LostBBoyBear

Not completely sure where you were looking... Just did another pass and made some edits just so it was really clear, but this also could be just how I'm writing this. The style has been used by other writers, but actions and dialogue don't always adhere to the same person in the same pargraph. It can be a little wonky if you're not expecting it, so, I think I'll separate these out more in the future just to be sure to avoid confusion. Thank you! I realized I needed a reason why a specific drug was going to be invented/investigated now, rather than long ago. With the timeline I created, it felt strange for something like a regression formula not to be invented right away to control Littles almost 90 years after Littles were first adoipted at the end of the Height War. Honestly, this was a bit of a plot hole in my stories, but I realized that I could fix it by combining a thread from The CON series and The Opening. Originally, I was going to fix it with another installment of the Stuffy's Tale series, but those seemed always to be much less popular. I didn't want to wait around forever with something that is listed in several of my stories, so given the opportunity of a town like Peirama... I just couldn't pass it up to showcase. Also... I never list it out all specifically (wanting to leave a little to the imagination here), but I'll just say that there is a very good reason why this silver spray isn't used more often... and you might just find out why soon enough.

Hey everyone! Originally, this chapter was only supposed to be one day in total, but I quickly realized that wasn’t going to work in the long run of the story, and so then when I fleshed it out with a more expansive and cohesive plot, it got a lot longer. I knew I needed a few scenes more to stitch everything together… but oops! That little extra bit made this chapter way too long… so I split this one up like I did before, bringing the total now to 26 chapters. I really try not to do this much, and a few longer chapters aren’t bad, but every chapter being a lot longer gets to be a bit too much. I’m hoping to be able to make some edits this week and next to flesh everything out to the point where I’ll get a much more accurate count of total chapters, but until I can do that, this splitting of chapters might happen a few more times. If it does, I’ll let you all know. Next, just as a reminder, a new poll is up for you all to let me know which story you all would like to read next. Story options and the link can be found back in the beginning of chapter 2. As I mentioned before though, if you feel more comfortable leaving a comment here or as a private message to me, I will count these as well. Additionally, like before, this poll will be shut down right before I post my final chapter on here. Further announcements will be made regarding this when the time gets closer. Last but not least and as usual, I hope everyone enjoys this next chapter! Chapter 9: Storms In the Distance Day 49 – 4:58 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 Nancy and Ashley swung their legs freely from one of the questionable safe sides of the top-most tower of the playset. Melissa didn’t come much around there anymore, but Nancy was still under the thumb of her more conservative Big and subsequent but distant Middle sitter, so she was still pretty restricted where she could meet with Ashley. Further, at Nancy’s or Ashley’s house, there was always the chance that they were being spied on… or at least that’s what Nancy posited a few days ago after her sitter poked in one too many times for her comfort, but here in the park, the two were more or less free with what they said… as long as they didn’t shout. So, with few other options, the park was quickly becoming their go-to spot to meet. “Change is coming,” Nancy noted with a hint of sadness and forlorn in her voice. “Well… yeah,” Ashley said with a little sarcasm as she then gestured to the heavy number of machineries perched at the edge of the neighborhood and the surveyors all looking about over the new site. “I mean… they just cleared that spot a few days ago. Change is bound to happen when someone moves that much dirt.” Nancy shook her head. “You’re right, Ash… of course you’re right, but… that’s not what I was talking about. Or… at least not directly.” Ashley cocked her head to the side, the rumblings from below them picking up ever so slightly with one ear now more bent toward the ground. Nancy sighed and looked back over to the future site of construction. “They did all this before…” “They did?” Ashley questioned. “When was that? I don’t remember…” Nancy shook her head. “No, no… this was right before you got here. Peirama isn’t that old, but there were a fair number of houses already set up for at least a decade before even when I got here. The day I arrived though… they started construction to the east of town.” “You mean where Melissa and Antiope are?” Ashley questioned, her eyes only momentarily looking down out of the habit of looking for them, only to remember that today, both they and Betty were gone. ‘Perks of being an independent Little…’ “That’s right,” she confirmed. “Peirama expanded back then, and I was here for just long enough to know that this place changed after that… and not always for the better. Now,” she gestured back over to the construction, “it’s all happening again. And this time, like the last, I don’t think it will be good either.” “Like what?” Ashley’s eyes burned with curiosity as she looked at her friend. ‘Change is tough, yeah, but… I don’t see the big deal for us. We’re strong, right? We can make it through something like just a little construction.’ Nancy shifted, and even if just for a split second, Ashley frowned as she heard a now all too familiar sound… just not one associated with her current moody friend. ‘Was that… was that a crinkle?’ Ashley could have asked about it but ultimately decided to remain mute instead. “There were lots of things,” Nancy started to explain, “but when I got here, there were at least a dozen or so independent Littles. But now… think about it… just how many do you know?” Ashley had to think about that for a moment. ‘Well, Betty implied there might be two others, but… I still haven’t met them yet. If Betty was just trying to make me feel better, and so not them though…’ Ashley sighed and shrugged. “I really couldn’t say. I’ve only met you but…” “But nothing!” Nancy shot back, seeming a little more agitated than usual. “Mark my words… a swarm of regressed Littles are coming here… one way or another…” Ashley winced at her friend’s outburst. ‘What’s going on with her today? Sure, she’s normally pretty uptight and all… maybe it’s all that she’s seen and learned about here, but… this feels like something more…’ In the brief second that Ashley had recoiled, Nancy had clearly seen what she had done to her friend and winced herself. “Darn it… sorry, Ash. I just…” She trailed off for a second. “Life, you know?” Ashley could only nod at that. Nancy then looked distantly over their view, even seeing the finished second tunnel just to the west from the top of the tower and back to the developing construction site. “Just… a lot going on right now, but remember this... a storm’s coming, Ash. Brace for it… or get thrown off like every other Little here does as well.” Day 49 – 6:42 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 Walking back home alone, it was clear the weight of Nancy’s words had stuck firm to Ashley’s mind. Even her thoughts remained quiet and… Even beyond the crickets chirping that night and the faint breeze of the late July afternoon, she could hear a commotion already stirring from her house. ‘What the…?’ Ashley shrank and crept around to the rear of the house. ‘Too many blasted secrets in this place… if I take a peak and listen in without telling them… maybe I can find out more…’ Ashley had never really gone exploring through Betty’s garden before… that was always more of her thing around here, but she also knew enough now about her plants to avoid some at all costs. ‘Yeah… not going past the Snapping Stingers… great for pest control… not so much for avoidance of nasty rashes and pin prick sensations of one’s skin though.’ Fortunately, she was able to find her way through and ever so slightly perched on her tip toes to stealthily look through the window. There, standing all alone, was a crying and devastated-looking Betty. Normally, between Pete and Betty, their home was always pretty immaculate… at least when Betty didn’t have one of her Littles over for an afternoon. That always caused chaos, and for a split second, as Ashley surveyed the clutter around Betty on the floor, she almost looked for the regressed Little who was the cause. Searching around though, knocked over chairs and tossed books indicated that someone far taller and stronger had done the damage. ‘Oh no! It’s not a burglar, is it?’ But peering around just a little further next, Betty was the only one there. ‘There’s no one else, so… it had to be Betty!’ The weight of that implication seemed to stop Ashley cold. ‘I don’t understand… What is going on? Why is she crying? Wait… what is that crumpled up paper on the floor? It stood out a little amongst the other larger items that had been tossed around. Just as Ashley looked closer though, the basement door could be heard from the main entryway area being slammed open. “Betty? Betty?” Pete questioned, finally turning the corner and entering the kitchen area. “Bee… what’s going on. Why are…?” But Betty didn’t let him finish. She flung herself into him and openly sobbed against his chest. At first, Pete looked shocked, but knowing his wife as he did, he didn’t question it, and just wrapped his arms back around her, rubbing her back and stroking her hair. After a few minutes though, Pete, the scientist side of him at least seemed like he needed to know the answers to what was happening. So, ever so slowly, he broke from the hug before cupping his hand under her chin and looking directly into her distraught and tear-laden eyes. “Bee… I know you. This isn’t nothing… tell me… what’s going on?” Betty managed to make out a few syllables, but in the end, she could only point to the crumbled paper on the floor. Like handling radioactive material, Pete gingerly bent down and picked it up. Seconds later, his hand was over his mouth, and he looked back to Betty with wide and saddened questioning eyes of his own. This time, Betty nodded silently, before collapsing right back into his arms. “Oh, Betty… I’m so sorry. I… I…” Now, Pete was at a loss for words and resorted to just hugging his wife closer. With the way Pete was holding the crumpled papers in his hand, a little more could be seen… just not from this angle. ‘Okay… easy on over there, Ash. Something is definitely up, and I need to see what’s on those…’ But right as she stepped over, her foot clanged against something metallic. Looking back inside in a panic, Betty and Pete briefly broke away from each other but seemed too devastated by whatever was on that paper to pay the noise any mind and went right back to their tight embrace of each other. ‘Darn it! I can’t risk them seeing me back here. They do and that’s trust gone in a second! But… what was that?’ Ashley crouched down and moved some of the late summer and now overgrown plants away from whatever her foot had hit. ‘Huh… interesting… looks like a metal vent of some kind…’ Her eyes traced the slightly buried duct work back to the house… below the ground floor. ‘Must be to Pete’s basement… I wonder…’ This time though, some kind of animal scurried off behind the house, briefly startling Ashley. ‘Stupid animals… I gotta take that as my cue to leave. Animals here are twice the size and definitely not to be messed with!’ So, Ashley brushed herself off from any possible traces of vegetation or dirt, arranged the plants back to roughly how they were, and went right for the front door. Sighing, she reached up and opened the door with a wide smile. ‘Okay… I know they’re devastated, but they don’t know that I know. For them… I just have to pretend that I just got back from a traditional time with Nancy. That means smiles and happiness… not the gloom of Nancy today… not the sadness of my two Bigs here…’ “I’m home!” Ashley announced, closing the door behind her. It took a second, but soon, Pete appeared from the archway to the kitchen. “Hey there, Ash. Good time with Nancy?” His words were clear, but his eyes were red still, and Ashley knew that gripped tight in the one hand he casually moved behind him, he still held that crumpled paper. Before Ashley could respond or question anything, a disheveled Betty appeared as well, her own eyes looking even redder than Pete’s. “Hey, sweetie… I’m glad you made it home. G… good day?” Probably crying longer than Pete, it seemed much harder for Betty to hide her own sadness. ‘Okay… both are pretty obvious… answer their question but question them as well.’ “It was… great, but…” She stepped closer to the two of them. “What’s wrong? Are you all okay?” Betty looked like she wanted to answer, but the words seemed to catch in her throat. Instead, Pete stepped up. “Everything is fine. Just… we got some not-so-great news today.” He sighed heavily but smiled at the last second, an action now that now looked less reassuring and more of a move to cover something up. “But… we’ll be okay… promise.” Ashley surveyed both Bigs and whatever was typed out on that crumpled pile of papers obviously was still bothering them. In a way, their avoidance of looping her in was likely an effort to protect her from something, but… on the outside looking in, the feeling was less nice. Still, Ashley seemed to genuinely care at least for Betty by now, so, her gaze then shifted to her instead of Pete. “Uh… back on Earth, whenever I felt sad, a hug would always help me… almost no matter what I was dealing with.” She took a breath and stared directly at Betty. “So… do you … I don’t know… maybe want a hug?” The question seemed so loaded at it was unleashed on the pair of Bigs, something so unexpected yet so thoughtful. But while Pete looked wary and hesitated in his movements, a single tear fell down Betty’s cheek as she smiled and nodded. “You know… I think I would…” She stepped out and, meeting Ashley in the middle, crouched down before both hugged. At first, it felt like one more born from obligation of a relationship between a Big and a Little, one serving the other’s purpose of helping one in need and the other stepping into a possible void. It didn’t take long though for Ashley’s hands to squeeze tighter, and it took even less time after that for Betty to dip her head in and squeezed Ashley back… almost as if to will away all the evils and sadness that had befallen her today. After, it didn’t take Pete long to crouch down and wrap both up tightly as well. The three were likely unaware, but smiles for each, even with any of their pain, shone through. It was a nicety in a world so full of problems for relationships between Bigs and Littles, but even then, after a moment, Ashley opened her eyes and peaked just a little. The three didn’t seem like they wanted to let go in their own way, but for Ashley, her eyes briefly dipped behind her own back now. His relatively massive arm blocked her view that way, but she knew the crumpled sheets of paper were still there. ‘Okay… the letter that started all this is right there, but… I just need to let it go.’ Ashley sighed with a tiny ounce of struggle. ‘This is nice and all, but… this hug is lingering a little longer than I was anticipating. I guess they really needed it, and… well, if I push past all that other stuff… it does kind of feel nice… maybe…’ * * * Day 50 – 5:56 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “So… no idea what was in the letter?” Nancy asked, her feet pumping a little to move herself about more than usual on the swing set. Overhead, the sky grew dark under the pending threat of a storm… something that seemed to be increasing around here lately. Nancy’s Middle sitter had given them a time limit today, but both had only grunted and sent her a quick nod before returning to their conversation. “No… no idea,” Ashley responded, her ankles rocking a little just to pass the time on the swings. ‘Nice almost no one’s here, except those two guys over by the monkey bars, but… why are we on the swings again and not walking around like usual?’ “That’s very strange…” Nancy said distantly. All of today in fact, she had seemed farther away… almost like she was always thinking about something else. “Maybe… just keep track of it. See if it happens again.” “Well, that’s just it!” Ashley had thought hard last night and finally remembered something. “Remember I told you about the shot happening before back when I first got here?” Nancy nodded. “Well, I remembered… Betty had cried before!” Ashley explained. “Again, it was only a few days after I got here… so I didn’t push it then, but yeah! She cried in her office upstairs while I was listening to my music.” “And nothing after?” Nancy swung far forward, this time looking less like a distraction and more like she was actually trying to swing and go up higher. “Uh… no.” Ashley squinted at her friend as she then zoomed back. “She just… kind of moved on. Maybe it will be like that this time as well.” “Maybe!” Nancy was once again far forward and up in the air. With the larger swings for Littles here, a Little could actually get some height to their swings… which was why most swings meant for Littles were like the kind back on Earth for babies. Things were often almost double in size here, but gravity was basically just gravity. Maybe a little stronger, but a Little’s bones definitely weren’t. Still, despite seeing her friend seemingly having fun, the act itself gave Ashley pause. Fun wasn’t bad for a Little… it was a great distraction from all the bad stuff even, but… ‘This is Nancy. Typical mopey Nancy… not fun and loving life Nancy. I’m glad she’s happy, but still…’ Ashley watched her friend pump a few more times until she shook her head at the situationally odd sight and waved for her friend to stop. What’s up, Ash?” Nancy asked once she stopped, a little out of breath from working the swing for a while now. “Everything okay?” “Uh… yeah… or well, no I guess.” Ashley looked at her confused friend and sighed, knowing she would have to explain. “Nance… today… you… well, you just seem kind of… different… Hyper even!” Ashley winced a little at how that had popped out more forcefully than she would have liked. Still, she continued to stare back at her friend as she waited for an answer. “Oh… that.” Nancy even smirked like she had just been caught in a goofy lie of some kind like having stuck a whoopie cushion under a teacher’s seat. Her eyes wide and uncompromising, Ashley nodded. “Yes… that.” Nancy smirk widened. “Well, it all started at daycare today, or… maybe the last few days?” She briefly stopped and tapped her chin before shrugging. “Not sure really, but I just really noticed it today.” “What, Nancy?” Ashley asked back impatiently. “Noticed what?” ‘I swear… it’s like pulling teeth with her lately!’ “Well, we got a treat at daycare,” she stated plainly. “It was… I’m not sure, but I swear… after eating it, I’ve never felt happier in my life! Must be a lot of calories or sugar or something, right?” Ashley blinked back numbly at her friend. ‘Crud. Is it just me being too paranoid about what happened to Melissa? Or is something genuinely going wrong with my friend?’ Ashley looked back at Nancy… and she was her normal self. Not swinging anymore, her hair was still more or less a little unkempt but overall tidy. Her clothing still bordered on the darker shades of the spectrum, and there was no drool… no slack jaw… no wandering eyes away from her. She was Nancy. ‘Okay, I mean… even on Earth, my friends always seemed to buzz after an energy drink. This just has to be that, right?’ So, Ashley sighed and smiled back at her friend. “Yeah… must be it.” She paused for a second. “But do me a favor…” Nancy nodded. Ashley took a deep breath and looked intensely at her friend. “Just… promise that if you ever feel yourself slipping or…” “Get off me!” Both Ashley and Nancy turned back toward the shout, now seeing a pair of Littles scrambling in the wood chips by the monkey bars and now spreading out a few slides and climbing walls. “I was here first!” “But I claimed the tower first!” the other Little shouted, rolling around and gaining the top spot of the two of them. “Not my fault if your so… ow!” The other Little, maybe not feeling that wrestling was going anywhere, gave a solid right hook to the other Little, sending him flying off and into the ground, clutching their jaw. “Why you little…!” The Little spit something out and immediately pounced back, landing several blows of his own. “Okay! Okay, you two!” a Big then shouted, rushing from their spot on a bench nearby. “Break it up! Break it…!” But the Big didn’t get to finish as the punching Little quickly shoved her. Seemingly not expecting it from one of her Littles, the Big tripped over herself and fell into the wood chips, looking more than a little stunned. “Oh!” This time, Nancy’s sitter rushed over. “I’m coming!” Being a Middle herself, she wasn’t as strong as the Big was, but her resolve and preparation for seemingly anything served her well, quickly avoiding a punch to her own face as she started to break up the fight. Dusting herself off, the Big rejoined in soon after as well. “I… you… oh!” The Big now got back in the scuffle herself after being tossed about in the chaos a few more times, just as Nancy and Ashley had made their way over to the scene. The Big and Middle were just that, but the Littles were low, fierce, and fast. Now, seemingly getting a little frustrated, the Big flared her nostrils. “Stand back! Code 40!” Nancy’s sitter nodded her head and quickly pushed the Little off her before taking a deep breath of air. In seconds, the Big had one hand holding the Littles apart while the other reached for a can of something from her nearby purse. Plucking it out fully, she took a deep breath and then sprayed it liberally. Immediately, both unsuspecting Littles dropped to the ground, their eyes wide and their mouths slack. “Nancy! Ashley!” the sitter shouted back at them, the collar of her shirt now covering her mouth. “Don’t breathe in the vapor!” Seeing odd things like this before and seeing the results in the Littles, neither had to be told twice, and they quickly removed themselves from the airborne path of the silver mist until it all finally dissipated into the ground. The Big breathed in deep. “Okay… we’re good. Once it hits the ground, it’s rendered inert.” She then looked over and smiled at Nancy’s sitter. “Thanks for the help, but sorry about that. These two were going nowhere and all that could have gotten nasty really quick.” “Oh, no worries!” the Middle responded. “No one else got hurt and that’s the main thing.” “Yes,” the Big nodded. She then looked back at her two Littles and shook her head. “And they were doing so well. Oh well! Guess I’ll have to pull them and reassign them to this project instead now,” she said, gesturing to the can she rehoused in her purse. “Shame. Now… where did they put…?” The Big looked all over for something specific but then seemed to find it looking back at Nancy and Ashley. “Little girl…” Ashley’s eyes widened and she searched on herself for anything on her but found nothing. Turning around as well now, Nancy’s sitter looked toward them as well. “Put it down, honey…” ‘What? What? I don’t understand! What do I have on me that’s so important? Maybe Nancy knows. Maybe…’ But right as Ashley turned to question her friend, she saw it. Nancy was right next to her, but at some point, had picked up a small stuffed bear that was dressed as a knight. Nancy’s eyes were wide and full of curiosity while her fingers stroked the bear’s fuzzy texture and the silvery and smooth simulated armor costume. It didn’t take a genius to realize that the stuffed animal likely belonged to one of the recently regressed Littles, still drooling into the ground nearby. Ashley could only look on with curiosity herself… but to her friend instead of the small toy that was the point of so much apparent fascination. ‘This isn’t Nancy… this is something… more…’ “Nancy…” her sitter tried to call out gingerly. Right as the Big stepped forward though, her sitter seemed to take matters up a level on her own. “Nancy!” Almost like she had snapped out of a trance of some kind, Nancy’s shot up. “You will give us that toy right now, missy. You don’t want me to tell Mr. Vasiliou that you were misbehaving, do you?” she threatened. This time, Nancy shook her head in clear fear of her Big’s name being mentioned. It was a rarity already, but combined with a strict tone, Nancy didn’t mess around. So, right away, she sped over and handed the toy back to the Big. “Very good, Nancy,” she praised. “Now, go back and play with Ashley. The storm is coming fast this time, and we probably need to leave soon.” Nancy nodded and ran off, even going so far as to pull Ashley away from the scene right as the Big and her sitter began to joke about something. “Come on, Ash! We gotta go!” Ashley let herself be pulled away from the scene, especially since they popped back on their usual perimeter track around the park. Once they were there though, Nancy stopped and looked back at the two Littles before shaking her head. “They’ll just never learn…” “What?” Ashley was still spinning and barely heard her friend as she still tried to process whatever just occurred between her and that toy. “Those Littles,” she explained. “They broke the one cardinal rule… faster to anger, faster to being a drooler.” Ashley could only blink back numbly at her friend. Nancy smirked. “Yeah… I know it’s nothing much, but around here, it’s a pretty good standby to live by. I mean, once they started punching… those Littles didn’t stand a chance either way. Spray was something new but…” She shrugged her shoulders and turned away. “Eh! What’cha gonna do, right?” Blinking, it almost appeared as Ashley had gotten thumped on the head and was seeing stars. “Okay…” Clearing more after though, she then shook her head, now realizing what all was going on, and then quickly pulled Nancy like a dead weight back to where she was to confront her. “Woah, woah, woah! What the heck was that, Nance?” “What?” she asked innocently like nothing at all had happened with her only moments ago. “That! Back there!” Ashley nearly panted in alarm and confusion as she pointed back to the now mostly resolved scene of the two Littles, the Big, and Nancy’s sitter. It was all alarming, including the obvious dark stains on the two Little’s pants that could be made out even from here, but Nancy… that was the far more pressing matter. “What was that? You… you… you spaced out there!” “Oh… that!” Nancy smiled and only shrugged. “That was nothing! Just… I thought I recognized that toy or something from back home.” The answer was simple, plain… and a big fat lie. ‘No, no way. There’s something more to this! I just know it, but… I just don’t know what! Melissa took weeks to do anything massively weird. Nancy… she was fine just days ago!’ Ashley sucked in a breath of air to unleash on her friend. Before she could though, Nancy held up her hand to stop her cold. “It was nothing, Ash. Seriously. It. Was. Nothing.” Ashley prepared to shoot again and refute it all, but Nancy shook her head sternly before taking off down the path once more like she usually did. ‘I’m fine, Ash… I’m fine…” * * * Day 51 – 5:18 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 It was another day and another moment at the park. The scene unfolded like it had so many times before since Ashley had first arrived in Peirama, likely owing to a lack of things for unregressed Littles to do around here, but this time, she was with Nancy. Not so unusual these days, but… Nancy herself was. She nearly skipped idly along the pathway. She still talked to Ashley about books and the ‘boys back home’ and her favorite foods, but… there was just something off about her. ‘If I didn’t know better, I would have sworn that she drank five energy drinks and binged at least three shots of vodka. Yesterday was something, but this…’ Nancy’s sitter, now identified by Nancy as ‘Tish,’ quickly stopped the two in their tracks. Increasingly, her presence was becoming more noticeable… and continuous. “Hey you two. Another storm’s coming. We’ll probably need to leave soon!” Of course, Tish really only meant to direct that statement at her charge, Nancy, but Tish had also seemingly caught on last week that if there was no Melissa and no Nancy, Ashley didn’t stick around the park either. So, now, when Nancy left, Ashley would as well. She didn’t dictate Ashley’s life, but her dictation over Nancy’s directly affected her… hence addressing them both at the same time. “Okay, Tish!” Nancy said excitedly, nodding. She then turned to Ashley. “Come on! I really, really want to see the pond again before we leave!” Without even waiting around for her, Nancy took off. Blinking back in the spot where her friend once stood, Ashley then looked over confusedly at Tish. Smiling herself, Tish only gestured gently in the distantly walking Nancy’s direction and almost whispered to Ashley to “Go on. Follow her.” Nodding, Ashley jogged at that point to catch up with Nancy, but this time, instead of skipping, her friend was now humming and had picked up a stick… which she now clicked along the fence. “… fell off and bumped her head, Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, ‘No more monkeys jumping on the bed!’” She horrifyingly giggled a little at that and even paused for a moment… until shaking her head and then went right into the next line of the old song. “Three little monkeys…” For a moment, the scene shocked Ashley and she had to stop and take a second to catch her breath and get her bearings on this seemingly new development. Singing was fine. Nancy was free to do as she pleased and clicking a stick along the fence wasn’t terrible either. But clicking the stick along the fence while going over to the pond excitedly while half-singing, half-humming ‘Five Little Monkeys…’ ‘That’s just something else entirely. I mean… does she even truly realize what’s she’s doing?’ Ashley shook her head though, seemingly electing to make it a priority to at least stick with her friend rather than interrogate her for the moment. ‘Why be an alarmist, right?’ As she did though, the storm forming to their west was starting to pick up and the breeze tousled her hair up something fierce. “Hey, Nance! Wait up!” * * * Day 51 – 6:25 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 The wind was picking up heavily now. Several Bigs and Littles had stuck around for a few extra moments to get have their Littles ‘get the wiggles out’ but when one of the flimsier and lightweight strollers took off down the path and then nearly hit Ashley and Nancy coming back from the pond, almost every Big and Middle decided to hightail it out of there. A few seconds later, any lingering Big or Middle received a call of some kind on their phone… and whatever was on there, caused everyone to flee. “Come on, Nancy!” Tish shouted over the whipping wind. “I just got a report from Mr. Vasiliou himself. The weather machine has gone haywire! They’re not sure why, but that’s why there’s been so many storms recently! We need to get inside now!” Nancy nodded but seemed to freeze on the spot. Ashley noticed before Tish and tried to get her friend to move alone at first. “Come on, Nance! We gotta go!” Nancy wouldn’t budge though, so, not seeing many other options, Ashley grabbed her arm and yanked hard. “Nancy! We need to go now!” A big gust then flapped a leaf right into her face. “Wha…? I…” Nancy seemed to snap out of it for a second, at least long enough to loosen up and for her to finally budge her feet and follow the still tugging Ashley. “Tish!” Ashley yelled, shielding her eyes briefly as another gust of wind picked up. Nearby, the 20-foot trees swayed heavily under the oncoming storm. “I got her, but… Nance keeps stopping! She’s going to need a…” “Oh no!” Tish warned. “You’re coming with us. This storm is far too dangerous for you to be wandering around on your own. You come back with us, and I’ll phone Betty on the way.” Ashley raised her hand, but Tish quickly waved her finger in front of her before she could launch any objections. “And that’s final!” “Fine!” Ashley snarled for a moment once Tish’s back was turned but then looked at her friend. “Come on, Nancy! We gotta go!” This time, Nancy moved but remained mute as her hair flew all around the place. Pushing Nancy forward to stay with Tish for a second, Ashley took the time to gather her own hair up and pull it tight through a hair band into a single ponytail. “There! All good, Tish! If you’re good, let’s get out of here!” Tish turned around and smiled before taking the hand of Nancy that Ashley wasn’t holding as well. “Alright, come on! Storm’s still not critical, but Mr. Vasiliou just warned me that the storm could break any moment.” Nodding, Ashley pulled in unison with Tish and Nancy stumbled along, her eyes full of fear and wonder as the whole world seemed to be flying around her. Getting back, however, it didn’t take long until Ashley saw several police cars and security forces zoom by. One or two would direct them inside quickly, but the rest kept their speeds up. “Geesh!” Tish exclaimed after one particularly fast-moving cruiser. “As if this storm isn’t bad enough!” “They’re everywhere now,” Ashley remarked as she pulled an errant strand of hair out of her face. “I think it’s with the second tunnel now… everyone thinks this place is less secure. Plus…” Ashley gestured to the nearby construction, now speeding ahead faster than ever, “more people coming.” “Hmmm,” Tish seemed to ponder, “definitely. Something for you to keep in mind though.” Her eyes dipped down long enough for Ashley to know that she was staring at her independent Little bracelet. “With more security…cops… whatever… bracelet or not… all Littles might get some restrictions coming up.” Those words nearly stopped Ashley dead in her tracks. “What? What do you know, Tish? Did Mr. Vasiliou tell you something more that’s not known or…?” “Playground!” Nancy shouted out, pulling far over to their left and to the construction site. It was a little hard to see through the plastic sheeting attempting to cover up what was being done on the other side, but the wind was thorough and brutal. A hole, just big enough for a Little to fit through, or in this case with the fence still on the other side, see through, a bare patch of gravel and dirt housed what looked to be several elaborate pieces of a colorful playground set… still to be built. “Oh, yeah!” Tish remarked with some degree of enthusiasm. “Would you look at that! Must be one of the biggest around once it’s done, but Nance…” Her excited words soon turned to ones of caution and command. “Come on, hon. We need to get back to the house.” Nancy stared at her unblinking for a moment. Her patience seemingly waning a little in the face of everything going on around them, Tish sighed. “The storm, Nancy?” Nancy looked up and like a tiny spark fired in her brain, her almost slack-jawed face reverted to the more serious form that Ashley had come to know. ‘Holy… what was that? I didn’t even realize the change, but… there was definitely a change there! What the heck is going on with…?’ “Come on, Ash!” Tish called out. Ashley shook her head and looking around and feeling the pull of Nancy, it didn’t take her long to realize that now, she was the one holding them back. “Oh… shoot! Sorry! Just…” She shook her head. “Never mind…” Tish looked like she had a question, but a stiff breeze that slapped her single braid about seemed to dissuade her from stopping instead. * * * Day 51 – 6:44 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 Turning down a few streets, Ashley was a little more unfamiliar with this part of town. While Cheery Lane was one of the nicer neighborhoods, Old Bloom Boulevard was one of the original streets and largest… at least in terms of property sizes and the houses built on them. Even with this being her fourth time here, Ashley still stared wide-eyed at most of the manors before her. “Come on, Ash!” Nancy shouted this time. Ashley turned back and saw that Tish and Nancy were already clambering up the driveway and to the front door of Mr. Vasiliou’s house. “Yeah! Coming!” Another sharp gust flapping her ponytail around, she just made it to the sprawling front porch when another boom of thunder sounded. “Yikes!” Tish cried, more shocked than scared. She then looked down and opened her arms wide before gesturing rapidly to both Ashley and Nancy. “Hurry! Hurry! Inside!” Not needing to be told twice, Ashley and Nancy ducked for cover inside the large manor. Inside was a little more typical of a Big’s dwelling in Peirama, but if one just happened to look closely… they might see otherwise. For example, Ashley always gawked at the safari photos Mr. Vasiliou had taken in the heart of Alkebulan or the photos of him shaking hands with the heads of countries ranging all over the world from Catalon all the way to the east in Yamatoa. ‘Hmmm… still find it curious that the more prominently displayed photos are the ones from the more conservative countries concerning Littles…’ “Okay, Ash,” Tish began after hanging up her purse and closing the front door. “Let me call up Mrs. Jones… sorry, Dr. Jones and let her know that you made it here safely. She seemed pretty worried about you when I first told her that you were comi…” “Tish!” Ashley and Tish snapped their looks over to a clearly panicked Nancy. “I…” Nancy briefly looked at Ashley and then back to Tish with a seeming high degree of urgency. “I need help… with…” She didn’t say anything more, kind of trailing off there, and maybe that was code itself or maybe Tish and her had just been together so long, but Tish seemed to instantly know what she was saying… or at least trying to imply. “Oh! Right away. That’s okay, Nancy. You run upstairs and I’ll be there soon to help, okay?” Without even looking back at Ashley, Nancy ran up the stairs as instructed and across the top balcony there to the end of the hall. ‘Hmmm… I’ve never been that way before when I was upstairs… I wonder what’s over there… especially that all that seems to be an emergency, and…’ Ashley’s mind stopped running for a moment. Her glance only coming off the top floor naturally, her eyes just happened to land on Tish… now looking like she had just been writing something down on something else before quickly shoving that something else away. “Tish… what are you…?” “Alright!” Tish shot off loudly enough to stop Ashley from completing her question. “Let me go up and help Nancy. You just stay down here for a moment, and I’ll be right back.” Ashley could only nod in curiosity as she was soon left alone… Tish going in the exact same direction that Nancy had previously. ‘Weird… so weird...’ The silence of the home seemed to multiply in such a large empty space. Ashley had been home without Pete and Betty before, however rare, but that was completely normal. Here though, with such large spaces, the emptiness felt double. Wincing a little, Ashley opted to distract herself and look around. Trophies, plaques of degrees, souvenirs from around the world… from Mr. Vasiliou seemingly had it all. There was barely a corner that wasn’t touched by something utterly fascinating to the journalist in Ashley and her mind could barely focus… until she saw a single photograph. ‘A satellite image of Peirama?’ She surveyed the image closer and while it was definitely Peirama, it looked more like a satellite image combined with plans of the whole city. Given her puzzled expression, some streets were unknown to Ashley… some even seemed to be unbuilt still, but others… she recognized right away. ‘That’s Cheery Lane, and… that’s Old Bloom Boulevard! I’m so close to home!’ The urge to run home now, at least before the rain started, seemed to wholly consume Ashley. She paced for a little bit, both Nancy and Tish still absent… until her glance slowly reached upstairs. ‘They’re both still up there… if I stay, I could get stuck here…’ Her glance then traveled back down and to the unlocked front door. ‘If I leave though… I could get in trouble… but I would be home.’ As if to answer her question, a spark of lightning shone outside followed less than five seconds later back a near manor-shaking boom of thunder. ‘Oh… yeah… I’m getting home. I… no, no. Don’t say that Betty is a comfort to you. With whatever seems to be happening to your friends, Ash… there’s no way you want to go down that path.’ Heading to the door, it took more than a few yanks to pop open the large and heavy wooden door, but it finally let free and showed the thrashing plants and the darkened skies outside. ‘Oh yikes! Definitely not great weather, but…’ She glanced back at the satellite image. ‘Only a few blocks… I can run that before the storm hits, right?’ Opening the door, she stared back upstairs for a moment and took a deep breath in. “Well… see you tomorrow, Nancy! Sorry to run, Tish, but I’d rather be at home when the storm actually hits!” Just as Ashley left, she could clearly hear a door thudding open upstairs and some yelling after her, but by the time she heard that, she was already out the door and running back home. * * * Day 51 – 7:13 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 Lightning flashed all across the sky as Ashley’s little legs pumped faster and faster. It was like a race between her and nature, and as the first drops began to fall and dampen her skin, it seemed she was losing. Just as she rounded the corner though, she spotted what she was looking for. “Cheery Lane!” she screamed triumphantly, a thunderclap almost covering her voice up. With the end in sight, Ashley seemed to give the final sprint all the effort she had, rounding another corner and her house here in Peirama coming into view. “Oh, yes! I made it. I…’ Her moment of jubilee though was crushed a little by the imposing and clearly cross figure standing on the front porch and staring down the sprinting Ashley coming closer. Her fingers from one hand drummed the railing of the front porch while the other held up a phone to her ear. “Yes… she’s here now…” Betty paused. “Oh yes… we will be talking about this… Yes, Tish… No, no. You weren’t in the wrong here. Yes, thank you, Tish… Stay safe…” Taking the phone from her ear, she clicked the off button with a heavy disdain in her eyes… though there also seemed to be a good amount of relief as well. “I guess Tish told you…” Ashley said pausing after a moment of taking a deep and exhausted breath after her run. “Oh… she told me alright…” Betty nearly hissed. “She told me how great you were and how patient you were with Nancy today…” Her tone was nice and gentle, much to the clear surprise of Ashley. “And how you ran off in the middle of a violent storm without her permission…” This time, Betty’s tone morphed into something more sinister… disapproving. “Completely ignoring what she said to do… and what we had agreed on! That sound about right?” Ashley squinted in confusion back at Betty. “Wait… did I miss something?’ More raindrops fell and splattered on her face and clothing. The storm was almost fully there. “You… agreed on?” Yes!” Betty shot back. “I told Tish to keep you there for your protection. I got the same alerts she did and… well, just look!” Her hand shot up and pointed to the swirling mass of dark gray and nearly blackened clouds churning around above them. “Until they get that weather machine fixed, this storm could be lethal! All the houses were designed well enough to be hit by a jet and survive, but out here…” “Lethal?” Ashley questioned, her shock clearly evident as she focused on that one scary word. “I wasn’t told that. I would have…” “But that’s why you listen to Bigs!” Another thunderclap coincided with Betty’s shouting and seemed to elevate her anger to near godlike levels. At the same time though, it also seemed to mellow her out and get her to realize one thing. “Continue this in a moment…” she said, holding up a single finger to pause their conversation. “Now, get inside this instant! Move! Quickly!” Ashley nodded and wasted no time hurrying in. As if she had already anticipated all this though, Betty hopped in right behind her and patted her damp clothes from the few splashes of rain that had already started to fall… most of it in just the past few minutes. After a moment, Betty stopped toweling her dry. “There… much dryer at least now.” She paused, but her face went from her typical caring face to one of fierce anger and her hands went straight to her hips in bold resolution against Ashley like some disciplinarian about to lecture their pupil. “Now… what the heck were you doing out there? Did you think? Did you bother to ask? Did you even care about me? Yourself?” Ashley, still with the towel around her shoulders, slowly pulled it off and stared back, silent and blinking. ‘I… I didn’t realize she would care this much… stupid on me but… wow…’ “I… I’m sorry, Betty. I just…” “You just, what?” Betty looked like she was past the point of any excuses, and she even stepped forward with a glared aimed right at Ashley. “I just… I…” Ashley stumbled for the right words. “I… I just didn’t think,” she said rapidly. Betty still glared at Ashley, but this time she paused and after a moment, pulled her hands off her hips. “No… you didn’t” She then sighed and stepped forward, her face quickly softening. “You just… you need to think, Ashley. The storm could have killed you. I… I…” Betty paused for longer than usual and for a moment, it even looked like she was at a loss for words as her eyes began to well up. “I just don’t know what I would have done if I lost you.” There was a seriousness in her words, but there was also a tenderness that Ashley hadn’t seen before… or at least not to this degree… or directed towards her. Through it all, briefly, Ashley seemed too stunned herself at what just a tiny mistake on her part had led to. “I… I’m sorry, Betty. I’m okay.” Looking over, Ashley could see Betty’s eyes begin to water, and her lip even started to quiver… an unusual display of vulnerability in even the most progressive Bigs she had seen so far. “I… I really am, Betty, but… I am so sorry. If it happens again, I’ll…” But Betty flung herself fully into her in one enormous hug before Ashley could finish. As opposed to the one from the other day, Betty didn’t crouch, so her imposing height towered over Ashley and made her feel small… Ashley even going so far as to even let out a small squeak… partially in the force of the hug, but partially out of shock. After a moment, Betty still didn’t release Ashley, and she looked to be too shocked to truly hug her back. “Just please… please, Ash. Don’t do something like this to me again.” Despite being practically hidden by the Big, Ashley nodded. “I… I promise, Betty.” Now, maybe it was partially from guilt, or partially from just reciprocating a kind gesture back to someone who had shown her so much care, but Ashley hugged Betty back. Instead of giving a quick squeeze back though and then releasing her, Betty only latched onto the Little further. ‘Okay… this is great and all, but maybe…’ A thunderclap boomed and shook the house, going so far as to rattle a few nearby dishes. ‘Okay… yeah… I can hold on a little longer. This is… it’s kind of nice actually…’ The storm raged outside, but inside, safe in each other’s arms, neither could possibly see the other, but both smiled equally, contentedly, and happily.

