon's crackdown on AB stuff far as i can see he hasn't been on here in years. There's also Baby Hotel and Adult Day Care in the DD story page. A lot of Donny28's stuff and Baby_Boy675. Most are hypnosis but Adult Day Care does use a device

Hey everyone! Whew! It’s been one heck of a week. Lots of thoughts on where I was and if anyone knows anything about it, you’ll know just what kind of time it was. Art galore, emo prom, a nerf war, Mall of America, and so much more that I can’t wait until the next one! And I will admit that while I’m super happy that it’s moving back to Chicago next year, there’s just something about riding a coaster with your friends in the community that’ll be hard to beat no matter what. Still, this year’s celebration had to end and boy oh boy. I tried to stave off the dreaded ‘con drop’ by spending some time in Chicago after, and it worked, but let me tell you… listened to a preschool song that I heard during the con on my way back from the airport afterward and I’ll just leave it at that I’m very glad my windows are tinted and kept most of the sound inside my car. I’m holding the ‘drop’ at bay pretty well for the most part still, but I think it’s going to hit me very soon at this point. So, taking a breath after my trip but knowing that I would be useless as a writer soon, I barreled through this chapter, and fortunately, I think I’ve now come up with a routine that should help me out in the future. Moving forward, I should be able to at least outline and start writing on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and finish writing and editing the chapters on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday/Sunday. This will hopefully still be able to produce three chapters a week. It won’t always be a guarantee, but this story and my future stories won’t drag out forever either. Next, as a reminder, there is another poll up where the link and the options can be found back in the beginning of chapter 14. As usual, I will let the poll run until the final chapter where I will announce the winner and the timeline until my next story starts. The day before, I will make a final announcement and when that final chapter will drop. Now… last but not least and as usual, I hope everyone enjoys this next chapter of my story! Chapter 16: Problems Are All Around Now Addy sighed. ‘I feel a change in the weather… and it’s not just the warmer weather snap we seem to have been experience lately.’ With February coming to a close soon, Addy looked out of the window at the Littles playing outside… not a single jacket amongst them. It was strange but not unheard of. Addy might have liked one more snow this winter, but she also had other more pressing matters on her mind lately. One only needed to look at the Littles outside to see the issue. Psyche was a bit of an oddity in Big society. Yes, there was an impetus to absolutely drive Little regression in vulnerable portal Littles right into the waiting and open arms of preselected Bigs. But at the same time, there was also a drive to keep the Littles just touching that line of regression. As many as 50% of Littles returned to Earth after their stint with the Bigs. Some on the Juventas board hated that, but it still happened. Plus, despite the Bigs being selected beforehand, Littles could still choose their caregiver, instead of the usual force applied to most Littles being adopted or straight kidnapped elsewhere in the world. But as Addy looked outside, she saw something different now. In winter, one could always wear a black coat and a knit beanie and walk around in the snow without giving too much away. Bulky diapers could be hidden. Infantile graphics on t-shirts could be covered up. Sure, if a lot of them talked by the end of their time here, their regression would have been as obvious as the faintest whiff of one of their used diapers… but from afar, they could still seem normal. With the warmer weather, none of that could be hidden. For example… Tim. Just a normal Little under the care of Penny, her claws had deeply entrenched themselves in his whole state of being. No pants… no shoes even. The Little was free to run around in solely his onesie, the grin on his face leaving nothing to the imagination of the slowed mental faculties he now had. And if that wasn’t enough, his sagging diaper, occasionally wafting in the face of a more recent Little who waved their nose, showed how freely he used his diapers… and didn’t care. As Penny’s Little, it was horrible, but Tim should have been the exception. Like with Patrick, before, the Littles were diaper dependent and maybe carried a stuffy and were free and happy… but there were still gears spinning in their heads. Now, Tim seemed more of the rule than the exception… and for one reason alone these days. “Okay, everyone!” Dr. Tracey loudly announced, clapping her hands. “Come on inside. Naomi and Oliver are about to be on! We don’t want to miss our favorite show… do we?” “No!” several of the Littles shouted freely before running inside right past a wickedly smiling Dr. Tracey. A few lingered in their places though. Spotting them quickly, Dr. Tracey was clearly less pleased with them and began to walk out and confront them one by one. Her sheer presence alone cowered a few into running after the others without so much as an argument. Some, however, remained in their places… and Dr. Tracey went in with anger in her fists and fury boiling in her eyes. Seeing this, and fearing the worst, Addy ran outside to protect at least two of the Littles that stayed behind. “Oliver! Katrina! Come with me!” she shouted, gesturing for her two precious Littles to step away from the evil doctor. “It’s beautiful outside today! No need to go back inside, right?” Her cover was hasty, but it also gave Katrina and Oliver an out if they were ever lectured about why they didn’t go inside later. Both shook their heads and toddled over to their nurse, relieved smiles slowly returning to their faces, Katrina waddling a little more than Oliver. ‘Hmmm… going to need to check her soon. First though…’ Addy looked back over to a few of the remaining Littles. Mostly the freshest batch of Littles not even a month in here, but she did see a few of the current middle class like Robin and Jacob, both seemingly well on their way to recovery and being happy and carefree Littles as the program intended. Quickly, Addy gestured to them and to the others remaining as well… too late for Izzy though… “And just what do you think you’re doing out here, little one?” Dr. Tracey asked intimidatingly as she stared at the diminutive figure before her, crossing her arms and tapping expectantly for a prompt answer from the still frail little thing. Izzy flashed a glance back at the group forming around Addy, but even she could see that it was probably too late. Still, there was a sense of determination in her eyes as she looked back at Dr. Tracey. “I… I wanted to stay outside…” She hastily pointed to Addy and the other Littles around her. “With them.” “Oh?” Dr. Tracey raised her eyebrows up as if she was actually intrigued rather than just playing along for the time being. “And did you ask if she wanted to include you? Don’t you think she would have called you over specifically?” The Little, almost a month in, could still go back to Earth without too many problems. The meds she was on and the subtle hypnosis that everyone was exposed to, not even accounting for the odd yet fully accepted notion that being in this dimension alone seemed to trigger some regression in most Littles, however, was just enough to flash a hesitancy across the Little’s face. She timidly looked over at the group and while the group of Littles were waving her over, Addy wasn’t. Of course, Addy was adhering to the non-interference policy with any other Little but her own when confronted with another nurse or doctor. But Izzy didn’t know that. It was a dominating but unspoken rule and while some Littles had guessed it over the years, they often accepted the reality they saw in front of them instead and didn’t push it any further. It’s hard to blame them though… standing up to a Big nearly twice your size can be a challenge even on the best of days. So, unfortunately, seeing no support from the one other Big outside today, Izzy looked back at Dr. Tracey and hung her head low. “No…” she nearly whispered. “That’s right.” A slow smile began to creep over Dr. Tracey’s face, her eyes hungry for another Little to pull in. “So how about you come with me and watch some TV… just for a little bit.” The Big paused and crouched down. “I’ll even get you a snack.” TV time might not have been Izzy’s go-to, but a snack always seemed to be a Little’s weakness. As such, less than a few heartbeats later, Izzy nodded her head slowly… sealing her fate. Smiling wide with pure satisfaction now, Dr. Tracey stood up and stretched out her hand. “Come on, sweetie. Let’s get you that snack then.” Her hand was pushed out to the Little like an offer, but with her tense forearm and her not easing up even after Izzy hesitated, the gesture showed that it was anything but a suggestion. Trembling a little, Izzy, likely not seeing any alternative at this point, reached up and took Dr. Tracey’s offered hand. A second later and the two were headed inside, Izzy looking back sorrowfully at her friends remaining outside in the beautiful weather. The back door closing loudly only seemed to solidify her fate. Oliver, maybe sensing his closeness and therefore pliability with Addy, spoke first. He whipped around and faced his nurse with wide puppy dog eyes. “Why didn’t you stop her?” Several of the other Littles gathered around snapped back and held their gaze on Addy, waiting for an answer just as much. Addy sighed. “I’m sorry you all. I know this is tough from your point of view, but with Dr. Tracey… she might soon be in charge. If she wants something, she’s probably going to get it. And if I stand up to her out here with no backup… I might be forced to leave.” “But that’s not fair!” Robin protested, having formed a small bond with the newer Little already. “Izzy didn’t want to go, so she shouldn’t have to,” Jacob quickly added, several of the Littles around them cheering in agreement as well. Addy took a deep breath. “No, it’s not fair and I’ll see what I can do for Izzy in the future if that happens again, but for now… you all go enjoy the weather and have some fun. Let me worry about Izzy for today, okay?” Jacob, Robin, and a few others nodded and toddled off to make use of the canary yellow slide they seemed to enjoy nearly daily now. For Littles like Jacob and Robin, one was a former stroke victim and the other was recovering from cystic fibrosis, so running around and sliding down with ease these days likely felt beyond exhilarating. And while they left as they were told, Oliver and Katrina stubbornly held back. “But I still want to know now!” Katrina pressed, pushing into her nurse gently like a puppy asking for another treat, her eyes even going wide to convince Addy to answer back. “What about Izzy?” It hurt Addy to see one of her Littles so upset about something neither of them could change at this point. Still, she knew she had to say something… “Do you two trust me?” Katrina and Oliver looked at each other with a deep bond that could only come from enduring the same trials of being Littles together in this strange world. There was almost an unspoken communication between them and when they looked back at Addy, they simply nodded in unison. To Addy, it hurt her to see that while at the same time warming her heart. She knew she had to pick her battles, so she settled for a simple line to give them. “I want to tell you. I really do, but… I just don’t know… I’m sorry. I wish I did, but… I just don’t know…” She then made sure to look off into the distance to drive her point home and to add to the sense of unknown with Izzy. Between that and her silence, it worked enough and Katrina and Oliver solemnly took off to go play more with Robin and Jacob. They had full trust in her and if she didn’t know, they had no reason to doubt her. In truth though, Addy also didn’t want to meet their gaze… fearing they would see the lie behind her words. Sometimes, Addy knew to protect people, you needed to keep certain truths to yourself. Telling her Littles the truth right then would only hurt them and maybe even cause them to act up against Dr. Tracey in the future. Addy had seen it before, and it never ended well. So, for today at least, she kept the truth to herself.   Because she did know what was going to happen… TV time with Dr. Tracey was a one-way street to Littlehood. It was a growing phenomenon at Psyche lately, and one that Addy could nearly set her watch to. A Little would go in for TV time under the guise of getting a snack as well or a perfectly sound alternative to when it was raining outside. Something simple… something no one would question. But the crafty Bigs were always hard at work slipping these kinds of shows into every household in Libertalia. Adventure Sam everyone could enjoy and a Big could watch it for days on end without any issue. Something like Naomi and Oliver or Jasper and Jinx however… those types of shows were hard to not have a problem with. As some Bigs unfortunately found out… not even they were totally immune to their subtle but masterful and devastating programming. Addy continually tried to turn to Dr. Halgen, but lately, the board blocked her every turn. With small decisions like the ones that Dr. Tracey was implementing, it didn’t need a full vote… only two votes to pass something temporarily. To course correct however, it would take a majority vote… something neither side had lately. Seeing that, and trying to protect them as much as possible, Addy kept Oliver and Katrina away as much as she could, but she also knew it simply wasn’t enough anymore to protect only two out of the potential 18 in the household at any given time, not to mention the scores of Littles soon to arrive here in the next waves for the year. Sadly, there was no shortage of willing Littles looking to trade a miracle in exchange for some of their maturity. As a result, she had started to turn to other methods to get things changed around here. “Morning report, please?” she requested from Penny in the stables the next morning, the morning dew still fresh on the grass outside and the security cameras temporarily glitching. With any luck, no one would even notice and their daily morning debriefings could continue without interruption. “Same as yesterday… or the day before…” Penny groaned on, likely still resenting this whole arrangement. “Dr. Tracey is a force of nature with these things… but very consistent. She doesn’t change her plans unless she has to. Right now, I don’t think she has a reason to change… do you?” Addy thought for a moment, and she had to admit that she couldn’t come up with a reason why. The board either could block her enough or were plain supporting her. The Littles under her sway easily gave in to her TV time and the results were phenomenal with a noted drop in tantrums or rebellions of any kind, likely due to the drop in mental acuity from her watchers. They simply didn’t care about rebelling anymore… only toys and cuddles. Even Addy had to admit they were cute sometimes… Still, Addy let out a defeated breath of air. “I guess not… but we need to change that. We need to get her to play out her first move and respond quickly… maybe catch her off balance.” “We?” Penny asked skeptically. “There is no ‘we’ in this. I’m doing this because you’ve blackmailed me. You lost that and I would leave this place in a second. I see Dr. Tracey and she’s like a mad dog with its leash holding on by threads. I’ve heard her plans and if she can do that to some sweet innocent Littles… what do you think she’ll do to the people that get in her way?” Addy was getting frustrated. She wanted to do more, but at this point, she wasn’t sure where to begin. The police investigation had stalled with Dr. Halgen going away soon and Sgt. Emily being posted on some drug bust just outside of town. It wasn’t dead, but it was quickly forming into a dry bed of nothingness. “Fine, fine,” Addy remarked annoyedly. “Do you have anything to report?” Penny shook her head. “No. Just what I’ve been saying. Dr. Tracey is hiding her plans as to the ‘when’ and ‘how.’ If I knew that, I could probably figure out the rest… but I don’t. And like I told you two days ago, I don’t even think she’s the top of this pyramid anyways. She’s starting to feel like a puppet… or solider. Only taking her orders from higher up.” “Fine.” Addy had enough of this for today and quickly dismissed Penny. Both had duties to perform and digging this hole any further wasn’t going to get them anywhere today. ‘Maybe tomorrow…’ For now, though, Addy went about her usual routine and got both her Littles out of bed. Oliver earned himself another rainy cloud at night and Katrina was changed into yet another diaper… her potty training seemingly long past in the rearview mirror. Occasionally, Addy felt a little guilty with both. Though her methods were nowhere as extreme as say Erin’s or Penny’s, she also knew she wasn’t completely blameless either. Katrina was highly susceptible to this world and the subtle hypnosis and drugs being constantly fed to her. Something would likely always have happened to her in this world, but Addy could have got her far away or at least slowed her progress. Instead, Katrina was diapered 24/7 with no signs of ever going back, and if anything was new, she seemed to be coming around to the idea of maybe getting some sort of comfort item soon to help her cope better. As for Oliver… Big breastmilk was a wonder but with one swing of the hammer it repaired and another it destroyed. His cancer was disappearing fast and his energy levels had never been higher… but he was slipping now too. Mentally still sound, but it only took a quick look at his potty-training chart to know that graphing it out would have only shown an arrow of failure plummeting straight down to rock bottom. Soon, he would be back in diapers as well… it was just a fact at this point. Predictably enough nowadays, though, they didn’t seem to be the only ones having issues at Psyche lately. It was another day for group therapy. In between the days of treatments and checking out their potential caregivers, all the Littles in each group would gather and discuss their various feelings and not only try to heal them emotionally, but to check on each of them as well. For example, if a Little suddenly went from cheery every day to emotionally distant, everyone took notice and prepared or helped as best they could. For Addy, she remained locked in between Oliver and Katrina, both remaining eerily silent as Ella started to speak up when Dr. Halgen asked if anyone had any issue they wished to discuss. “I, uh… I’ve been having a problem lately,” she said softly, her fingers curling around her arms as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Oh?” Dr. Halgen might have not had the board full support anymore and was on her way out before the summer at best, she was still accredited and still an excellent doctor for Littles… even more so these days as she listened more and care about every problem, seeing the Littles not as company assets to help Psyche grow larger but as individuals needing help. “What’s the matter, Ella? You can slow or even use metaphors if you want.” Ella, not having any qualms about TV time, looked back questioningly to Dr. Halgen. “Metaphors?” Dr. Halgen noticed right away. “Oh.” She had to backpedal a little and scramble for another way to talk about all this, but she was more than ready. “Compare it to something else. Like maybe instead of saying you have a headache, maybe you say that a doll has a headache or that you have an ouchy orange. Your choice.” Ella smiled briefly at ‘ouchy orange,’ just as Dr. Halgen had intended. “Well… I uh… apples are supposed to be juicy but lately… mine’s been… juicier…” “I see,” Dr. Halgen leaned back for a moment. Metaphors and smiles and comparisons and all could quickly get complicated fast with Littles. It was always a risk for a complete breakdown in communication, but… if done right, the Little could be open about what they needed to, and the problem could still be solved. “Tell me, Ella… have you maybe considered a napkin perhaps?” Ella quickly blushed and squirmed before retreating into herself, wrapping her arms tightly against her body and ducking her head away. Still though… she nodded. “I see…” Dr. Halgen was smart and observant, and seeing a Little close off, she knew well not to poke to hard and instead addressed the rest of the group. “Okay… I want you all to do me a favor and close your eyes.” Several Littles hesitated and Dr. Halgen coaxed them along. “It’s okay. It’s just for a short while. If you need to, you can hold your nurse’s hand.” She softly smiled. “I’m sure they won’t mind…” Each Little then hesitantly closed their eyes, and no sooner did Addy quickly find both her hands taken and held tight, much to her surprise. Katrina, sure. She had even admitted a fear of the dark a month ago, but Oliver… he was new. But one thing clicked for Addy. ‘Oh right. I wouldn’t know about Oliver’s fear. The lighthouse has been in his room forever now and is basically his nightlight already. Something to talk to him about…’ Satisfied, Dr. Halgen looked around the room and then took a breath. “Okay. Now… I want anyone who’s apple has been a little juicy lately, to raise their hand.” It took a little bit for some of them, but soon, most of the class raised their hand. In fact, all except one… something that every nurse took note of. Unfortunately, Cassie could only confirm that yes, Xander in fact was the only Little not having some sort of potty problem in this group. “Okay, now put your hands down everyone and open your eyes,” Dr. Halgen calmly commanded. Unfortunately, between the mix of everything going on and the group’s increased time in this world and under the influence of the subtle hypnosis and drugs, two commands seemed to be just about their cognition to understand… at least in which order they should do it. So, a second later, everyone had their eyes open… but their hands still up. Xander took notice right away. “Holy crap! Are you all a bunch of pants wetters?” he asked, mocking the group. He then started bursting into peals of laughter. “That’s enough now, Xander,” Dr. Halgen tried to calm down the Little teasing everyone in the group currently. “We don’t make fun of others in group and you…” “Oh, can it, you old bat! This is just too good, and…” He sniffed exaggeratedly. “Oh woah! I think someone’s got at least one heck of a wet diaper out there! I wonder who it could be…” As he stalked around the room, seemingly unstoppable currently, Addy looked to the Littles at her left and right. Considering the hands that had gone up, it could have been anyone in the group, but these days, she knew it was just as likely that either Oliver or Katrina could be the culprit… or both. She wouldn’t dare do a check here and now, especially with Xander seemingly looking for his next victim, but she knew she would have to soon. “Come on!” he shouted, still stomping around the circle. “Let’s see who it is!” “Xander!” Dr. Tracey suddenly called out, having walked into the room out of nowhere, halting the Little in his tracks. “You know better than to make fun of others in group, no matter how silly the situation is.” Addy was upset over Dr. Tracey’s carefully chosen words, seemingly like both admonishment of Xander but a slap to the rest of the group as well. More importantly though, she also felt confused. Policy dictated only the head of the program or a Little’s nurse could reprimand them. Dr. Tracey wasn’t either… at least not yet. But sadly, Addy just had to shrug it off… another casualty of the rules not applying seemingly to either Dr. Tracey or Xander lately. “Thank you, Dr. Tracey,” Dr. Halgen graciously noted right after. “I’m sure little Xander doesn’t want to get into more trouble, now, does he? I’m sure that he’ll be behaved for the rest of class.” Dr. Tracey didn’t seem to like that, almost as much as Xander clearly didn’t, but group therapy continued after and Dr. Halgen was careful to skirt around the various topics that came up. Ending with the notion that ‘not all protection is bad’ speech, the group soon dispersed… most Littles mortified at being revealed as almost all having potty problems. Xander though, almost seemed to gloat as he walked out. Still, the group meeting was over… finally. Addy had an itch with people like Damien and Xander. For some reason, they kept seeming immune to everything around here, or at least relatively speaking. From a little pressure, she finally got Penny to admit that Damien was sleeping with a stuffed bear now… but still no diapers, and his choosing day was less than two weeks away. It didn’t make sense that he and Xander seemed untouched while everyone else appeared like that had the express elevator down to babyhood once again. She knew only one person could help her… or at least that’s what she hoped. So, once her duties were done, changing both Katrina and Oliver into a fresh diaper and new pull-up, respectively, and comforting both about their continued accidents, Addy went in search of her friend, finally finding her coming out of the kitchen, a few flecks of flour still embedded in her sleeves. “Making some tasty treats there, Cass?” Cass looked up like she had just been caught red-handed stealing a cookie from the proverbial cookie jar. She smiled back after only a second seeing that it was just Addy. “You caught me. Wanted to make some muffins for Robin. She’s still upset about yesterday with Izzy, you know.” “Yeah… sorry about that…” Addy knew that brushing Robin off like that like she did was quick but likely messy with a vulnerable Little and the fate of her friend. “I just couldn’t bring myself to tell them the truth about what’s happening… why I couldn’t stop Izzy from going to TV time…” Cassie stepped forward and brushed her hands from the remaining flour. “No worries, Addy. I get it. Just… maybe we should think of something to say to them next time instead.” “Or do,” Addy quickly countered. Cassie seemed confused. “Do…? As in…?” Addy looked at Cassie dead in the eye, knowing the seriousness of what she was about to poke at. “As in there’s something going on around here… I know you feel it and can see it as well. Which is why…” She looked around to see if anyone was watching. It could still be a risk out here, but Addy needed to head this conversation up quickly. “I wanted to ask you about Xander.” The smile instantly left Cassie’s face. “Don’t ask me about him, Addy…” Addy frowned. “Why not? Him and Damien are the two oddballs around here and they’re running rampant without seemingly any consequence.” She took a quick breath. “Now, I know it isn’t my business to press, but after what I just saw in group and especially beyond it… I think I’m going to insist…” Cassie stood firm, but her mouth wavered, like she wanted to crack but still couldn’t. Addy saw it and it just got her mind spinning in all sorts of directions. “Cassie… I need you to tell me what’s happening with them. I think they’re being protected or worse. I already know that Penny is involved here with Damien but Xander… he’s your Little, and frankly, he’s the one that concerns me more.” So far, there was no secret teddy bear or training pants with him. He still had time to go, but if Addy had to bet on it, she was almost sure that Xander could nearly go back to Earth as if nothing had happened to him here. So, she naturally had one question on her mind… ‘How?’ “I don’t know,” Cassie finally said, her words heavy and unmoving. “I knew right away that he was going to be a problem when his Alzheimer’s began to lift. It was small at first, but he started to get violent. Little things, but I would find a random toy under my foot… there were more disturbances… more lectures from Dr. Tracey eventually. Every time I tried something, he wouldn’t do anything, but it was like the whole world was conspiring with him against me.” Those words hit Addy hard. She knew more than Cassie, and it was a terrible piece of information sliding right into place. Nothing concrete, but just enough where she could faintly connect the dots… that Xander was receiving help from not only Dr. Tracey but the board itself. “But… what about Dr. Halgen? Or… there’s got to be someone on the board who can help!” “Maybe, but at this point, I’m worried he might snap!” Cassie nearly recoiled in fear from just the mere mention of it. “You’ve seen the papers. The rate of Little’s murdering us Bigs has gone up this year, and that’s just from Littles who have been pushed too far in most cases. Xander isn’t your typical Little… he’s a known criminal! What if the next time I tell him ‘no,’ he comes after me with a knife!” Addy quickly recalled several of the stories about Littles murdering their Bigs. Some were serial killers that were pulled across over here or simply fleeing jurisdiction and then had been taken forcibly… only for the Big to find out the hard way how bad of a decision they had made. Still, most were normal Littles just pushed too far. It was natural when any person felt like they had nothing left to lose. But Cassie was also right about Xander. He was a known criminal… violent and exacting before his Alzheimer’s. He was a true threat even without being pushed by any Big. “We need to take this higher,” Addy emphasized. But Cassie just shook her head. “I already talked to Dr. Tracey about it. She only told me that it was natural for some Littles to act out.” She took a deep breath as if recalling some horrid memory. “But she then told me that if I pushed it more without any support from the board or hard evidence, it could be grounds for me to be fired!” “Shit.” Addy was nearly at a loss for words. “That’s not good, but… we can’t just do nothing!” Cassie seemed lower than ever and sat in a slump on a nearby stool. “I admire your call to action, Addy. I do. I just… I don’t have as many connections as you do. I’m just a nurse here. I’m a good, even great nurse, but… I don’t have much power here.” She was right and as soon as she said anything, Addy knew that she was right. Cassie couldn’t be the one to lead the charge… but Addy could. “You’re right. I do have the connections, but… you’re my friend, Cassie. Right here, right now… whatever resources I have, they’ll be yours too.” That put a smile on Cassie’s face. “Still, we need to be careful about this. First, I think I need to tell my dad about all this. He’s got his fingers in this mess and he’s going to want to know about the whole Xander and Damien situation. Something stinks there, and maybe he knows something more, or even if he doesn’t…” Addy paused for a second. “I’m sure he can swing his vote our way if we need some muscle or new rule to work in our favor.” “That’s something…” Cassie started, her smile growing dim, “but it might not be enough…” “What do you mean?” Addy was trying to think if there was something more that she was somehow forgetting in this whole plot forming in her head. “The last class, Addy,” Cassie emphasized. “Don’t you remember? The one that had their choosing day right before we got back… nearly half were kicked out. Remember that? I mean come on… that doesn’t just happen to two Littles in a class, let alone half of them…” “Oh. Right…” That memory came flooding back and Addy felt a twinge of fear. “Yeah, but the thing I don’t get…” Cassie squinted her eyes and rubbed her chin briefly. “Let’s say all this is some sort of conspiracy. I don’t know how or why or anything like that, but… if it is then how does getting half the class to violate their contracts help Juventas out?” It was a good question, but it was also one that Addy wasn’t sure about yet. She felt like she was skimming the edges all around the answers she was looking for, but still nowhere close to anything concrete. Faintly, she had a theory… just without much evidence to back it. ‘If Psyche is made to look bad by several breaches in contracts… it could weaken Psyche and anyone in Juventas associated with it… like my dad.’ It was a longshot, but so far, there also wasn’t anything contradicting it either. But the evidence was mounting… and fast. Right then, however, just off to the side, Addy could see Izzy running through the hallways. In the brief interruption, she had half a mind to stop her or at least tell her to slow down when she could first hear and then see that the Little’s shoes were untied. Just as she passed her vision though, Addy could spot the poor dear nearly running cross-legged in one direction that Addy knew well was right to the bathroom. ‘And she was just fine the other day… damn Dr. Tracey and her shows…’ Plainly put, despite being newer, Addy knew that Izzy would be well on her way to diapers in the next week, far in advance of where she was supposed to be at. Addy sighed and turned back to Cassie, perhaps the one person she could fully trust to be unbiased and totally onboard with only trying to help Littles… not just straight baby them. Erin and a few of the others were nice, but they really only started their more caring nature once their Littles had begun to regress. No shame, but that’s how it was… not the best allies in this particular fight. And Dr. Halgen…? Her position waning, her power seemed to grow slimmer every day. Cassie though… she seemed to be powerless but definitely as if she had a stake and an opinion about all this… one that Addy could use on her side. “Something’s coming, Cass…” she noted gravely after deciding that she was going to take a risk extending herself out to her friend, the words pouring from her mouth as if she was on autopilot and only repeating what she had now heard from so many, like her father or Penny or Dr. Halgen. “I don’t know where or when, but… I think we need to stick together in this.” Cassie briefly seemed to stop breathing at the words, like someone had just confirmed her long-held deepest fears. “I know you…” Addy poured on, hoping to gain a firm ally today. “Especially after what you just told me, you just want your Littles to be safe, healthy, and happy. If that means taking them back a step or two, that’s what we do. We don’t get off on it. We don’t head straight for regression. Regression is only a byproduct or a means to an end… not the main point.” This time, it was Cassie’s turn to sigh. “That’s true…” Addy could feel her soul lightening up just a bit after hearing her confirmation. “Good. I’m glad to hear that.” She let out a small smile to her shared commonalities with her friend in this place. “With what’s coming… we need to stick together. If something happens… can I count on you?” Cassie only sat on her stool for a moment in complete silence. The weight of the world seemed to be pressing down on her, but after a moment, she still managed to stand and nod towards Addy. “I can’t do much, and I’m low on the totem pole around her, but where I can help, I will. And I agree… something is coming. I’ve felt it for a long time now, and when it does get here, I’ll say this… you have at least one ally on your side and in the trenches around here.” Plain spoken but direct and the soothing balm to Addy’s soul that she had desperately been craving for weeks now. Ever since Dr. Tracey had come here and started interfering, her world had seemingly been falling apart at the seams. Oliver, Katrina, her dad, and some of her friendships had been holding her together, but today, she finally felt an ounce of relief at last. Smiling, she shook her friend’s and new ally’s hand. “Thank you, Cass. It means a lot coming from you.” Addy knew that things would get serious and soon though. “For now, though… just stay low and fight the little battles. Help Robin where you can. Help the other Littles out and try to keep them away from TV time. If we work together, we can plan activities that no one on the board could object to with the Littles. We plan it right and it will severely cut into TV time, especially with the naps we both know are well on their way.” Cassie chuckled. “Tell me about it. Almost caught Robin nodding off at tag yesterday. Tag! Can you believe that?” Addy smiled and though it was another sign of the fingers of this world burying themselves into the Littles under their care, it was also part of the plan. Slow, methodical, practiced, and most importantly, reversible. According to Earth, what Addy and Cassie were doing was still wrong, but hearing a little cry come from the nearby bathroom and knowing that Izzy likely didn’t make it on time fully, she knew there were much worse things here than the two of them and their little pushes of their charges to the Little lifestyle.

Going deep with this one.