Hey everyone! Moving forward, I’m going to highly recommend that everyone read Project Nurture before the next few chapters. I promise to explain what I can so for anyone who doesn’t take my advice, they aren’t lost, but some items will show more as easter eggs to that story or threads that will eventually merge with that one (since spoiler… this story is both a prequel and sequel). We still have a few more chapters until they actually align plot wise, but just as a light warning, the references are going to get a little heavier now. There will also be a few references to The Opening as well, but most of these I will try to explain directly during the story or I’m purposely keeping some of those references vague… since I will likely be touching on these in much greater detail in later stories (for example, Project Swan). Next, just as a reminder, a new poll is up for you all to let me know which story you all would like to read next. Story options and the link can be found back in the beginning of chapter 2. As I mentioned before though, if you feel more comfortable leaving a comment here or as a private message to me, I will count these as well. Additionally, like before, this poll will be shut down right before I post my final chapter on here. Further announcements will be made regarding this when the time gets closer. Last but not least and as usual, I hope everyone enjoys this next chapter! Chapter 8: Curiosities Everywhere Day 42 – 8:23 A.M. MDT – Earth 2 Ashley sighed heavily as she once again looked into the mirror. Behind her, her room now looked more colorful, but unlike the last time she had seen what could only be described as toddler décor in Melissa’s room now, hers still maintained a nice balance of maturity. If anything, it now looked like someone actually lived in the room rather than the Spartan-like décor, or lack thereof, when she first moved in almost a month ago now. “Well… still July now, and that means months to go before I can expect any sort of extraction, but…” she looked off briefly with sadness swimming in her eyes, “I don’t think I can wait that long. If Melissa taught me anything, it’s that first, Littles can go quick. Nancy mentioned something about regression here being a damn or something like that. You might only see a little river at first coming from it… slow and steady, but behind the damn is a whole metric ton of water. So, when she started to visibly go, she was already backloaded and flooded out so quickly soon after. It’s terrifying to think of that happening to anyone, let alone yourself or even a friend.” She sighed and went over to tidy up her bed. “And maybe others will call me compensating here, but I don’t want to give Betty any excuses for regressing me. Which I guess brings me to my next topic… I think I have my story.” She then started fluffing out her pillows. “Seeing her regress like she did, with a little information from Nancy, I now think I can safely say that Peirama isn’t just an oddity in the mountainous desert of Utem… it’s actually a place of sinister motives and sketchy experimentation. I don’t have the full evidence I need to back that up yet, but I’d bet everything I have on that.” Standing up, Ashley appeared more resolved now. “So, that’s my goal. Find out as much as I can and then get the heck out of here. Even if I can’t get the full story, just a start would be breaking news all over Earth about the terrible things in this dimension.” Hearing a few dishes clanging together from downstairs, Ashley looked toward her door and sighed. “I think I will miss Betty, but…” She then walked over to the mirror and looked deeply into it. “I have to confess something. She’s great and all, but… I now know my biggest fear. Seems obvious now, but I guess it took seeing a friend wither away to what amounts to a toddler without a care in the world… So yeah, my biggest fear is getting stuck here forever without anyone that truly cares about me… Again, it’s simple and so obvious, but…” “Ashley!” Pete called from downstairs. “Breakfast is ready!” “Coming!” she shouted back. She then looked back in the mirror and sighed. “Okay… game face on. No cracks, no sadness to exploit. Just happy and behaved.” Like she was placing a mask on over her face, as soon as her hands patted her cheeks and were removed, instead of a sad Little, only a joyous one remained in her place. “Now, I’m ready to greet the day!” Her smile not seeming like it could get any wider, the Little bound out of the room and downstairs. * * * Day 42 – 8:42 A.M. MDT – Earth 2 “You know they want a new laser for the lab?” Pete questioned Betty. “Would cost a quarter of our annual budget in one go. Can you believe that?” Betty sighed and nodded her head. “Of course, Pete. You wanted that advanced microscope last year, remember? And I wanted that gene re-sequencer the year before that. We’re scientists… not accountants. We want what we want.” Pete smirked at that. “Yeah… very true, but a quarter of the budget?” “Maybe, but… how about you focus on your own projects, dear?” Betty suggested, wrapping her arms lovingly around her husband’s chest as he sat at the breakfast table. “Maybe even get back home on time tonight?” Pete only smiled and kissed her lowered face before returning to his tablet. ‘I feel like a fly on the wall in here… but… I don’t know anything about anything still with Pete. What the heck does he do? If I want to ever leave, I need to start asking… no matter what…’ Ashley straightened herself up in her booster seat and set her fork down. “Pete?” He looked up from his tablet and right back at her. “What… what is it that you do?” From the sink, Betty dropped a utensil, and both Pete and Ashley paused to look back at her for a moment before returning to see each other. “I’m a scientist, Ashley. You know that.” His eyes glanced back down at his tablet, but he paused and then looked back up at her with questioning eyes. “Why do you ask?” “Oh… I just…” ‘Way to go, Ash. Ask the man a question and you didn’t even have a reason prepared other than… ‘please sir, tell me all about your job so I can write about it back home and expose your whole world for the absolute horror this it is.’ Idiot…’ Ashley paused quickly and thought of an excuse on the spot. “Well, other Littles know something about what their Bigs do. Mel’s… mommy works for energy. Nancy’s Big is an engineer. You… you’re just… scientist. That’s all I know.” Pete smirked and leaned back in his chair. “Not enough for you, huh?” Ashley shook her head. ‘Others need a subtle approach, but Pete doesn’t seem to bite on that. Now… just please don’t backfire on me!’ Pete then leaned forward again. “Well… I work in chemical compounds. It’s a broad job description but I head up one of the main labs in dealing with them.” “And what is it that you do there?” The timidness of Ashley still lingered, but her question was starting to show more of her journalistic side… something she might have realized or not. Either way, the bold question was now out there. “Oh… this and that,” Pete responded vaguely. “Important things though.” “Like?” Ashley pushed again. This time, Pete leaned forward now fully over the table. “You know,” he said with a sly smile that cause Ashley to shift uncomfortably in her booster seat. “If you’re so interested in what I do and all that… are you ready for the company party tomorrow night?” “Party?” Ashley wracked her brain, but she had never heard the words ‘party’ or ‘July 22’ ever before in the same sentence here. “What party?” * * * Day 43 – 7:58 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 The drive up to the main lab winded up several unexpected roads. It wasn’t as bad as the mountainous trek to get in and out of Peirama, but there was a small part of Ashley that looked relieved as she continuously gripped the sides of her sturdy booster seat whenever the car whipped around yet another corner. “We’re here!” Betty said exuberantly at last as the car finally parked and was shut off. A small smile appeared over Ashley’s face as she rapidly started to unbuckle herself. This time though, she waited to be helped out of the car. It’s not that she couldn’t do it, but… Ashley and Betty had opted to take the newly formed tunnel to go to the mall. Only one side was open, but being a weekday, the traffic output was pretty low, and they had made great time. Now, as a result of that trip, Ashley didn’t want to ruin her new purchase. On the surface, she wasn’t the biggest fan of her new outfit, but after Betty had explained that it was all to better calm some of the more conservative Bigs tonight, Ashley had accepted her new dress. Against Pete’s tuxedo and Betty’s dark navy off-the-shoulder formal dress, her own navy-blue ‘Flower Girl’ design dress featuring shimmery stars, all made in a luxurious velvet, a glitzy belt, and an ombre tulle overlay… she had to admit she liked it just a little. Of course, it was slightly ruined when the saleslady had asked if she wanted the Little’s onesie design underneath as well to ‘keep well-padded throughout the night,’ but Betty had immediately dismissed that notion without even a moment’s hesitation. At the time, Ashley had been grateful for that at least. Looking around now, half of the town… or at least the Bigs of that category seemed to be there. A few seemed missing, like Bruno or Officer Decker, but most others at least seemed present. Ashley even spotted Antiope, having already found a sitter to take care of poor regressed Melissa now. ‘I wish she would have been here tonight, but… considering her fussiness lately with anything even remotely not attuned to her needs, it’s probably for the best…’ The trio stepping in further into the party and past the spotlights and immaculate floral arrangements at the entrance, one thing became abundantly apparent. She was the only Little here tonight. From what she had seen of who was attending this, that shouldn’t have been as shocking as it was, but Betty had literally said that she wouldn’t be the only one. ‘Did Betty really not know, or was it more of a little white lie to make me feel better about coming until it was too late? It doesn’t feel like Betty, but…’ She then saw Antiope walk in and talk to several other Bigs she didn’t recognize. ‘I wouldn’t have expected anything bad with Melissa and Antiope, but… one is here now, and the other is back at home… either asleep or sucking down another bottle of that blasted mystery milk.’ Ashley couldn’t help but give Antiope the stink eye… the Big far enough away that there was no possible way that she would spot the rude display being shot her way. Not long after, many of the Bigs took their seats at the clinking of a glass and the brief flicker of lights. Betty, Pete, and Ashley were all sat at one of the more forward tables and were surrounded by several Bigs that Ashley once again didn’t recognize. All seemed a little out of their element here, but even overhearing a tiny portion of their quiet conversations indicated they were likely some of the top brains around here. And considering that even the far-away-seated Antiope was mastering breakthroughs in energy design that was at least several decades in advance of anything back on Earth, these scientists up front were all likely top geniuses in their fields in an even greater capacity. ‘So… if we’re here… Betty is smart and useful in her own way around here, but we’re probably here because of Pete. So… just what the heck does he do here?’ “Good evening,” a middle-aged woman announced, stepping up to the microphone. Instantly, everyone quieted and looked at her in near reverence. “Thank you for having this wonderful celebration tonight. I apologize that my mother couldn’t be here tonight, but at her age… even with our technology, travel is a little difficult.” A few nodded in agreement or chuckled at that. Adjusting her horned rimmed glasses up her bony and hooked nose, she smiled. “I guess maybe that’s the next breakthrough we need to focus on… right Pete?” Everyone stared at Pete and a spotlight briefly shone over him. Getting a little of the spotlight on herself, Ashley shrunk as best she could out of view. ‘Holy… is Pete some kind of wizard of new chemicals or something? Unless I’m mistaken, that lady just asked him to create something to prolong life. Is my own Big the key to everything here?’ Pete only laughed at first but then smiled and politely nodded. “Just give me the funding, Joy, and I’ll even make some of your wrinkles disappear!” Several other laughed at that… Joy as well. “Yes, that would be something…” Her hand briefly touched her cheek, and for a moment, it looked like she was actually sad about her appearance. “Too many days experimenting with radiation in the lab in my day I guess…” Only a few people smiled at that… most looking more downcast over the apparent price of discovering new technologies. “Regardless!” she piped up once more, quickly bringing the crowd back to full vigor. “My mother founded this company to help our world and the Littles in it… but that wasn’t enough for her initial vision. After the last Height War, she foresaw that this world might not be enough. So… she set out to find another, and as we all know, she found it.” For a brief moment, Ashley shrank in her seat. ‘Why do I suddenly get the feeling that half of the audience is now looking at me?’ “But portal travel is difficult… dangerous even,” she continued with a definitive sadness about her. “When not exploiting the soft spots like those first pioneers, the first Littles came through nearly on fire, and what’s more… they could never return. Not so great for tourism, right?” ‘Geesh… I can’t imagine being stuck here forever…’ “But Diamond Technologies prevailed!” A few people clapped at that. “And we developed a new technology and then later pill to combat portal travel, but now… we have an even newer and better pill.” Her hand slowly rose and right between her fingers, there was the aforementioned tiny pill. “Smaller, cheaper… this new breakthrough will enable even more travel between the portals. Truly, this company will change both worlds forever!” At that, nearly every Big rose to their feet and began to clap in earnest. ‘Oh no… More portal travel… more Littles over here… more cases like Melissa… more regressed Littles…’ Even through dinner, Ashley remained quiet. Part of her was trying to overhear the new conversations buzzing around her, but another part of her was wrestling with something new. ‘Should I go back early without a complete story and warn everyone about what’s coming? Do I have a responsibility to Earth over my own career?’ Heavy questions like that plagued her mind for the better part of the next hour… even going into the part of the night where everyone drifted back and forth. Finally, though, Ashley seemed to come to a conclusion. ‘No… I should go in a perfect world, but… who will believe me? So, no… I need to stay and gather more evidence. I need to come back and present enough that it can’t be refuted or simply ignored…’ With her new resolve to get as much evidence as possible, tonight was an obvious gold mine of information. The problem was… she was the only Little. So, being independent and wandering around on her own, nearly every time she got close enough to hear the next big thing that could be icing on her story… the Bigs stopped. Still, she got a few nuggets of information from what she did overhear. ‘Okay… just what is Project Swan? Project DCI? Nanybots? Automated nurseries? Special hypnotics?’ It was all right there… but just out of Ashley’s grasp. Maybe it was the desire to get out of Peirama before she just turned into just another lost or regressed Little statistic like Melissa, or maybe it was hearing about all these horrifying but fascinating projects… but wandering around as the independent Little that she was… she soon spotted Pete. More importantly though, she spotted Pete looking around nervously before disappearing… like he was hiding something. It was odd enough behavior, and there was a tiny part of Ashley that couldn’t help but wonder if he was cheating on Betty… but then she saw the speaker, Joy, follow right behind him. ‘No… not cheating, but… Joy seemed high up, her mother seemed to be the founder of Diamond Technologies maybe? I’m not sure if that was it, but she was definitely requesting something from Pete. Even if it was a joke… those two are now my biggest curiosities out of everyone else here…’ While being a Little wasn’t the best cover, being the only one here and all, her height was certainly an advantage here over most other assignments she had pulled. In Afghanistan, she tried hiding behind curtains one time and lasted maybe all of five minutes before someone nearly found her. Only quick reflexes and an exit strategy with Sgt. Elias saved her that day, but here… she could hide under a table without much difficulty if she wanted to… which is probably why she hid under one right away once out of sight. Peering through the slightly transparent tablecloth, she could just make out Joy and Pete. “…can’t believe you made that joke, Joy,” Pete said pacing around and rubbing the front of his face. “I thought this thing was supposed to be a secret… not gristle for the company gossip rumor mill.” “Oh, don’t get your panties in a twist, Pete,” she scowled playfully back at him. “You know as well as I do that youth serums are just a thing of myth to most.” “Yeah…” Pete admitted hesitantly, “but you and I both know differently. And… who else knows about it?” This time his tone was far more accusatory… even to the point where joy shot her hands to her hips. “And just what is that supposed to mean, Dr. Jones?” Her cold tone briefly seemed to put Pete back on his heels, causing him to shrink a little under her menacing gaze. “Sorry, Ms. Beakerman… I just…” He looked around briefly and then stepped closer to her. “It’s just my wife had this strange order about a month ago now… caused a lot of weird effects… even on Bigs apparently. No one followed up though, so she followed protocol and destroyed it. But I think she mentioned that it was something from Tanassum I think?” “Really?” This time, Ms. Beakerman… Joy, looked concerned more than upset. “I mean… what I gave you two weeks ago to work on did come from a plant from Tanassum, and like it or not, Pete, but your wife is one of the foremost experts on plants… more specifically strange and rare plants. And, from what we know already, this one certainly does qualify and…” Someone then crashed a tray, causing Joy, Pete, and Ashley all to turn around suddenly. Unfortunately for Ashley, the disturbance seemed to cause the two Bigs to be extra cautious and they started to move off… causing Ashley to miss part of their conversation before she decided to move from her hiding spot. “…work on it right away,” Pete announced, his voice barely above a whisper and being barely audible, even in her new spot hovering behind a column. “We just need more test subjects, but we only have so many Littles here and…” “Ashley?” Ashley spun around and saw a concern-looking Betty. “Sweetie? What are you doing over here?” “I… party… here… need…” Ashley sputtered. ‘Oh great, girl! Another moment where you didn’t prepare an excuse already. Thank your lucky stars that most Bigs just see you as some bumbling Little… otherwise you would have been cooked for sure by now!’ Betty squinted briefly, almost as if she was highly skeptical of her Little, but then ultimately smiled warmly before walking up and crouching down, taking Ashley by both hands. “I think I know what’s happening…” “You do?” Ashley asked nervously. ‘Shoot! If Betty catches me now… I don’t even think that she’ll be on my side! Crud! Crud! Crud!’ “Yes, sweetie, and honestly, it’s okay…” Ashley dared not moved from her spot, staring back at her Big with wide and fearful eyes. “You’re the only Little here and that can be very overwhelming.” “Oh… yeah… I just…” Ashley stammered out. ‘Whew! Thought I was a goner, but… it might be playing with fire to admit something is overwhelming to a Big… but of all my options, that seems least objectionable… even if I did detect a little condescension there. Heck, in retrospect though, my fear of discovery might have only helped sell this whole thing.’ Ashley sighed in relief. “I was okay coming, but… I thought you said I wasn’t the only Little coming tonight?” “Oh, I did say that, and I’m so sorry, but… I was wrong,” Betty admitted, squeezing Ashley’s hands in a reassuring way. “One of the scientists here has a Little, but they were sick, and one of the organizers here also has a Little, but they got in trouble… broke a dish or a CD or something. Both are pretty unregressed right now as well, so it’s a shame you didn’t get to meet them. Maybe next time…” “I’d like that…” Ashley confessed. ‘More Littles I know here… more stories I might be able to cover for my larger piece on this whacky town. After all, I just found one more Little in Nancy and she led me to several possible outlets here…’ Betty smiled and nodded. “Good. Now,” she then smacked her knees and stood back up, “come with me. There’s someone I want you to meet.” Betty raised out her hand to hold, likely as a comforting gesture for an overwhelmed Little. Ashley truly wasn’t and even paused briefly but ultimately took her hand. ‘I’ve committed to this whole ‘overwhelmed Little’ bit. Gotta stick with it for the night now…’ The two pardoned their way through the crowds, quickly drawing stares from nearly every Big and Middle present. While Bigs seemed to make up a majority of the town, Middles seemed to play a prominent role as well… just not in the highest positions it seemed. “Joy? This is Ashley,” Betty then announced as they approached another Big who quickly spun around in her mint green dress, this Big even taller than Betty but sporting a similar shade of blonde hair. ‘I wonder if either of them is naturally that color. So many blondes around here… can’t be a natural coincidence for so many…’ The new Big looked down at Ashley with a warm and pleasant smile. “Ashley… this is Joy Spelding.” The new Big crouched down and held out her hand gently to shake. “It’s good to meet you, Ashley.” Ashley smiled and shook the Big’s massive, outstretched hand. “It’s good to meet you too… Miss Spelding.” “Gotta mind my manners around these new Bigs… if Betty wants me to meet her, then she must be important somehow…’ “Oh? I see why you made the suggestion, Betty. So polite!” she said in shock up to Betty, even touching one hand to her chest like they were in some 1950’s sitcom. “You must be very proud of her” Betty didn’t say anything, but her smile was enough. Miss Spelding then looked down toward Ashley. “You know… I hope my Little is just as well behaved.” As Miss Spelding then began to stand, Betty looked down at Ashley. “See, Ashley… Miss Spelding here has just volunteered for a new program that we’re about to start up.” “I get to help a struggling Little in need about two weeks from now!” Miss Spelding interjected, her excitement palpable and nearly radiating off her already. “Yes… but maybe more,” Betty corrected, likely trying to level the new Big’s expectations regarding timelines around Peirama. “Still… Miss Spelding and I were talking, and we were wondering… if you ever happen to run into her Little… could you maybe show them the ropes around here? Maybe make them feel at home or help them out even?” ‘Uh oh… this feels like writing out a blank check right now, but… I don’t think I can refuse something like this, can I?’ Ashley looked from Miss Spelding and then over to Betty and back again. Both seemed eager for her answer. ‘Yeah… that’s a no on the whole refusal business. I really don’t want to, but maybe… a new Little? Maybe they’ll know something more about the outside world by then that can help us both escape? Or maybe this… Joy Spelding will know more about what’s going on and her new Little will help with my own story… maybe?’ It was a lot to consider, but Ashley ultimately sighed and nodded. “I would love to, Miss Spelding. Any idea who they might be?” Miss Spelding smirked at Betty. “Oh, Littles… already planning for her next playdate with a Little that might not even be in this world yet.” Both Bigs smiled at that, but where Betty seemed more good-humored about it, Miss Spelding looked more like she had some plan with her new Little… and maybe even Ashley herself. ‘Great… another Big I need to keep an eye on…’ * * * Day 45 – 5:42 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “Any hope for our mutual friend?” Ashley asked Nancy as they walked around the perimeter of the park once again, something that was starting to become habit once Melissa largely had her own new playgroup. “No,” Nancy replied with a heavy sigh. “She’s just gotten worse. Honestly, I don’t think Mrs. Dunamis is doing a single thing to reverse her condition. I heard she’s even signed them up for ‘Mommy and Little’ classes now.” She breathed in and out as she briefly paused and looked back over to the playset and the sandbox nearby… where Melissa now found herself. “I think we need to face it. Our friend is gone.” “But how do you know?” Ashley asked, her young hope and maybe even naiveté on full display right then. Nancy turned to her friend and gripped her tight on both shoulders. “Ash… I’m sorry, but she’s gone. I guarantee the wires in her brain have been rerouted by now. She’s made new connections… ones that sever her potty training… ones that have her smile when she poops helplessly in front of a crowd of people. She has a nearly constant sucking reflex, and she only can gargle out maybe 10 simple words now. The Melissa we both knew… she’s gone. There’s just no other word for it.” Ashey teared up a little bit but ultimately nodded her head in resignation. Her first friend here was now a shell of whom she once was. If anything, the one solace Ashley could agree on with Nancy was that at least she seemed happy in her new role as a permanent infant level Little. It wasn’t much… Like was starting to become routine for them, on their continued walk, they began to recall first all about the things of Earth that they missed. For Nancy, that consisted mostly of coffee, the freedom to pile into a load of sweets whenever she felt like it, a good morning jog, and the taste of a Manhattan at the end of a long week. For Ashley, she seemed to usually miss her morning espresso, traveling, apple pie, and a good glass of wine. Next, they always touched on the subject of something to do with their favorite TV shows, movies, or most often, books. “… don’t care what you say, Ash. Book are always better than the movies!” Ashley frowned at her friend. “I gotta disagree with you there, Nance… yes, on the whole, books are better than they movies, but not always.” Nancy stopped and placed her hands on her hips while sporting a rather unimpressed look at her friend. “Name one!” “Oh… I don’t know…” Ashley feigned ignorance but barreled into the top two she knew for sure. “I guess… Forrest Gump! Shawshank Redemption! Ring any bells?” She smiled and saw a look of defeat overcast her friend, but it didn’t seem to be enough. “Do you yield that not all books are better than the movies?” Nancy remained silent; her eyes squinting back. “I can keep going!” “No, no…” Nancy said, holding up her hands as if to defend herself. “You made your point.” The issue seemed resolved, but Nancy still had a pensive and questioning look now. Just as Ashley was about to ask though, Nancy took the first step. “So… tell me. I’ve been curious… since you’re a personal trainer and all… what kind of routine could a Little do around here to stay in shape?” she asked, not holding back at all. “More specifically…. maybe one confined to daycare all day with not the most… traditional workout equipment?” “I… hmmm… I would have to think about that,” Ashley noted after a second. ‘Crud… I should know that as a personal trainer. I should have read that stupid packet about my background more, but… it was one of the things back at my hotel room… probably at the bottom of some dump or recycled into a roadway or stupid thing like that…’ “Oh…” Nancy seemed to move on, but less than a minute later, snapped back around to Ashley. “Well… how about a jog then? Gotta keep those limbs stretched and free and strong, right?” “I…” Ashley peered around her friend and saw the long and circular asphalt path that weaved just on the boundary and border of the park. To one side was the rest of the park… a pond, playsets, even a merry-go round, but the other side was an at least 11-foot-tall fence. It was cleverly disguised at several points, but it stood there imposing over most of the park it enclosed. ‘Geesh… that’s a long way… and I really don’t feel like a run…’ “Uh… maybe another time, Nance? I’m just kind of not feeling it today and…” “Aha!” Nancy shot back immediately, causing Ashley to jump back a little in shock. “I knew it!” “Knew what?” Ashley asked back tentatively. “You’re not a personal trainer, are you?” Nancy leaned into her friend and stared her down. Being an inch or two taller, it was easier to do. ‘Shoot! She knows! Gotta think my way out of this… think! Think!’ “I…” Ashley paused and backed up a step. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Maybe if we just…” “No, no,” Nancy said, shaking her head. “You don’t need to tell me but at least don’t lie to me. We’re friends, Ash, and friends don’t lie.” Ashley didn’t respond and just stood there with her mouth open a little and her eyes fearful and staring right back. “Yeah… I know. I ‘ve known a few personal trainers in my life… never heard of one not wanting to run… or at least never heard of one that never ran or exercised in some way in over… what? You’ve been in Peirama for a month now?” Ashley could only silently nod. “Exactly!” she exclaimed back. “And in all that time… no running, no exercising… and not even an idea of an exercise plan to help your fellow Littles.” Ashley remained outwardly silent, her hands clenching together and then flexing out every few seconds. ‘Stupid sweaty palms… I just… shoot! Nancy could blow my cover and then I would go the way of Melissa for sure! I’m screwed!’ Nancy smirked and patted her friend on the shoulder. “Easy… I get it, okay?” Ashley looked back at her friend with a raised eyebrow. “Yeah… mum’s the word. I can keep a secret,” she explained. “Probably… hmmm… I would say you’re some kind of corporate spy, journalist, or an agent of some kind from back home… not sure which, but… definitely not a personal trainer.” After a second of a wide-eyed Ashley and silence, Nancy chuckled. “Easy, Ash. I promise… my lips are sealed… forever. I just… we’re friends and I thought you should know that I know. Never know when a confidante like me could come in handy, okay? Nothing more.” At that point, Ashley let out a deep sigh. ‘Okay… she’s not going to rat me out, but… I can’t say anything to her. Hopefully, she’ll never ask, and I’ll never need her help in that way. She’s a friend, but so was Melissa, and I think now, she would sell out her whole family… even Antiope, if that meant another suckle of that stupid milk!’ Ashley nodded to her friend, and while still tense, didn’t seem like she was about to have a heart attack in the next minute now either. “Thanks…” Nancy patted her friend on the shoulder once more and then took off back down the path, gesturing for Ash to follow along. “No worries. After all… what are friends for?” * * * Day 46 – 11:21 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “Ash… sweetie… do you want to talk about it?” Betty asked as the two worked in her shop for another day. Today though, instead of her cheery self, Ashley was far more muted and downcast, but… she had good reason to be. “No, I just… I can’t believe Melissa is gone…” she wearily said, her eyes still a little red from this morning when she found out. “I mean… she wasn’t that bad off, was she?” Betty set down her trimming shears and hurried over to her Little before pulling her to a nearby bench under one of her newer hybrids that smelled of honey and required only a fraction of the water most other plants did. “Sweetie… Melissa isn’t gone… you know that, right? She’s just in another daycare that caters more to her needs now.” “But… it just isn’t fair!” Ashley lamented. “She was fine one day, and then the next… she was… she was…” Ashley seemed to struggle to say the actual words she wanted to say. ‘Baby! Freak! Little! Regressor! Darn it! Why can’t I say it to Betty! I just… I…’ Even her own thoughts seemed clouded over the issue today. “Oh, honey!” Betty lurched out, and for a split second, it looked she was about to fully wrap her arms all around Ashley and her grief… but stopped at the last minute, settling for a back rub instead. “She was struggling long before she ever really showed anything. Did you know that not even that long after we went to the mall for the first time that she started wetting the bed?” Ashley sniffed and looked up to Betty. “She did?” ‘It was a new confirmation, but she had been suspecting it for weeks now… ever since she saw her potty-training chart… ever since Nancy so much as confirmed that most Littles are dealing with problems like a damn and you don’t notice them until it’s too late…’ Betty nodded. “That’s right. She was always a little… well, Little. I think she just didn’t know it herself, and then she had a few accidents and collapsed like a house of cards with just the wrong one removed. It’s nothing you did… or even that she did. Some Littles… they just…” Nancy seemed to struggle now find the right words herself. “Well, they just need a little extra help. No shame to them or by any means fault of yours, okay?” As if to emphasize her point, she rubbed just a little harder that last time on Ashley’s back. “I just…” Ashley sighed, her overall look of defeat simmering around the room, but she eventually nodded… and even leaned into Betty’s back rub just a little. Not enough to be embraced by the Big, but just enough where a sneeze from either of them might have done the trick and closed the gap. “Just… where is she now? Is she safe? Is she happy?” ‘I genuinely care about her… I just… there’s something more to her story. I just feel it…’ Betty nodded. “Of course, she’s safe. In fact, she’s in a special place righ…” The front door nearly slammed open, tossing the bell around several times. Betty immediately stood to see who it was. “Hello?” She let go of Ashley and approached the front cautiously. “Can I help you?” Curious, though a little nervous herself, Ashley followed behind and saw a Big dressed conservatively and carrying a briefcase in one hand and a potted plant in the other. “Dr. Elizabeth Jones?” ‘That’s weird… I didn’t know her first name was Elizabeth… or that she was a doctor…’ Betty nodded. “Yes, that’s me… and you are?” “That’s on a need-to-know basis, doctor… suffice to say the government. You will be contacted later about credentials and details. This; however…” The man then pulled the potted plant up higher and set it on the counter. “This… we need to know about. I expect a briefing by no later than 0800 Monday… that’s June 28 local time… whatever you have by then, doctor. Am I understood?” Betty’s eyes were more focused on the mysterious plant before her, but she still nodded. “Yes… I understand.” The man then began to leave, but Betty called out before he made it back to the door. “Wait! Can you at least tell me where it’s from?” The man turned, grimaced, and then spoke one word. “Tanassum.” Seconds later, he was out the door. Betty sighed. “Well… never a dull day in Peirama I guess…” Despite their conversation before and being in the middle of discussing Melissa, Betty now seemed totally absorbed in the plant before her. Curiously it looked nearly identical to the one that caused all those weird reactions over a month ago… the one that led to the chemical spill that Ashley caused in catching the plant as it fell. Betty began to poke at the leaves with a metal rod from nearby, but she also seemed to stay at least a few feet away from it at all times. ‘Tanassum… Tanassum… where have I heard… Oh! That was the place… the state that Miss Beakerman and Pete were talking about at the party! What… what is this doing here? What’s the connection? Why are so many people interested in this one plant?’ Just as Ashley edged closer to the plant though, Betty looked at her quickly and held out a hand. “Stay back, Ashley,” she commanded. “I don’t know much about this, and I don’t want you getting hurt, okay?” Ashley nodded right as Betty picked up the plant and began to walk to the back. Just before she disappeared into the back room though, she turned and with a serious expression, looked right at Ashley. “Ashley… just nod, but please… forget you ever saw this plant, okay? Do it for me, sweetie.” Ashley seemed to swarm with a million questions, but in the end, as instructed, she only nodded. * * * Day 48 – 8:32 A.M. MDT – Earth 2 “… want to see Melissa, but I still can’t find out where she’s residing,” Ashley continued as she spoke into the mirror once more, her diary continually being paused and un-paused… just in case Betty or Pete was actually listening in to what she had recorded. “I also tried asking Nancy about where she might be at, but she was just as clueless as me,” she continued with a sigh. “About all we know is that some regressed Littles stay at the daycare and some leave. We know that some leave with their Bigs from Peirama entirely, but Antiope is still here, and I know that Melissa is still at her home at night. I… I can’t bring myself to see here anymore… not like that, but I know she’s there.” Ashley adjusted the covers on her bed as she did every morning now and then stood up to adjust her clothing once more, one holdover from her time with Melissa that had managed to stick around. Mature still, but definitely more colorful now. “There… that should do it. I need to look nice today in going into Betty’s shop again. She told me that she expects the head of the lab to come in today to request some flo…” “I don’t care what that means!” Betty thundered from downstairs. Ashley immediately looked concerned. She almost looked as if she wasn’t going to investigate but shook her head and left her room when Betty yelled again. “It’s not something I can just ignore, Pete!” Exiting her room, Ashley crept to the top of the stairs and now could hear more. “They want it pushed ahead in the schedule, Bee,” Pete tried to rationalize. “You know what this could mean. It could revolutionize everything.” “I do, Pete… and that’s the problem,” Betty replied gravely. “This plant… whatever it is… I see how much potential it has… I probably see that more than you right now, but it’s dangerous. Please tell me that you can at least see that.” “I do,” Pete admitted. “But all new advances have their drawbacks. Fire warms us but it can also burn us if we’re not careful. Yet… we still have a fireplace.” “Oh… don’t you go all fire analogy on me, Pete!” Betty scoffed with some annoyance. “You know I hate it when you do that!” “Sorry, but… I have to ask… what brought all this on?” Pete questioned. “You’ve had that plant for two days now, and only this morning you’re raising the alarm? What’s up, Bee? Did you…?” “I saw your look, Pete,” she said resolutely. There was a little pause between them and Ashley took her chance to creep down the stairs further. ‘I have to be absolutely careful with my sneaking around… If they catch me, that could ruin their trust of me forever, but… I also won’t get more of my story… and get the heck out of here.’ Being careful to avoid the one creaky step, it took the limit of her stretching ability, but Ashley just managed to land downstairs without a sound and then creep up right behind the left side of the archway going into the kitchen. “Look? What look?” Pete asked, clearly trying to play off her concerns. ‘Heck, Pete… even I know that look by now.’ “Don’t give me that, Pete,” Betty snapped coldly. “Don’t play dumb… it doesn’t suit you.” She then paused and from one of the reflections in the oven, Ashley could just see Pete slump his head down in shame. “Your look like you have a solution. After Ashley went to bed last night, you came home late. That and your look… you have a solution to your problem, don’t you?” Pete sighed audibly but then shook his head. “I think you know me too well sometimes, Bee, but yes… I think I have found a solution to the problem I’ve been having.” “Well, that must be a relief for you,” Betty noted candidly, now pushing past his previous attempts to dodge her questioning. “When do you start testing? I already know you have a few subjects in mind based on who’s come into town recently. There’s even rumors of expanding one of the streets to the south and adding a whole new community to the west of town now. It has to be soon, right?” “Soon. Just… soon.” There seemed to be heaviness with Pete’s words that seemed counterintuitive to someone possibly just having a breakthrough in their research. “We’ll start with a few different compounds. There’s a street version out there already, but… it’s lethal in some doses. If this one goes right though… all other ways will become obsolete in the next five to ten years.” Betty seemed shocked at the revelation and slowly nodded her head. Her eyebrows twitched though, and she squinted heavily back at Pete. “Hon… I know not to question your methods around here… like you don’t question what plants I crossbreed, but… was she exposed? You know who, I mean?” ‘Well… I don’t! Who, Betty? Who?’ Once again, Pete sighed as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders now, though maybe not so surprising with all that he was implying. “Bee… I love you and I only tell you the truth, but on this one topic… please don’t ask me that. One day… I might be able to tell you, but… Beakerman is tightening the reigns around this.” Betty didn’t seem satisfied with that answer and looked down toward the floor forlornly. Likely sensing the sadness in his wife, Pete came over to her and stroked her shoulder before they shared a resigned smile and then hugged tightly. “I’m sorry, Bee. I want to tell you everything, but… for right now… maybe just focus on Ash…” Bee nodded and broke off from the hug first. “I will but speaking of Ash…” Ash leaned in a little more from her spot behind the archway. “Before we call her down… we need to do it once more. It’s that time again.” Pete sighed and nodded. “Feels like only yesterday that we did this before. Maybe this time it will work with my new formula…” Betty nodded, but this time, there was a deep and etched-in sadness in her face. Before Ashley could even begin to ponder why though, Betty sighed and turned around before lifting her shirt slightly and dropping the waistline of her pants down by a few inches. Meanwhile Pete retrieved a box from high up and opened it only to produce a single shot of some kind of liquid. “Okay… just little pinch.” Betty nodded again, this time closing her eyes. Then, a quick swab later and Pete injected the shot right into her upper thigh. “There… all done.” He wiped the spot once more before Betty turned around and pulled her pants up while letting her shirt fall back down. ‘Hmmm… curious… I feel like I remember something similar almost a month ago exactly. I think… yeah… it was just a day or two after I got here… weird. I wonder what’s in that shot?’ The two embraced once more after Pete secured the box. Ashley sniffled a little before giving Pete a quick peck on the lips. “I love you, Pete.” “And I love you, Bee.” The two wrapped around each other even tighter this time. “Maybe this time will be different.” Betty didn’t respond and the two just hugged in that tiny little moment. If Ashley wasn’t so focused on what just happened, she might have accidentally slipped and cooed over the moment between them. Still, seeing them embrace like that, Ashley likely knew that their conversation about all the secret stuff was over. Now, it was just a matter of time before one of them came to the foot of the stairs and called for her. Only problem… she wasn’t upstairs anymore to be called. If they caught her down here, complicated would be an understatement. So, Ashley rushed as quietly as she could while the two were still hugging and crept halfway up the stairs. A few pots and pans could be heard then clanging around, so, sensing her cue… Ashley thumped down the stairs, each step resounding loudly as to her approach. Making sure to jump off the final landing area and to the hardwood floor, she made sure her presence was known. ‘If they heard me on the stairs so loudly… they’ll be less likely to think that I was listening in… just in case.’ “Wow! You got lead in your shoes or something there, Ash?” Pete asked jokingly. Ashley smiled. ‘Yes! It worked!’ “Nah… just really, really hungry this morning.” Betty turned from her spot and turned this morning for breakfast and smiled at the notion. Briefly, she seemed to wince as more pressure was put on her hip, but taking extra caution, Ashley didn’t mention or question it. “I’m glad to hear that, sweetie. I’m making the pancakes extra big this morning!” Ashley smiled and quickly took her spot in her booster seat at the table. ‘They don’t suspect a thing, but seriously… what the heck is this whole thing from Tanassum about?’

Oh, curses! I hate editing when it's super late... for perspective, passed out five minutes after this was posted. Thanks for the catch, though! I think it should all be good now.

Spoiler galore here, but I will just say this about the plant... it's all connected. If I'm going to put a strange plant in my stories, you best believe that there's a reason. As for Nancy, she serves multiple purposes. Before hitting the heavy stuff, I needed some exposition here so any newer readers aren't completely left in the dark. Plus, she's another friend and I need Ashley to hit a certain threshold to explain some of her future actions. Based on that and what I'm connecting with from Project Nurture, Nancy had to pop in here at some point. Thanks for the input. I'm a big self-critic, so I always get a little worried on here when I elect a new story format to write in and the numbers are lower than before. Not a big deal because I love writing all this stuff regardless of likes or views, but that little voice in the back of my head just has to know if I'm the one that's the problem or block.

Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay again. My adult job keeps extending my Friday hours. I don’t mind the overtime pay, but I can only apologize for the delays and what they mean to this story. It’s not impacting many of you it seems from the low numbers here, but I still want to tell those of you that are reading what’s happening with this story as things come up. As a quick note for this and a few of the other chapters coming up, I explain why, but the time stops are going to be a bit more sporadic. They will be in order still, so don’t worry there, but instead of maybe skipping ahead by hours… the story might now skip ahead by days. I wanted to establish characters and setting first, but now that they are, the story will be steaming ahead a bit more earnestly now. Don’t fret though, it will slow down again for sure, but for a little context, between this chapter and the next, the story will span almost an entire month, whereas the previous six chapter only spanned 22 days. Also, definitely could have split this chapter into two, so apologies for the length this time, but I just didn’t want to split the narrative up. It’s longer, but I think it actually works better this way. Next, just as a reminder, a new poll is up for you all to let me know which story you all would like to read next. Story options and the link can be found back in the beginning of chapter 2. As I mentioned before though, if you feel more comfortable leaving a comment here or as a private message to me, I will count these as well. Additionally, like before, this poll will be shut down right before I post my final chapter on here. Further announcements will be made regarding this when the time gets closer. Last but not least and as usual, I hope everyone enjoys this next chapter! Chapter 7: The Change Most Make Here Day 25 – 4:52 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “Do you ever feel like your life has just… stopped?” Ashley questioned Melissa as the two swung on their now usual swings at the playground. Now in July, the sun hung high overhead and the smell of Little’s sunscreen could be smelled prominently. In fact, to mark the specific time of year it was, Melissa had just finished telling Ashley all about the specialty snow cones she had at daycare today to celebrate the American Fourth of July holiday from back on Earth. Ashley had grimaced at the notion of all the time passing back on Earth without her, but a new pensive stare took hold of her soon after. Melissa looked at her friend with an exasperated look… one that could only come from a long day at daycare with dozens of other Littles, most of which probably had trouble with controlling the volume of their voices. At first, she scoffed. “What do you think?” There was a definitive tone of annoyance there. “I guess that would be a ‘no’ then…” Ashley guessed. Melissa nodded back exasperatedly at her guess as to the seemingly obvious, but that wasn’t so surprising as of late. For Ashley, things had more or less settled into a routine. Betty was still on the hunt for another friend for her, as evidenced by Ashley’s day yesterday talking to yet another Little… only for that Little to enjoy sucking their thumb just to start with, which promptly cancelled the ‘playdate’ with Betty making an excuse for both of them to leave soon after. Other than little things like that, in the 12 days Ashley had been in Peirama so far, her life was very much the same overall. Playdates with Melissa were interspersed with her work at Betty’s flower shop which was only interrupted by breaks for lunch or early closures to go to the park together. For Melissa though, even only a few days in, things couldn’t have been more different… almost to the point of Ashley previously referring to her own time by moments in Melissa’s life rather than her own. “Yeah… you could say that again…” Melissa hissed. “I thought you liked the snow cones today?” Ashley questioned her friend, at first before getting a strained look over her face… quickly followed by one of realization. “Wait… did something else happen you’re not saying?” Melissa stopped swinging, and Ashley did as well before leaning over to her. “Mel… come on… you’ve gotta tell me! Please!” Melissa frowned and crossed her arms. “Fine… just don’t laugh!” Quickly, Ashley made an ‘X’ with her pointer finger across her chest, eliciting a sigh of acceptance from Melissa. “Well… they’re nice and all. I just…” “What?” Ashley asked almost too desperately as Melissa began to clam-up again. “I was fine, but others… they split us up into two groups,” she noted. “My group was mature, but the other… they weren’t.” “So? Isn’t that a good thing that you’re with other mature Littles?” Ashley questioned. ‘Am I missing something here? I know I’m still pretty new to Peirama, but… Melissa is making it seem like she just went to a torture factory or something.’ “Yes, but…” Melissa swung a little bit and then stopped again. “The others… I remember them from when they first came here. They were normal, Ash. What if…” She then turned directly to face Ashley. “What if that’s going to be me?” Ashley looked at her friend and saw the pure fear there. ‘She seems really freaked out. I need to say something to her before she spirals out. I don’t know if she has the background strength to stay strong… Even if she’s totally worried about nothing, I’ve heard Littles can still crack under the pressure over here and regress nonetheless.’ “No, I don’t think so. I mean, look at the other Littles.” Slowly, Melissa did as her friend asked. “Each of them has something obvious in their life that is changing them” Ashley continued. “Pills, shots, hypnotics… all that scary stuff. Are you getting any of that yourself?” Melissa had to clearly think for a second about her friend’s question, even going so far as to look at the ground temporarily and stroke her chin. “Uh… no? They play some funny shows to everyone that the Littles seem to enjoy a little too much… but no… nothing like a shot or pills or hypnotics.” Ashley let out a sigh of relief for her friend. “Then relax, Mel,” she tried to soothe, even going so far to pat Melissa’s knee briefly. “I’m sure you’ll be fine. I mean, after all… Antiope wants to keep you all mature and independent, right?” Melissa and Ashley then looked over to the chatting Antiope and Betty. Both Bigs looked completely enraptured in their own conversation… Antiope even looking happier than she had in a long time. Melissa turned back with a smile shortly after Antiope laughed loudly. “Right… I’m her Little… not some lab rat regressive baby… her Little… Thanks, Ash.” Ashley smirked back. “No problem.” She then looked over to the empty playground tower and then back to Melissa. “Now, the tower is clear. You wanna go up and judge everyone’s outfits? That always seems to make you happiest here.” Melissa smiled and needed no further prompt to immediately stand up. “Thanks… yeah. I think I just need to clear my head, and… oh! Look at what Miss Flemming is wearing! Even for a Middle… ouch!” Ashley smiled and soon joined her friend on the climb up to their tower to people watch and judge their various states of fashion. * * * Day 26 – 3:58 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “Careful with those bags of mulch, ladies!” Betty called out from the front of her store as Ashley and Melissa helped each other carry a single bag to the back as previously instructed. With a big sigh, both then tossed it onto the growing pallet to be sent off to the botanical garden center to the south of town. “Ugh! My nails!” Melissa complained as she looked at her now dirty hands. “This is never going to come off!” Ashley smiled playfully. “It’s just dirt, Mel. Trust me… a little soap and water does wonders.” “It better…” Melissa groaned as she inspected the heavy sediment now piling up under her French tip manicured nails. “I swear… the one day I get off daycare early is the one day that Antiope absolutely cannot get off work early either. I just can’t catch a break!” Ashley nodded slowly and crept slowly over to her steaming friend. “Another bad day at daycare I take it?” Melissa oddly blushed for a moment and then nodded. “Not me, but… another Little got sick everywhere. Declared a biohazard and the daycare got shutdown.” “A Little throwing up causes a daycare to shut down?” Ashley raised an eyebrow in suspicion. “I would think that at a daycare, Littles making messes is a common occurrence.” Again, Melissa briefly blushed before shaking her head. “No, no. They do all the time, but this Little was different.” Ashley even went so far as to take a breath as she opened her mouth to ask a follow-up question, but Melissa stopped her right away. “And before you ask… I have no idea why that Little was so different.” Ashley smirked first. “I guess you know me a little too well by now, huh?” Melissa smirked next at that. “But okay… besides the strangeness of a puking Little that causes an evacuation… what else happened today?” This time, Melissa both blushed and turned away right after. ‘She’s hiding something for sure… I just don’t know what. If only I could enter the daycare without actually being a Little there…’ Ashley then stepped forward and placed her hand on her friend’s shunned shoulder. “Mel… did something bad happen to you today?” “No!” Melissa said far too defensively. “I mean… no…” Ashley squinted at her friend and set down the scanner to log in the new batch of mulch. There were ten more to go, but this… this felt like a priority that needed to be solved. “Melissa... come on and out with. Please.” Melissa sighed. “Fine! Okay… I just… I got this… I don’t know… funny feeling today… I don’t know what it was. It was just there and then… poof! It was gone. That’s all. Maybe it was that disinfectant spray they liberally use over at the changing tables. I don’t know, but I’m fine now, okay?” Ashley kept staring at her friend. ‘Why do I feel there’s still something she’s leaving out… like some sort of embarrassment. I mean… why did she blush twice earlier?’ Ashley sighed and could see the pain and confusion etched all over her friend’s face. ‘We might not have as much in common as I would like, but a friend is a friend. She needs a little support today, so despite my internal questions, I need to show her that she’s okay.’ Ashley stepped up and placed her hand on Melissa’s shoulder once more. “Hey… I’m sorry I pushed you. I just care about you here, okay? You’re my one friend right now and no matter what, I’m not taking that for granted.” Melissa sniffed. No tears came, but it almost seemed like a few more pushes could have elicited a few. “Thanks, Ash. I just… this daycare is weird, and it’s making me feel weird as well.” Ashley nodded back. “Seems like a weird place I grant you, but… tell me this… what are your feelings on the new summer line just released by Transitions?” Like she had been zapped by something annoying but non-destructive, Melissa snapped and glared back at her friend. “Transitions?” Ashley nodded with a smile at her friend’s question. “That stupid Littles place all over Libertalia? The one that caters exclusively to Littles? The one where almost every piece of clothing has something to do with diapers or is horrifyingly decorated in cartoon characters or something babyish? That Transitions?” Ashley’s shit-eating smile grew wider. “Yep! That’s the one!” “Well, I’ll tell you what about their new summer line! Babyish! Childish! Horrible and a rip-off of all brands back on Earth dedicated to actual babies. If I looked at that crud for a minute longer… I would puke! I wouldn’t be caught dead in something like that… and… and…” She paused and glared at her friend. “I know what you’re doing…” “What? Me?” Ashley smiled widely and patted her friend on the shoulder again. “Well, you’re welcome for that, Mel. Anytime you need a kick in the butt to know you’re still you… you just come and find me.” Melissa nodded and in a shocking but not altogether unpleasant move, stopped and reached out to hug her friend. ‘Hmmm… not the action I was expecting from her, but… why not?’ Ashley leaned in and the two hugged in the back of Betty’s shop. A little bit later, Ashley broke off the hug first. For a moment, it almost seemed as if Melissa wasn’t going to let go, but she eventually gave in. “Better?” Melissa nodded with a little more resolve now. “Good. So, are we still on for your place tomorrow after you get back from daycare?” Melissa instantly lit up. “You know it! One fashion show coming right up!” Not skipping a beat, she then walked back toward the front of the shop. “Now, come on, we’ve got ten more of these stupid things to haul back here.” * * * Day 30 – 5:46 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 The clock ticked by as the two friends sat in Ashley’s house’s living room. Adventure Sam was playing on the TV, and while Melissa seemed enthralled in the program, Ashley looked a little bored. ‘Okay… I gave it a chance like Melissa wanted me to. The animation is okay, and the jokes are definitely childish, but… at least it’s educational. Maybe Mel and I can find something else to watch now that we’ve gone through a few episo…’ Melissa burst out into laughter. Ashley turned to her friend in disbelief. ‘I didn’t hear the joke… but… it couldn’t have been miles funnier above the rest. Mel just laughed at a joke aimed for kids. This is just… weird… I have to ask.’ “Mel?” The recovering giggler turned towards her friend; part of her gaze still seemingly transfixed on the TV show though. “Are you really enjoying this?” Melissa scoffed and even batted her hand down. “Oh, please. It’s not my favorite show. That would just be silly!” Despite her words though, her face snapped right back to watching, her smile growing even larger this time. Ashley scrutinized every little detail of her friend. She looked different today somehow, but as try as she might, Ashley still couldn’t put her finger on it. Still, the journalist in her seemed to be rearing its head a lot more lately. “Mel… Melissa,” she said again, her first call to her going unanswered. This time at least, Melissa turned back toward her friend. “Seriously… why the sudden interest in this show? I mean… you kind of seem to be enjoying it… and more than just a little.” Melissa rolled her eyes. “Oh, please, Ash. If you had the clothing I did, we’d be upstairs right now having a fashion show… but you don’t. That’s fine, but…” Her eyes briefly glanced back to the titular character, Adventure Sam, explaining the Atlantum Islands just off the coast of Gaul and to the northeast of Catalon… a whole chain of what were supposedly Little-run paradises. “I just… I found this show the other day, and… well, it’s a good substitute instead.” Ashley looked back at her friend skeptically, but Melissa seemed determined to convince her friend of the show’s promise. “Just look, Ash!” Ashley did. “Adventure Sam is now talking about the Bay of Larmes. It’s got a really interesting story by Gaul and the Atlan-tum Islands. Just watch!” Ashley nodded to humor her friend, but something further now bothered her. ‘Why did she pause while saying ‘Atlantum?’ It’s not that hard of a word…’ Ashley mulled the quandary in her head for a little bit, still watching Adventure Sam with her friend, but then everything seemed to freeze as another situation arose… one that shouldn’t have been even close considered to a problem. Melissa had been squirming for a few seconds, and Ashley just thought she was bored at first. Seeing something like the incident at the mall, her friend didn’t seem to have a very good grasp of an attention span or patience, so it didn’t seem like a big deal… at least at first. Now, this time though, felt different. Not long after Adventure Sam began to explain the geographical features of the Atlantum Islands though, Ashley found out why. Having been watching her occasionally, Melissa’s eyes bugged out. She hopped to her feet and began to squirm on the spot. Her head turned this way and that, seemingly desperate for something. ‘No… it can’t be what I’m thinking… right?’ Panicking though, Melissa then turned to Ashley. “Potty, Ash! Where is it?” Ashley stared wide at her friend, and only silently lifted her finger to point to where it always was… the room clearly marked by a ‘Necessary Room’ sign just outside of it with a tiny cutesy toilet printed right next to it. Melissa immediately dashed over, one hand seemingly reaching low below her belt, before slamming the door closed. ‘What the…?’ Ashley could only blink in disbelief over the scene that had just unfolded before her. ‘Okay… Adventure Sam is one thing, but that? That felt way more like something a toddler would do… not even a shaky entitled former fashion model. Just… what the hell?’ Likely hearing the loud noise of the door slamming, Betty then walked in and looked at Ashley with more than a little concern. Ashley pointed toward the bathroom. “Melissa… she needed to go… bad. Well, at least I guess that’s what happened…” Betty raised an eyebrow and looked like she was just about to speak when a loud flush could be heard, followed quickly by a rush of water and what could almost be described as… humming. The door then opened and a much brighter and happier Melissa walked out. “Phew! Much better!” Melissa smiled but then saw the towering figure of a much-confused-looking Betty. “Oh! Hey there, Mrs. Jones! I just went potty!” Betty seemed lost for words, and Ashley could only stare at her friend’s response… almost like it had been something automatic… like she didn’t even think about what she was saying… and just said it. ‘Does Mel even know what she just said herself?’ For her part though, maybe from her time babysitting for the community, something that had happened once or twice since Ashley had come here, recovered more quickly than Ashley. “Oh, well, that’s great news, Melissa! I’m sure Antiope will be really proud!” For a second, Melissa almost seemed to delight in that notion. “Actually, I was just coming in here to see if you girls maybe wanted a snack or anything. I know it’s close to dinner, but… I felt you two deserved a treat at least for not disturbing Pete… Dr. Jones, down in the basement today. Hopefully, because of that, we can actually go out tonight.” It was news to Ashley, but from her small smile, she didn’t seem to mind the announcement either. For Melissa though, she nodded quickly. “Oh, thank you so much, Mrs. Jones! I would love a snack!” Her wording was plain, but there was just something off about the way she said it. Not missing a beat though, Betty nodded and later returned with two small cookies… something any Big would recognize as Little-branded and full of nutrition, although something still unbeknownst to the majority of the Little population. As such, both Littles chewed through them happily and none the wiser as they continued to watch Adventure Sam, Melissa still far more into it than Ashley. Another quick episode later, it was now Ashley’s turn to squirm a little. For her though, it was definitely more of a case of boredom than needing to ‘go potty.’ “Mel…” It took a second, but Melissa turned to her friend on the first try this time. “I’ve been thinking… wondering really… why didn’t we go over to your house yesterday, and why… why aren’t we going over tomorrow?” Betty had informed her earlier today, and it had been puzzling Ashley for the better part of the day, only being put on the back burner in lieu of a higher curiosity with her friend’s new like of Adventure Sam before. That mystery still remained, but the clock ticked by, so now felt as good of a time as any before Melissa left for the day. ‘Gotta find out this thing before she leaves. Always better to get an answer in the ‘here-and-now.’ Tomorrow… she could be gone or sick, or who knows what here…’ For her part though, it was such a simple question, but Melissa froze at first and then began to sputter out several incoherent excuses. “I… because… she… we… I… house… need to… help… I…” “Melissa…” Ashley pressed, honing her sight more toward her friend now. Melissa stopped and took a deep breath. “I just… well, Antiope is bringing her work back home with her and the house is a mess. That’s all!” It was a more coherent line of reasoning than anything before, but it was said so quickly that it immediately smelled fishy. ‘Is Mel outright lying to me about this? Maybe, but… why?’ This time, Ashley chose not to push. ‘If I push her too hard, I could lose her. Something is definitely happening, but… I need answers. Not a broken or pushed-away friend right now. I need to ease into all this… Maybe Antiope will have more answers…’ So, a little bit later, Antiope showed up at the door, waiting to pick Melissa up. ‘Alright… Sorry, Mel, but I’m not getting any answers from you today. So… here we go…’ Ready and now willing to execute her plan, Ashley wasted no time after a few minor pleasantries. “Antiope?” The Big looked down at her. “Mel’s been kind of missing her in-person fashion show with us two, and she can’t really do that here. Is there any way we could come over to your house instead?” Melissa instantly shrank out of view right behind Antiope… like some little kid hiding in their mother’s skirts. Antiope gave a curious but then smiley glance toward her Little and then back to Ashley. “Well, of course you two can come over! I already made some plans at work for tomorrow, but how about the day after?” She then glanced at Betty. “As long as that’s okay with you, Betty?” Betty gave a curious glance of her own down at Ashley, but then ultimately nodded her head. “Well, I don’t see why not. I think that might be lovely for the two of them to do again!” Behind Antiope, Melissa briefly peaked out, looking ready to object, but ultimately remained quiet and resigned to the already made plans without her. Then, a few pleasantries later, both she and Antiope left. Just as Ashley was about to return to the living room to finish the evening news program, her journalistic side nearly begging to come out more lately, Betty stopped her. “Okay, Ash. What’s going on?” Ashley slowly turned back around to her Big. ‘Okay… she doesn’t know anything. She’s just poking around… play it cool, Ash. Play it cool…’ “Oh, nothing… just wanted Mel to be a little more chipper is all.” Betty frowned. “Remember what I told you about the truth?” It wasn’t a direct threat, but there was an insinuation of disappointment at least in her tone. Ashley gulped and nodded. “Yes… I just… well, it’s not a lie, but… I think something is going on with Mel. Something at home maybe…” Betty’s face clouded over, and she crouched down to look directly at Ashley. “Do you have proof? Do you think that Melissa is getting abused at home? I know she’s a Big and we can be a little funny with Littles sometimes, but I’ve known her for years. I just don’t think she would be abusing Me…” Ashley quickly shook her head before she could finish though. “No, no. I just… something is going on.” Ashley temporarily looked down at her shoes, likely hoping to maybe diffuse a little of the growing tension in Betty. “And… if a friend is in trouble, it’s my job to help her out any way I can…” She then looked directly into Betty’s concerned eyes. “Right?” Betty nodded and gave some closing statement about her to ‘just be careful’ or something of the like but then proceeded to walk off and say nothing more, leaving Ashley by the door… all alone. * * * Day 32 – 4:35 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 Sitting on the floor upstairs, with Antiope busily organizing hers and Melissa’s dinner downstairs in the kitchen, Ashley looked around at the room around her and at her friend, fresh from another day at daycare. Today, she looked a little different. She couldn’t quite place it, but… She then glanced around the room, and there was a difference there as well. Looking for maybe only five seconds, one might have noticed. There were still the splashes of pinks and shining jewelry, and all the furniture was the same… but there was a difference here and there. For example, there was a smidge of disorganization in spots and her stuffed animals weren’t in the same spot. Minor, yes, but they hadn’t moved once before. ‘So why now?’ “What do you mean, Ash?” Mel asked defensively after Ashley questioned her momentarily about them about half an hour into their play. “I’ve always had stuffed animals up here. Maybe you were just too distracted by my wonderful jewelry to notice the first time.” Ashley just shrugged at that point and then leaned back onto her small couch as Melissa paraded around in her expensive outfits. It would be her turn next to try and coordinate an outfit from inside, and while it never thrilled her, she knew it gained her favorable points with Melissa and her sense of anything fashion. Today though, she was a little more distracted than the past few times she had been up here in the almost two weeks since they had first met. ‘I thought they were just for show, but… wait.’ Ashley’s eyes hovered over just beyond where Melissa was parading around with an oddly worn feather boa… looking more disorganized today for sure, but there… something caught her eye. It was small, but a difference that Ashley simply couldn’t ignore. It was makeup… more specifically, a Little’s kit of makeup. Now, to any Earther, or portal Little, first coming to the dimension, makeup was just a part of everyday life for most. Once taken in by a Big though, makeup was rare, etched in permanently through various means at some point, or was just completely left by the wayside. For Ashley, she never glitzed herself up too much, so the limited kit that Betty had provided her with worked just fine. For Melissa though, she had prided herself in using a professional makeup kit… nearly identical, if a little smaller, than a Big’s. It stood out as almost an oddity before, so, when Ashley saw it had been replaced with something almost akin to a plastic butter knife from a professional chef’s knife, it gave her pause. ‘Holy… what is going on with Melissa lately? Is she really cha…’ “Ash!” Melissa cried out, popping Ashley completely out of her own thoughts. “You’re not paying attention to me!” There was a little too much whine in her statement… almost like a kid showing off to someone and then not getting the attention they thought they deserved. “Sorry, Mel. I just…” Her eyes drifted temporarily back over to the childish box of makeup for Littles. “You just… there’s something different about all thi…” “Oh! Hold that thought! Potty time!” Her panicked face or her hand shooting to her crotch today couldn’t be missed. Racing to the bathroom, her feather boa flapping behind her before flying off completely, couldn’t be either… nor could the cries of anguish soon after. Ashley’s face went numb, and her jaw went slack… even as Antiope raced up the stairs. “What happened? Where’s Melissa?” Ashley could only silently point to the closed door of the bathroom. Antiope rushed over and went immediately to the door to open it. Light flooded the long hallway, and Ashley could have seen more, but… her face turned away. ‘No… I’m a journalist… but I’m also her friend. I… I don’t need to see whatever is going on there. I’m sure I’ll find out sooner or later. But… something is definitely wrong with my friend. I don’t know what, but like only seeing the smoke, I know a fire is nearby…’ A while later, Melissa exited but Antiope led the way. A plastic bag was tightly scrunched by her hand, but Ashley couldn’t quite make it out. “Ashley… Melissa isn’t feeling too good. I think something with the pears they served today at daycare maybe, but I’m going to have to cut your playdate short today, okay hon?” “Okay, Miss Dunamis.” She temporarily leaned over to see Melissa and the bathroom beyond. “Do you mind if I use the… bathroom before I leave though?” Antiope smiled and nodded. “Of course, dear. Just right at the end of the hallway.” Ashley smiled and nodded and walked right past her and the downtrodden and downcast Melissa. Neither spoke to each other. Now, in the bathroom, Ashley really did have to go, but now that the dust had settled, she needed to know what had happened. Something lemony wafted all around and even tickled her nose, but there were no signs of problems beyond that… until she turned. It was a very small version of it, but low and behold… it was a potty-training chart. It looked new… unofficial, but there, right at the top, three days were already filled in. Each day was divided into three sections… morning, midday, and night. There were other markings that were of concern, but the one that Ashley was drawn to the most, was the marking for today midday… a prominent and fresh rainy cloud. It didn’t take a genius to know what that meant. ‘Oh Mel… what’s happening with you?’ * * * Day 34 – 12:35 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 The breeze danced around the fresh cut grass, some of it partially baked under the hot July sun. Despite the heat of the day, it was the weekend. Pete had to work again, but seemingly every other citizen of Peirama was out and about today. A lot went to the local pool, but Betty and Antiope seemed to both click in favor of the park over anything else. Ashley might have complained, but the snow cone in her hand that she sucked on opposite Melissa… her own snow cone already dripping it’s red and purple slush all over her hand, was delightful. “Oh, Mel…” Antiope sighed as she finished her own much larger snow cone. Betty looked on worriedly but said nothing. Melissa though only grinned back until she was finished. Rather than take her to the bathroom, like most would, Antiope seemed entirely too prepared, fishing a wipe out of her oversized purse today. “Oh… what am I going to do with you? You’re all sticky!” It was all good fun apparently and Melissa responded in kind with a big smile and even a few giggles. ‘I just can’t believe this. She’s acting like a little kid… maybe even a baby! What the heck is going on with my friend?’ For the moment, Ashley just heavily focused on her snow cone, finishing it with only a tiny drop over her pointer finger knuckle, which she covertly licked off in a quick second. Seeing that her friend was done and not wasting any time, Melissa soon grabbed Ashley’s hand and zoomed off toward the playground… something new the two had started to partake in… something Melissa had liked and brought over from daycare yesterday when they were here as well. Melissa rounded all the corners and bound over all the bridges and through the tunnels. She joined the other Littles and laughed or shouted things that were either seemingly completely random or entirely childish. Ashley kept up mostly, but more and more recently, there seemed to be a distance forming between the two friends on multiple fronts now. ‘Damn… I’m starting to feel lonely again… I want to be friends with Mel still, but…’ “Ashley! Ashley!” Melissa raced over to Ashley’s temporary holding spot just on the other side of the bridge and right before going down one of the spiraling tunnel slides. Curiously, another Little looked like they were practically being dragged right behind her. “This is Nancy! Ashley, this is Nancy. Nancy… this is my friend I was telling you about! She’s from daycare but she’s all mature too, Ash!” Ashley was almost dizzy with the number of times Melissa’s head rocked back and forth between her and Nancy, but the new Little in front of her now stood tall, proud, and was completely devoid of any childish clothing. Melissa still wore the same basic garments, but now… they were starting to take on a more child-like appearance. ‘I don’t know why, but… at least this Little seems more of my speed.’ Not sticking around to see the results, Melissa was rocketing right back down the slide, eliciting a small chuckle from Nancy. “I guess she had to go…” “Yeah…” Ashley glanced down and didn’t see a bracelet. Nancy noticed and even held her wrist up. “Sorry to disappoint… but no independent bracelet.” She dropped her hand and sighed. “My Big isn’t the most progressive around here. Some big shot engineer up at the main place or lab or whatever, but… no bracelet.” There was an audible frustration in her voice. “But also… don’t put too much stock into them.” “Oh?” Ashley seemed more intrigued in Nancy than she had in Melissa for several days now. Nancy smirked. “Yeah, I mean… look at our mutual friend.” Both cast a glance over to the now dancing Little interspersed with several other Littles… most of whom were clearly diapered. “She still has her band, but… can you really call her mature? Could you imagine her as an independent Little? I mean… even before she was iffy, but now? Just imagine her back home on the streets of New York or someplace else.” Ashley winced and looked back down at her friend… an odd look now washing over her face. “No… I guess not. I don’t know why, but…” “Don’t worry about the why… that just get’s you into trouble,” Nancy quickly noted before looking down at Melissa. “She got in trouble… now look at her.” “Are you saying she was punished?” Ashley asked in near disbelief and curiosity over the implications of something like that happening here. ‘Holy toledo! If Nancy is right, I just hit the motherload piñata for a potential story here!’ “Please! You need to tell me everything about this. When? Why? Ho…?” Nancy flung an arm up and cut Ashley off immediately. “Shhh… something’s happening…” Ashley looked at Nancy’s arm in disgust at first, but also followed it down to a squirming Melissa, previously dancing and now doing something more. “What is she…?” “Shhh… watch,” Nancy instructed, even placing her finger up to her own lips to emphasize the need to be quiet. “And don’t yell at her when you figure it out… it’s too late already…” Ashley arced one of her eyebrows but kept watching Melissa squirm around down below. After about a minute though, she froze and even from up on the playground bridge, Ashley could see her eyes bug out. “Antiope!” The Big looked up from her conversation with Betty and saw her Little rushing to her. Before she could ask what was wrong, Melissa informed the whole playground clearly enough. “Potty! Now!” Several of the Bigs seemed to be shaking their heads in judgement, but Antiope, her purse over her shoulder, still rushed over and took Melissa’s hand, leading her promptly to the bathroom. Seconds later, still at least a couple dozen yards away from the bathroom though, Melissa froze in place once more. Acting like an anchor and likely unexpectedly, the action tugged Antiope backwards from her previous quickened pace. Ashley couldn’t hear anything at this distance, but Antiope clearly looked down at her Little to ask why she had stopped. An eagle-eyed viewer knew why though. Wearing a set of fashionable peach shorts, a large wet patch soon blatantly appeared right between her legs. “Oh!” Ashley yelled in complete shock. “Holy sh…!” Before she could say anything further, Nancy clamped her hand over her mouth. “Shhh! Bigs are watching and that language is a one-way trip to where Melissa is right now. You don’t want that, right?” Hand still over her mouth, Ashley shook her head. “Good. Now, I’m going to remove my hand, but just stay calm, okay?” Ashley mutely nodded her head. Her mouth released; Ashley took a deep breath of air before directing her attention back over to Melissa. She missed the interim, but a shaky Melissa was now being led away to the bathroom by Antiope… soon to disappear inside. “Another one falls…” “What?” Ashley seemed to still be in a stupor and her thoughts were mostly blank. “What do you mean by that?” “Oh… you’ll see,” Nancy replied. “An accident like that out here… there’s only two conclusions. Antiope isn’t a traditionalist though, so she’ll give Melissa a second chance. I don’t see a third though…” Still new to most things in the Little realm, Ashley’s puzzled look exhibited her confusion perfectly. Nancy smiled though and patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. You’ll soon find out without me needing to tell you. In fact, I would say in less than 15 minutes, you’ll get an education into Little behavior and leniencies around here quicker than I can explain now.” Ashley looked at her new compatriot with questioning eyes but still nodded. The next 15 minutes were spent purely getting to know each other. Nancy was a college student over here for summer break before hitting her final year back on Earth. An unfortunate stumble into the wrong alley back in May though led her here and an immediate signage to the daycare. An English major, the two just seemed to click rapidly… far more than Ashley ever had with Melissa. Still, as a weary Melissa exited, tightly holding onto Antiope’s hand, Ashley could only look at her friend with sorrow as two things became abundantly apparent. First, Melissa’s shorts were now a bright pink and even emblazoned with a childish applique of a strawberry on the front. Second, her accident previously combined with a tiny waddle and ever so subtle bulge in her shorts left little to the imagination that she was definitely not wearing panties, or even training panties, anymore. “Diapers?” Ashley quickly questioned her new friend and the seemingly perfect source of all things knowledgeable around here. Nancy shook her head. “No… she’d be waddling a lot more than that being a first timer if she was wearing a diaper. Plus, Antiope is more Little-focused. My Big? Straight to diapers… do not pass go or collect $200.” Ashley smirked at the reference. “Antiope though… she’s giving Melissa a chance to prove herself with pull-ups. I would bet you money on it… if I had any.” “Well, there’s a chance, right?” Hope was practically overflowing from her wording, but Nancy’s look of defeat emptied a little of that out right away. “Sure, Ashley… sure.” Nancy sighed. “There’s hope, but that’s entirely on Melissa now.” The two looked down at their mutual friend, now rapidly getting back to playing with the other Littles in some game of Duck, Duck, Goose. The sigh from both indicated just how much, or how little in this case, faith they had in her though. The sun getting lower and the time getting later, some Littles even began to yawn… Melissa included. Quickly, a Middle then shouted out to Nancy to ‘come home.’ Nancy grimaced and then turned to Ashley. “That’s my sitter. I need to get going, but… meet you here tomorrow?” Plans hadn’t been discussed yet for tomorrow… another day where she should be going over to Melissa’s but was now blocked. Still, finding a new friend, Ashley paused only for a moment, before nodding. “I have no idea of the plans, but I will push to be back here.” “Perfect!” Then, without warning, Nancy threw herself at a pole and slid down perfectly before looking back up at a near flabbergasted Ashley and smiled and waved. “See you here tomorrow, new best friend!” Ashley waved her off but mulled over her last words. ‘Was Melissa both our best friends before? Am I a replacement for Melissa for her?’ Ashley paused and saw Antiope going over to collect a dragging Melissa back to her and Betty’s spot on the benches. With Pete’s work, Betty and Ashley didn’t have to be home until later and then only would likely be headed out for some burgers out on the town. ‘Maybe I am, but… I need to stay strong with Melissa. I haven’t given up on her…’ But her eyes wandered over to Melissa, now being slowly led back by Antiope, holding her hand tightly. ‘Yet at least… I won’t give up, but… I do think Nancy might be that better friend for me… at least that’s my hope…’ * * * Day 36 – 4:56 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “Any progress at daycare?” Ashley questioned to Nancy, her new confidante and friend since Melissa had… changed. In the past few days, the two had been gathering at one of the taller towers on the playground to people watch and play cards. Due to the abundance of playgrounds on Peirama, most of the more mature Littles seemed to gravitate toward a playground to the north. Sticking with Melissa though, meant both came here and thus, the taller tower with the scariest slide almost always remained empty. Nancy shook her head. “Nothing better, but she’s still in pull-ups…” Nancy then studies her cards. “Got any threes?” Ashley looked down at her hands and shook her head. “No… go fish.” She then peered over and down at Melissa, currently playing tag with several other of the regressed Littles. Unlike the other day where she was the outlier, her slightly padded rear blended in better with them… but not perfect. Most of them were clearly diapered and she was not… yet. “You think we should intervene or something for her, and also… any… nines?” Nancy groaned and handed over a single nine. “No… just let her be. Other towns and cities in this world… go for it. Peirama though… stay away. Stay far away…” Ashley smiled as she set down her grouping of nines, but then stared back up at her friend. “And what is that supposed to mean?” Nancy sighed and folded her cards back to her chest briefly. “Well, you’ve probably noticed this place isn’t exactly normal, right?” Ashley nodded her head. “Well, that goes deeper. This place is a lot and I’m not even sure of everything after being here for almost three months now, but… I know this. Screw around with people here… or at least stop a Little’s regression… and you might just be next.” The two then played several hands of cards ranging from war, to ERS, to rummy, to even a few rounds of poker with IOUs of snacks at some later date. Wanting to get out and stretch, both slid down the ‘scary’ slide all the way to the bottom. Getting out, several Littles looked at them with almost reverence and respect for accomplish such a feat, and while Ashley hesitated to move away from them, Nancy just grabbed her hand and piled through… very much like she was just used to all this by now. “Don’t mind them,” she finally said once they were clear. “Their memories get fuzzy occasionally that they ever did anything like that in their lives. I think they might be on the same drug… but I’m really not sure.” “Drug?” Ashley almost stopped right in the middle of a pathway around the park at the sound of a potential lead for her story of this town. Staying here long enough, it soon became clear that an individual story wasn’t enough as most sources she would get would be purely speculative or coming from a regressed Little. Not exactly the most reliable sources for a major paper back home, but the town itself? So many stories all piled into one had to be something valuable and juicy to read about back home… especially if conspiracies and drugs were involved like she now highly suspected. “Easy there,” Nancy said, smiling wickedly. “Nothing to party on like back home. These are the bad ones… the ones that make you lose everything that you are. Might even cause brain death for all I know. Definitely not something you want to be screwing around with. Trust me.” As if on cue, they were just rounding one of the corners closest to the playground, when a scream followed by abhorrent sobbing sounded out across the park. Both Littles looked for the source, and being so loud it wasn’t hard to spot… Melissa, now being picked up and cuddled tightly by Antiope. “You were saying about her being a progressive Big?” Ashley questioned with a heavy layer of skepticism over that claim now. Nancy shrugged. “Yeah… I think she still is but come on. If you were taking care of… a toddler back home, what would you do? Even if they had once graduated to big girl and boy undies… and then they wet them… aren’t you going to maybe insist on some protection? And if they fall and cry… are you going to give them the cold shoulder? Or are you going to give them a hug and say that everything will be okay?” Ashley was an only child and didn’t babysit much growing up, but Nancy’s questions were loaded in such a way that anyone with a scrap of humanity would still know the answers. “I guess you’re right… I just… if a progressive Big treats their Little like that… what chance do the rest of us have?” Nancy frowned and didn’t answer the question, instead choosing to grunt, shrug her shoulders again, and then briskly walk away. Ashley hurried to catch up, but right before she did, looking back over to Melissa and Antiope, it was hard to miss as the Big gave her Little a cute plush to help calm her day… one that was quickly snatched away and cuddled tightly into her chest. It was almost cute… if Melissa wasn’t a 29-year-old adult former model. Still, Ashley couldn’t do anything for her friend, so she sighed, and rushed to catch up with her new friend… a cynic for sure, but maybe one who instead just simply knew more and had been here longer than her. For all Ashley knew, Nancy could be a direct foretelling of what lay in store for her if she stayed here as long as she had. ‘Definitely need to get my story and get the hell out of here!’ * * * Day 37 – 12:52 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “Daycare end early today or something?” Ashley questioned as she was soon joined by a parading Melissa and Nancy coming right into the store, Melissa looking a little more triumphant and animated than her more reserved friend. Nancy stepped forward to speak first, but the hyper Melissa snatched the moment away instead. “No, no! We went, but the power went out! Some experi… exper… expe…” “Experiment,” Nancy interjected to help her friend out. “Thanks!” Melissa then whipped back to Ashley, her pigtails snapping as she did… a new development apparently. Also, it didn’t take a genius to notice that her makeup was barely applied, her piercings were simple, and her jewelry was now all completely fake. Also, her clothes seemed neater, and while that might look like a good thing, Ashley had noticed that Antiope had adjusted a strap on her dress yesterday. Seeing neatness today likely only meant that Antiope was now dressing… or at least helping to dress Melissa. “But come on! There’s a big festival downtown! We gotta go!” Melissa eagerly yanked Ashley’s hand away and already had begun to drag her out of Betty’s shop. Before even getting withing 30 feet of the door though, Betty reappeared from the back room as Antiope burst through the front door, a large pink and sequined bag now slung over her shoulder. ‘Wow… she looks a little rough… happier than ever, but… rough…’ “There you are!” Antiope yelled, like she was a cat who had finally caught her mouse. “Uh oh…” Both Nancy and Melissa looked stunned for a moment, but while Melissa’s face had contorted into fear and apology soon after, Nancy turned into rage. “Mel? I thought you cleared leaving her behind to go and get Ashley?” This time, Ashley and Nancy looked with an inscrutable look at Melissa. For her part, Melissa started to retreat backward… only to bump into the annoyed Antiope. “Mommy?” The room went quiet for a moment, and it was clear that Nancy, Ashley, and even the walking forward Betty were all stunned. Antiope looked down at her Little and rolled her eyes. “Oh! You know I can’t resist those eyes!” She then crouched down and gave her now trembling Little a great big hug. It was cute, but most everyone still seemed stunned by this turn of events. She then backed out and looked at the Little with stern but soft eyes. “Now, princess… you know you can’t just run off like that on me anymore.” She then gripped both her hands and nuzzled up to her nose, eliciting a small giggle from the Little. “You’re lucky you’re so stinkin’ cute, but I would be so scared if you got lost on me!” Then Ashley saw it. Melissa’s independent Little bracelet was gone. Nudging Nancy a little, she gestured to it, which only resulted in a sigh, a nod, and a quick whisper back. “Yeah… gone this morning. Talk later…” Ashley only nodded while Betty pulled ahead. “Daycare power out?” she asked, getting a big sigh and nod from Antiope. Coming together, the two Bigs then discussed what was going on and Ashley picked up a few words like ‘my team is on it’ and ‘new power source’ and ‘temperamental.’ It was fascinating, but Melissa nearly shouting at her about how her day was so far drowned out most of what Antiope was saying. In the end though, both Bigs agreed that Ashley could come along to enjoy the festival with them. Ashley looked down at her own bracelet… something that seemed to be becoming an even greater rarity now. While leaving Betty behind to man the shop still seemed to affect Ashley, her attention was soon focused on the large festival happening downtown. She had seen it advertised for at least two weeks now, and while Betty would be joining them later, Ashley almost didn’t even seem to care anymore. Everywhere, flowers grew, courtesy of Betty’s hybrids, the smell of baked goods wafted all around, and games with prizes littered the streets. For Nancy and Ashley, they groaned over the heavy amount of regressed Little’s games, but they managed to find a few up to their skill level they were allowed to still join in on. As Nancy and Ashley tossed rings nearby, Melissa, under the close supervision of Antiope, bounced in a blow-up bouncy castle just off the main roadway. There was a line to get in, but once Melissa entered, her laughter could probably be heard at least two blocks away. Still, Nancy shook her head. “What?” Ashley questioned, leaning in to hear more sage advice from the long-time Little here. Nancy sighed and shook her head. “Nothing… just… nothing. You’ll see. There are patterns here and I think Bigs like to exploit them whenever they can. Guarantee you what’s about to happen… has happened at least…” She then stopped throwing the rings around for a second and looked all around. “Yeah… I would say at least twice already.” “What, Nancy?” Ashley questioned, leaning over and seeming more desperate than ever, something that appeared to be growing with each week she stayed here further. “What’s happened twice?” Nancy shook her head. “Later… for now, just watch…” Ashley glared for a moment, but as instructed, just watched, and it might only take a minute, but her head was plenty filling in the time until something happened. ‘Wait… wait for what? I swear… if she spoke a little differently, it would be like talking to Yoda with a blindfold on… I mean, what am I supposed to be watching for. Is Melissa going to wave a flag and presto! I know what… oh…’ It seemed so obvious what was going to happen now looking over at Melissa. A bouncy castle combined with a Little in pull-ups already… it was a dangerous combination. Yes, other Littles were inside as well, but either showing partially or fully, bulge or no bulge, most of those Littles were diapered. Melissa wasn’t... or at least not right then… when she suddenly froze, and a relaxed look eclipsed her face… followed by one of immediate panic. “Is she…?” Nancy and Ashley had migrated over to sitting on the stoop of a of stone barrier at the base of tree nearby… close enough to still be within sight of both Antiope and Melissa, but far enough away to not feel like they were the Littles every seemed to look at them like. Nancy sighed and nodded her head. “Yep. Our Melissa is using her pull-up. By my count at least… that’s strike three…” Ashley looked like she was about to ask what was so special about that, but right then Antiope stood as Melissa then exited the bouncy castle. One quick check later and Antiope was shaking her head while Melissa looked like she was about to lose it. Maybe sensing that, Antiope picked her up and strode over to the awaiting Ashley and Nancy. “Ashley… Nancy… I know I need to watch over you two for your Bigs out here, but… Melissa…” She bounced her a little, eliciting a small yelp from the likely now soaked Little. “Well, she needs some help, so please… do me a favor and don’t move from this spot, okay?” “No problem, Miss Dunamis!” Nancy replied cheerfully. Looking at her friend, now tucked into Antiope’s side like she would die if exposed to her friends or sunlight, Ashley only dumbly nodded right as she spied a small dark spot right at Melissa’s rear… right about where one of the leg bands to her pull-up likely ended. Striding off, her large bag bouncing as she walked, Nancy then turned to Ashley. “Everything make sense now? Do you see what’s about to happen?” Ashley nodded. “I do. I just… how does someone go from being a fashion supermodel a month ago to… this in less than two weeks? I mean… you’re going to daycare, so it can’t be that, right?” Melissa rocked her hand back and forth and winced. “Well… it’s not so straight forward as all that. There’s lots of aspect of that daycare, but… did you know that Mel got demoted to the younger group just the other day?” Ashley shook her head. “No, but… why?” ‘All this is really good. Terrible for Mel, but prime stuff for my story back home…’ “Lots of reasons, Ash. Lots of reasons, but… I’ve seen all this happen before,” she said with an unmistakable look of sadness. “A Little can do all that even in a single day… I mean, they’re fried after… probably brain death even, but it’s possible.” “Brain death?” She drifted over to the public restroom where Melissa and Antiope had disappeared off to. “Do you mean…? Is she…? Are they killing off her brain cells or something?” She looked back at Nancy like a puppy dog begging for a treat, or in this case, good news. “No… not exactly.” Nancy then shifted around uncomfortably before looking all around her. “I’m not sure how it works exactly… each thing… experiment… whatever, works differently. I just know that for most, whatever happens acts more like a block. There’s a few where it’s an overload of sensory input, but they’re pretty rare around here at least. Now, Prata on the other hand…” “Overload?” Ashley questioned, her curiosity piqued. Nancy nodded. “Overload… as in… well, have you ever seen a Little who looks maybe just a little too happy in their diapers?” Ashley’s eyes grew wide. ‘Holy… the first week I got here, if I didn’t know any better, one Litle looked like they were having the time of their life, or…’ She blinked and shook that thought right out of her head, causing a small chuckle to come from Nancy. “I take that as a yes then… well, they get the opposite. Rare though, so for Nancy… it’s likely a block instead. So, no, no brain death, but one day… she could have brain atrophy… at least if I remember anything from my Health 101 class, I have to guess that would be possible.” Nancy looked like she was trying to remember something specific, but then just shrugged her shoulders. By now, it seemed to be her signature move. “Hard to say though…” “So, there’s no hope?” Again, Ashley looked at her friend with wide and pleading eyes. “Well…” A flash of hope could be seen in Ashley’s eyes staring back at Nancy. “Yes, but… no…” The look on Ashley’s face quickly diminished. “Sorry, Ash, but… she’s going down a bad track now. Possible to come out, but… I really doubt it. Once most Littles are in pull-ups, it’s pretty rare for them to ever graduate back to panties. Plus, once they do hit it, it’s very, very rare for the process to last long at all.” “I don’t believe you…” Ashley stammered around in disbelief for a second or two, her hope seeming like a dimming light against the oncoming darkness of the truth about her friend and most Littles here. “I mean, if that’s really the case, then surely someone would have reported this back on Earth or maybe even…” “Who, Ashley? Who?” There was a little bitterness in her voice as she spat back at her friend. “I’m sorry, but all these secrets stay locked up here in this dimension for a reason. Those who know are likely to stay here forever. Earth is just a distant thing for all of us now. And…” She paused and looked back toward the bathrooms. “And most of us end up like that.” Ashley looked over to where Nancy was looking and now gesturing to and saw Melissa exiting the bathroom now. She was very much as she had been, but now, her new little bubblegum pink shorts bulged prominently like nearly every other Little surrounding them and running around the place. What’s more, she now had her thumb firmly pressed into her mouth while her other hand was firmly grasped into Antiope’s. Between the new bulge, the thumb, her pigtails, and her prominent waddle, even the pink and the jewelry she had always worn before did little to distinguish her from any other Little here. “As I said… she’s on the bad path now…” Nancy noted with a heavy sigh and a sound and sight of defeat hanging prominently all around her. Ashley looked at her with sadness and then back to her first friend here… a term that was seeming more distant and meaningless every day now. ‘Mel… what have they done to you? Do you even care? Are we all just destined to follow in your footsteps or…?’ She shook her head and looked at Nancy dead in the eyes. “Teach me… teach me not to become like her.” Nancy blinked back at her friend, and it almost looked like she wouldn’t budge an inch or accept the proposal, but right before Antiope and Melissa returned to them, she nodded. “Okay, but… do whatever I say. Even if it sounds crazy… do it. Otherwise…” Her head then nodded over to the heavily waddling Melissa. “That’s your fate.” Ashley nodded. “Agreed.” The two shook on it just as Antiope and Melissa returned, Melissa looking not even the slightest bit embarrassed over her new, thick plastic underwear under her clothes or her thumb still lodged in her mouth. * * * Day 40 – 11:42 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 It was yet another weekend, but this time, everyone had gathered in the backyard of Ashley’s house. Betty and Antiope talked in the corner while Pete grilled up some hot dogs and hamburgers. Considering it was yet another day without Nancy’s Big, Ashley had started to suspect they wanted to have a Little more for the ‘show’ aspect of having a Little, rather than the caring aspect like Antiope now clearly did or Betty did to a smaller extent. “Drinks everyone?” Betty then questioned as the sun started to crest overhead. Everyone nodded and everyone received a drink… except Melissa… or at least not directly from Betty. Having come prepared, Betty had retrieved the sippy cup of thick milk that Antiope had placed in the refrigerator earlier. Now suckling it down greedily while laying on her back, only a diaper cover shielding her diaper from being fully exposed, she looked perfectly content, even with a little milk dribbling down her chin. Her eyes, when not closed, looked perfectly content. “We need to do something about her!” Ashley practically spat under her breath as the two sat on top of the playset that had been installed in the backyard long before she had come to Betty and Pete. At first, Ashley doubted that, but considering the lack of pushing by either of them for her to play on it, she believed them a little more now. For today though, it was the perfect spot to get away, even for just a little bit as long as the two of them kept their voices down. Instead of forming a plan like she usually did though, this time, Nancy shook her head. “No can do now, Ash. For all intents and purposes for getting her back to ‘normal,’ that Melissa is gone.” “Gone?” As usual, Ashley had about a thousand questions for each sage piece of advice Nancy had given her over the past few days since requesting her as a guide. “What do you mean… gone?” “She’s still in there, Ash. She’s just…” Nancy sighed and then peered over at the Little, still sucking down mightily on her sippy cup. “You know that adult voice in your head? The one that tells you to stop drinking because you’ve had enough? Or the one that tells you to not try and balance on a roof while you’re hanging up Christmas lights?” Ashley hesitated but still nodded. “Well, Nancy has that voice, but now… that voice has changed. Maybe her old one got shoved away to never be seen again or maybe it changed as well, but now, whatever is driving her is telling her different things. Things like… it’s okay to pee your diaper. It’s okay to suck your thumb or call your Big ‘mommy’ or cuddle with any number of your stuffies or one of a million other things. So, yeah… the old Melissa is gone…” Ashley looked at her old friend once more, now having discarded the sippy cup by the wayside and starting to waddle back over to the blanket that Antiope had laid out for her earlier and to the stuffies on it that she had been playing with prior to her sippy of milk. “Can she ever come back?” Nancy sighed and then shrugged. “Honestly… I have no idea. I just know what I know from what I’ve seen and that’s about it.” She then looked over at Melissa as well. “For example… today’s big lesson right now… never, and I mean never drink the milk.” Ashley furrowed her brown in confusion. “But I drink milk all the time, Nancy. It’s in my cereal and I have it for lunch on the weekends and…” Nancy waved her hands, quickly dismissing what her friend was saying. “No, no, no. That’s normal milk, Ash. This stuff is different. It’s… creamy and thick. It’s addictive. Lots of forms and names to it as well but trust me… you taste that crud for long enough and you’ll be drooling in no time. Plus…” She then drifted back to Melissa and waited as if she was looking for something to happen. Just as Ashley was about to ask though she looked back as well. Right then, Melissa went still and then crouched on all fours. Some struggle later, the back of her diaper cover expanded ever so slightly, and Melissa plopped back on her butt with a wide grin on her face before popping her attached pacifier back into her mouth from earlier. Soon playing with her stuffies… she was now either none the wiser or she just didn’t care that she had just messed herself. In either scenario, Ashley looked on to her old friend with a horrified expression. “See?” Nancy questioned. “What did I tell you? Never drink the Big’s milk. You can, but… be prepared for the consequences. They can be rather… messy.” Dumbfounded over what had just transpired, Ashley could only nod. ‘Nancy knows so much, and she’s been here for so long, but… looking at Mel… she had been here for a little while too. She was mature just a few weeks ago. Heck! She was a freaking super model and the epitome of glitz and glamor around here… even just two weeks ago being worried about how dirty her nails got after handling some simple mulch. Now, she just messed her diaper in front of everyone and doesn’t even care! If that can happen to her, what’s there to stop it from happening to the rest of us?’ Ashley shuddered at that thought… just in time for Pete to announce the hot dogs and hamburgers were ready. In that brief moment of getting up and looking sadly down at their friend, now reduced to a helpless Little, Ashley and Nancy hugged each other tight. For now, at least, they had each other, and more than anything else, that seemed to matter the most to either of them right then.

Hey everyone! Thanks so much for the feedback and for your continued input on the poll for my next story. Don’t fear, I’ll still be writing this story until it’s finished. As I said, I was just curious… never know sometimes why a story does better than others. In this case though, I wanted to check I wasn’t missing something glaringly obvious, so for those of you who let me know here or privately, thank you. A little bit of a small note here… if you haven’t checked out my Diaper Dimension guide yet, I would highly recommend it for parts of this story. I do explain a few items again, but coming up, things like countries or states I’ll mostly just be leaving alone as standalone references in the story. If you do have questions about them, though, just let me know specifically. A few haven’t been fleshed out a lot, but I’ll answer what I can if you all need that to better enjoy them. Next, just as a reminder, a new poll is up for you all to let me know which story you all would like to read next. Story options and the link can be found back in the beginning of chapter 2. As I mentioned before though, if you feel more comfortable leaving a comment here or as a private message to me, I will count these as well. Additionally, like before, this poll will be shut down right before I post my final chapter on here. Further announcements will be made regarding this when the time gets closer. Last but not least and as usual, I hope everyone enjoys this next chapter! Chapter 6: A Friend of Convenience Is Still Just a Friend Day 19 – 12:29 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “You okay, Ash?” Betty asked as the two walked down Cheery Lane and down to South Sweet Drive to meet up with her friend and her apparent Little that could be Ashley’s new friend here. Betty seemed enthusiastic, but Ashley… Ashley had been quiet most of the morning and despite the heat of the day already had kept her hands in her pockets like she was battling a stiff winter breeze. “Yeah… I guess just nerves is all…” She trailed off a little. ‘I want to tell Betty everything, but I don’t know if I will ever be able to trust her enough to tell her that I’m only here for a news story. She’s great and all, but I don’t even think the saintliest Big is going to help with something that would only lead to the Little leaving them eventually.’ “Well, that’s okay, sweetie,” Betty said reassuringly. “We all get a little nervous, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of. But I think you might be pleasantly surprised with my friend and her Little. She works in the energy department and her Little is from Earth and has the same independence bracelet that you have.” “She does?” Ashley almost stopped completely walking as she heard the news, especially when Betty nodded in confirmation. ‘Kind of buried the lead there, Betty. Still though, I can’t believe there’s someone else who could be like me. I wonder what she’s like? Is she smart? Is she creative? Is she… no… It doesn’t matter. As long as she’s not like the rest and peeing her pants is considered the highlight of her day… we should be good.’ * * * Day 19 – 12:45 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “You must be Ashley! I’ve heard so much about you!” the Little practically screamed in her face as Antiope brought her Little forward once Betty and Ashley had entered and settled into her house. “I’m Melissa, and I think we’re going to get along great if you can answer me this one question… are you more of a Chanel or Dior girl? Or… or maybe Gucci?” Ashley stared back at her potential new friend, glitzed out in bright pinks and what she had to assume were fake diamond jewelry around her neck, fingers, and even a mini tiara in her platinum blonde hair. ‘Wait… is that makeup? No, no… don’t focus on that. Just answer her question…’ Ashley winced briefly, likely trying to come up with an answer. “Uh… maybe Chanel? Honestly, they were all a little out of my budget though…” ‘Honesty, Ash… honesty. Stick to it and don’t lie… even if you could win points by listing every tiny scrap of information you ever remember from any fashion magazine… don’t outright lie. Little truths here and there…’ “Oh…” She paused briefly. “Well… that’s okay!” Melisaa initially seemed a little disappointed by Ashley’s answer, but there was also a clear desire in her as well to seemingly make a connection with another Little that hadn’t been regressed already. So far, in that at least, the two Littles had something in common. “We don’t have a budget problem here.” She then lurched forward and grabbed Ashley’s arm, yanking her up from her position on the couch. “Come on! Let me sho…” “Wait!” Antiope shouted after them, right before they hit the first carpeted stair going up. “Mrs. Jones is leaving, Mel. Let Ashley at least say goodbye first.” Ashley stopped cold, despite the continued strain to her arm from Melissa. “Wait… you are?” she asked, turning in confusion back to Betty. ‘Staying here not eyeshot is probably fine, but … I thought Betty was at least going to stay with me downstairs!’ Betty smiled and got up from her own position on the couch before walking over to Ashley. “Yes, sweetie. I’ll just be a five-minute walk away downtown at the shop.” She then crouched down a little to meet her Little’s gaze. “I promise… it won’t be for long, okay?” Ashley grimaced but nodded. “I…” She then briefly glanced back at Melissa… likely to see if she was judging her, but her potential new friend just stood there as if this was now the most normal thing in the world… even if it meant a Little was hesitant about being left alone… like a toddler being left at daycare for the first time. Sighing, Ashley looked back at Betty with sadness already swimming in her eyes. “Okay… just… don’t be gone forever.” Betty smiled and nodded, looking dangerously close to giving Ashley a hug. ‘Wait… is that still something I should avoid? Or do I actually want that?’ Before she could decide though, Betty stood back up and waved goodbye. “I’ll see you soon. Just remember, if you let yourself, I’m sure you’ll have fun.” Ashley was just able to let out a nod before Melissa once again began to pull and drag her upstairs… Betty soon disappearing out of view. * * * Day 19 – 1:31 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “Okay… let’s see… oh!” Melissa shouted in excitement from inside her closet. “I think I found the perfect thing for you!” Ashley sat on the little couch Melissa had in her room, something that looked right out of any storybook about a princess. Not immature necessarily… just full of pinks, purples, and shining all around from the mirror, overhead or string butterfly lights, and the occasional speck of jewelry. Seconds later, Melissa walked out with a large pink with white polka dots dress. “Oh… I don’t know… I kind of like what…” “Nonsense!” Melissa shot back, nearly shoving the dress back at Ashley. “You just have to wear this! Plus, your mommy can’t object to you wearing this either so you should be good there as well.” Ashley froze a little and glanced down to Melissa’s wrist, making sure she really did have the independent Little bracelet on. ‘It’s there… but… does it mean something else I don’t know of? I thought it was for mature Littles? Or maybe she’s just been here too long and just assumed Betty is my… no. I’m not even going to say it.’ “She’s not my… well, you know…” “Oh…” Melissa seemed confused for a moment. “I just thought with Dr. Jones being…” She looked at Ashley with wide eyes and then shook her head. “You know what? Never mind. If you don’t know, then that’s on my silly little head. Too full of fashion advice and all I guess!” She smiled cheekily but once again handed Ashley the dress. “Regardless of them though then, just try this on,” she repeated. “A sleeveless spring dress, complete with an empire waist, square neck, and a flowy skirt to knock anyone off their feet. Plus, the polka dots are just to die for!” Ashley took the dress and held it up on herself before looking back at Melissa expectantly. “Well… go on! Try it out!” The new Little gestured to her closet and smiled. That smile… if it wasn’t for that gleaming smile, Ashley might have said ‘no’ on the spot. With it though, Ashley seemed to feel a little better before just sighing and then retreating to Melissa’s closet… or at least that was the technical term for it. In truth, once inside, it looked more like a whole other room of the house, with likely dozens of dresses, rompers, overalls, skirts, blouses, and too many other fashionable items to truly categorize… all hung up neatly and perfectly organized. “Wow… you’ve got a lot of stuff in here,” Shley noted as she began to unzip her plain-looking shorts. “Yep!” Melissa responded with no small degree of pride while still lingering outside in her room. “Antiope keeps me plenty stocked up. I think she always wanted a doll-type Little and I guess I fit that bill!” “Doll type?” Melissa wiggled out of her shirt and set it neatly aside. ‘Wrinkles are fine, but preventable wrinkles are another thing entirely. I don’t think Melissa would look too kindly at something like that.’ “Yeah… I classify Littles on various things,” she noted. “Feeders, dolls, accessories, liberated, helpless… I’ve counted at least a ten or so since I got here, but with me being a model before… I guess doll type it is for me!” “Oh? You were a model?” Ashley questioned, her journalist instincts starting to take over and feeling the clear relief of finally another Little to talk to who likely knew more about this world and maybe the secrets of Peirama. “Yep! I posed for all sorts back on Earth!” Seeing all the dresses in here, it made sense… also why she wanted her to put on a dress and show it off… like a runway show. “Why I came here actually…” “Travel?” Ashley managed to wriggle up the dress and stretch the middle waisted part out like it was supposed to before slipping the straps over her shoulders. Looking in the floor-to-ceiling mirror, she gave a little twirl and blushed a little. ‘I… I actually look pretty good. Forgot how nice a dress looks on me. Impractical for my work usually, but… not bad. Not bad at all.’ She smirked again and began to walk out of the closet. “New photoshoot meant to boost my career. Travel magazine wanted shots from all over this world and I…” She stopped just as Ashley began to exit the closet. “Oh! I knew that dress would look absolutely perfect on you!” She seemed to giggle with pure energy, and while Ashley uncomfortably twitched slightly under the extra attention, a small slip of a smile over her lips could be seen as well. “You were saying?” Ashley asked after about another few minutes of Melissa gushing over her choice and how good it looked on her new friend. “About a photo shoot?” Melissa’s smile faded a little. “Oh… yeah. Well, I was going all over. Countries like Honshu, Yamatoa… watch out for the Bigs there and on what’s left of Catalon, but… Albion and Gaule… highly recommend. Better to Littles, even compared to this place!” “I’ll have to ask Betty and Pete about it…” ‘I want to see this world… but not at the expense of my panties…’ Ashley bared down to keep from shuddering over that notion and potential for all wayward Littles in this dimension. “So… how did you end up here? Sounds like a great tour, but I’m guessing a place like Peirama wasn’t on that list of places you were expecting to go, right?” Melissa’s cheery attitude seemed to recede a little and she shook her head. “No… I should’ve just gone back, but… we stopped at Prata. It’s like our Las Vegas, and… well, they offered me free complimentary chips. There was also some other weird casino there that practically begged me to come and even offered me free nights and specialty chips, but I just stuck with the normal ones… ended up busted though. I just kept hitting red. It just looked so pretty!” Ashley kept nodding along, but inside, her mind was racing. ‘Prata… the Hermes group was supposed to go there… but weird casino? Definitely worth a mention for another story back home…’ Ashley smoothed out a crease in the dress before turning in front of the mirror outside as Melissa directed simply with her finger. “Then what? That’s in Niveis, but… we’re in the state of Utem.” “Oh… nothing much to tell.” Melissa sighed and got up before checking out a new pair of earrings in the mirror nearby. Ashley took it as her chance to sit back now that her own fashion show had seemingly abruptly ended. “I had a good amount of money… but I decided to wander around one day, and no one was watching, and… poof! I was here. Antiope grabbed me before anyone else, and… can’t say I’m too unhappy about it all. I mean… look at everything I have because of her.” Ashley looked around and it was hard to miss what she was talking about. Between the clothes, the accessories, and just about everything else that came into view… even the seemingly untouched stuffy on her pristinely made canopy bed, all looked expensive. Melissa snapped a new necklace around her neck and smiled wide as she adjusted it against her own dress. “It’s a charmed life as a Little here, you know?” * * * Day 19 – 4:49 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “Personal trainer, huh?” Ashley nodded, her memory latching on to her fake backstory still. “Well… I don’t think I could ever do that. Personally… I used the old Victoria’s Secret weight loss plan. Worked wonders for…” “Girls!” Antiope shouted from downstairs. “Mrs. Jones is here! Come on down!” “Coming!” Melissa answered back before looking over to Ashley. “Well, I guess nothing more today. I had a really fun time though… maybe again Thursday?” Ashley nodded. “Yeah… need to check with Betty first, but I’m willing at least.” Melissa smiled and let Ashley go downstairs first. Betty was already standing in the front hallway. “Hey you two! Haver a good time?” “Oh yeah!” Melissa shot up first. “We tried on dresses and talked everything boys and makeup and fashion and jewelry and…” “It was a lot of fun,” Ashley said quickly, a little strain under her wording as she did so. “Well, then I guess you’ll have to come back then, won’t you, Ashley?” Ashley could only nod to Antiope’s question. “Would love to do it again tomorrow, but we’re going to the mall. Apparently, one of the stores just dropped a new line of clothing and this Little has been beggin…” “Oh!” Melissa practically started bouncing on the stairs from her pure levels of palpable excitement. “They should come with us. Please? Oh, pretty please, Antiope!” Antiope sighed and then turned to Betty. “I don’t know, baby. They might be busy tomorrow. You can’t just assume…” “Actually…” Ashley turned to Betty in obvious surprise. “I’ve been meaning to take Ashley over there for a little bit now. Just haven’t found the time, but… I could get some help with the shop or just close it down for the day. No orders came in today, so… yeah. We could make that work.” She then turned to Ashley with raised and inquisitive eyebrows. “Ashley? How about you? What do you think, sweetie?” Ashley blushed under the three sets of eyes looking at her intently now. ‘Gosh! Melissa is great as someone to talk to, but… I just don’t know about her…’ Her glance shifted to her practically beaming new ‘friend.’ ‘She’s great, but… I just wish I could talk about anything other than fashion or whatever… Still… might be a good opportunity to find another story or pick up more details. Antiope seems… well, seems more like Pete with her secrets and all… Even has the same badge type…’ The blue badge hanging on the nearby coatrack was unmistakable. “Sure… why not?” “Yay!” Melissa was mature, but… there was almost a sense about her that she had been here too long. Ashley hadn’t asked that question… ‘Maybe tomorrow…’ “Oh! It’s going to be so fun! We’re going to be able to try on dresses and go shopping and…” “Easy there, Mel,” Antiope said, snatching her Little into her arms and stopping her cold. “Don’t want to overwhelm your friend on your first day, right?” Melissa squeaked a little and then shook her head. After that, it was only a matter of time before Betty made the excuse to leave… Ashley then waving goodbye to her new bubbly and eager friend. * * * Day 19 – 5:19 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “So… how’d it go?” Ashley almost responded but Betty held her finger up and stopped her in her tracks. “And the truth, Ash. You’re a good bean, but I can tell when you’re holding something back. So, the truth… and all of it, okay?” Ashley nodded and while she paused and sighed at first, didn’t hold back… not with that request… not from Betty. “Well… Melissa is mature like me. A little bubbly maybe, but nice.” “But?” Betty pressed. “What else are you leaving out? The truth, remember?” Ashley sighed again. “Well… she’s just… so… so… she’s crazy about fashion!” Betty laughed a little. “I mean… it’s fine…really. I just… I only know so much about all that. You wouldn’t believe all I had to recall today just to keep up with her. She seems like a freaking motor mouth about everything fashion… you know?” Betty nodded. “I do… but don’t judge her too harshly for that at least.” Ashley looked back at Betty questioningly. “See, Antiope feeds her Little foods. Not bad, but… well, I’ll just say the chicken nuggets come in all kinds of varieties over here in this dimension. Not all are purely chicken though…” Betty didn’t say anything more about that, but Ashley’s mind buzzed with what was seemingly being implied. ‘Drugs? Is she suggesting that Littles are drugged? If so… that would be huge! Maybe that’s my piece… Definitely going to have to press Melissa for more tomorrow… just hope all that actually goes well… fingers crossed I guess…’ * * * Day 20 – 9:18 A.M. MDT – Earth 2 “You two strapped in back there?” Antiope asked, turning around to look at both Ashley and Melissa, both in a booster seat and both securely fastened in. “This climb up the mountain can be a little bumpy.” “And steep!” Betty added, turning around next. “All good, Antiope! Mrs. Jones!” Melissa cheered happily, playing around with one of the rings on her fingers. All then turned to Ashley. ‘Geesh! I really wish they would stop doing that to me! I want to say something, but there’s no way I’m going to be the party-pooper in this gang. I need to make friends… not enemies!’ “Fine, fine. Just go, please.” Betty looked a little wary, but Antiope smiled. “Right! And off we go!” The car hummed to life with its modern electric engine… something that Antiope had apparently collaborated on as one of the projects around town. It was just another piece to the massive puzzle that seemed to be Peirama, but for the moment, Ashley looked like she was just trying to keep from shattering her teeth on the already bumpy road once they got going. Smiling and looking in the rearview mirror, Antiope hit the radio on. “How about some music to pass the time?” “Baby rock, rock, rock! Baby rock, rock, rock! Come on and rock ‘til your socks come off to-night!” the music blasted the car, and almost immediately, Antiope, Betty, and Melisssa began to sing along with it. Hearing it around town far too many times before though, Ashley could only grimace. ‘Not this thing again! All the Littles and their ‘mommies’ just can’t seem to get enough of it! Please tell me this won’t be for the next hour and a half!’ “Come on, Ash!” Melissa encouraged. “Sing at the top of your lungs! It’s fun!” Ashley only shook her head and closed her eyes as she tightly gripped whatever she could around her. Apparently, she was adventurous… just not daring. ‘Please, oh, please just get to the top in one piece!’ * * * Day 20 – 10:49 A.M. MDT – Earth 2 The car hummed a little more and then went silent as Antiope turned off the engine. Looking back, she smiled at Melissa and Ashley. “Alright, girls. We’re here!” “Yay! We’re here!” Melissa practically bounced up and down in her seat… her maturity seemingly not extending to all her habits anymore… if they ever did. Smiling wide, she then turned to Ashley. “Ashley, come on! We’ve got… Ashley?” Ashley had likely heard everyone, but her fingers had dug into the seat cushions and arm rests around her and almost looked frozen… petrified. “Uh oh… Mrs. Jones!” Getting out quickly, Betty rushed to the side of her Little after opening the car door. “Oh dear…” Betty then reached in and rubbed Ashley’s back. “Sweetie? The car ride’s over. You can let go…” No response. “Ashley?” But Ashley still didn’t respond. Sighing, Betty went in for a more physical approach this time. “Ashley! Come on, sweetie!” Her back rub soon turned into a forceful shake… not enough to hurt the stunned Little, but just enough to knock her out of her stupor. “Wha…?” Ashley blinked and looked around. “Are we… there yet?” Antiope and Melissa giggled a little as they bound over and looked on to see what was happening with the formerly stunned Little. Betty slightly frowned and then turned back to both. “I should have realized this might have been an issue here. She was mostly asleep the first time up and down the mountain when she initially arrived at Peirama, so there was no way of knowing she would have this reaction. You just never know with Littles and rides like that.” Betty then turned back to her Little and unbuckled her seat belt for her. “Come on, Ash. We’re here already and you’re perfectly safe now.” Ashley, seemingly still a little stunned, didn’t fight her when Betty removed her seatbelt, or when she offered her hands to guide her out of the large seat high off the pavement below. In fact, she even smiled at the Big for her kind gesture. ‘Not sure what just happened there… never been good with heights or coasters… which is basically what that was, but… at least Betty’s here to help me…’ As soon as Ashley cleared from the car, Melissa was practically unleashed. In seemingly one of her natural habitats, the mall probably looked like her own version of a massive playground. Of course, the mall was just the run of the mill type… two floors, a few anchor stores, a food court, and a myriad of other smaller stores in between, but for any Little, size here was nearly always the ‘wow factor’ for them. Stretching up at least 70 or even 80 feet, the high ceilings with openings to the second floor seemed to sparkle under the late June Utem sun. Colorful pillars supported intersecting walkways above them and fountains trickled and spurted in their own little enclosures amongst the crowded sections of the more open areas to the left and right of the party. Then, to top it all off, flowers and even a few trees punctuated occasionally throughout the walkways. It was a magnificent and sprawling garden-like estate… all in a single mall. “Wow…” “No malls back on Earth?” Betty questioned with seemingly genuine curiosity. “Oh no!” Melissa interjected before Ashley could answer her own Big. “Tons of malls everywhere. It’s just…” Even the motormouth herself now seemed a little in awe. “It’s a size thing,” Ashley noted for her friend, Melissa nodding dumbly as she gazed over to one window display full of gowns and other fashionable items. “Our biggest mall is maybe 70 feet tall… maybe 90 in some sections, but that’s pushing it. This… it isn’t even your biggest, is it?” Antiope chuckled. “Oh, good gracious no, Ashley. This is a very plain mall out in the middle of almost nowhere. Now the city malls… those can stretch on forever.” “Hurts the feet a little at the end of one of those shopping trips,” Betty added, nearly causing Melissa to faint over such a suggestion, even going so far as to falter a little and pull down on Antiope’s arm. This time, Antiope, Betty, and Ashley giggled a little over her antics. “Come on,” Antiope coaxed the group after their tiny bit of fun at the dramatic Little’s expense. “Let’s get to shopping before this one faints… or pulls my arm off.” The group all smiled, and letting her loose with one hand gripped tight by Antiope, practically free at last, Melissa pulled Antiope along, Betty and Ashley hurrying to catch up. On their way now, looking over to Betty briefly, Ashley saw her open hand. ‘Does she expect me to hold it here?’ Right as Betty looked down toward her though, Ashley looked away and focused on just about anything else. If Ashley hadn’t been so focused on paying attention to nearly almost anything else around her other than Betty, she might have heard a soft chuckle. * * * Day 20 – 1:09 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “Alright… everyone finished up?” Antiope questioned the group not long after Ashley finished the last of her Little-sized fries. Curiously, despite the advertisements of the ‘best fries for Littles in the state’ earlier, the group had passed them up and three other food court spots before settling on one store. “Yes, Antiope…” Melissa said with a little annoyance. “Can we please keep shopping again? We still have another store to go and it’s getting late!” “Melissa.” Antiope was normally a pretty relaxed person… firm when Melissa was acting up, but fair. This time, however, her tone meant business. Like she had heard it before and knew right away what it meant, Melissa squeaked a little and then sat all prim and proper in her boosted seat. ‘Strange… what does Melissa know about Antiope that I don’t? Had she tested the water out with her before and gotten burned? Punished even? Is Antiope the type of Big to do that?’ Those thoughts remained, especially as they entered the last of the clothing stores for Littles. This one was a little more muted and less ostentatious than the others had been but was at least twice the size of the last four they had gone to. Already, Antiope was lugging four bags of clothing and other accessories while Betty was carrying only one. “See anything you like, sweetie?” Betty asked as they rounded yet another corner of the shop without much luck. Ashley looked at the various designs, the squirming and wide-eyed Melissa apparently seeing something she wanted everywhere seen just on the edge of her vision. For Ashley though, her tastes seemed contrary to what most Littles wore… which presented a problem. “I… I don’t know…” Her fingers ran through one blue dress but stopped when the sequins on the front sparkled heavily under the overhead lighting. “It’s because she doesn’t like girly things,” Melissa whined. “She looked so pretty in that pink dress I had her wear yesterday, but today? Nothing! I mean… look at the boring bedsheets she got!” “Melissa Dunamis!” The Little definitely squeaked that time and even ducked for cover. Hearing her last name the other day, Ashley knew what was happening. ‘Not her real last name, but Antiope adopted her… just like I’m Ashley Stevens for my cover but here with Pete and Betty, I’m Ashley Jones… technically. Melissa needs to watch out though if Antiope is getting that serious though to use her first and last name…’ Antiope then looked back at Betty and sighed. “Sorry about her. She’s… well, I think we need to take a walk. You two take your time though…” Betty smiled politely and almost knowingly before also nodding toward her. “Thank you…” A frustrated Antiope and shrinking Melissa then left the store, leaving Betty and Ashley all alone amongst the hundreds of outfits there. “Don’t listen to her, sweetie. You get what you want. I just want you to be happy… even if that means you choose a burlap sack.” Ashley slightly blushed at that comment before looking down at her own clothing. “I’m not wearing that now, right? Or at least the Little equivalent?” Betty winced briefly but shook her head. “No. It’s just…” She paused and sighed before crouching down closer to her Little. “Most Littles wear clothing that’s almost too bright. Your clothing is just a little muted. Nothing bad. Just… unusual. That’s all.” Ashley sighed and then looked and the dozens of clothes immediately surrounding her. ‘I want to blend in… I want others to accept me so I can get my story and then get the heck out of here. Getting Melissa to help would have been a good bonding moment, but I probably would have ended up looking like some done-up plastic doll. Betty… she’s a Big, but for this… I think I can at least trust her.’ Ashley then stared at Betty, her crouching form only a little shorter than the Little’s standing height. “I… I want to look… pretty. Not babyish… or even childish. Just…” Her eyes strained toward her Big, likely hoping she would understand what she wanted without directly having to say it. Betty paused and only stared back for a moment but then smiled and nodded. “Of course, sweetie. Come with me and we’ll get exactly what you want.” An hour later, the two were done. Ashley still maintained her ‘adult’ clothing, but blues, pinks, purples, yellows, and a whole host of other colors had now crept in as well. Various patterns and at least a dozen different types of clothing were chosen by Betty and then tried on and then approved by Ashley. Of course… there was one moment that gave Ashley a little pause… when they walked past the Littles section. Granted, she was a Little, but for clothing at most stores they had been to today, she was a ‘Little-sized’ and not a true classification of pure ‘Little.’ As such, her clothing didn’t have ruffles. It didn’t have snaps or extra accommodating fabric in the crotch and butt. There were no reinforcements for pacifier clips or locks on any of the zippers or clothing ties. Her chosen clothing was free of all that, but, just for a second, she had caught Betty looking over into that extra-large section of the store that contained all that horrible stuff. ‘It’s for her babysitting duties… or maybe someone in town she knows… Not me… Not me…’ Now, dozens of try-ons later and moving on from that one little hiccup, both were standing at the registers, the clerk eagerly bagging all the new purchases. ‘I can’t believe she’s spending all this on me… I know Pete and Betty aren’t poor, but… I feel like I’m being buttered up… or I just walked into the nicest Big ever.’ As she was thinking all that, she audibly sighed as Betty paid. Looking down, the Big smiled and briefly rubbed her shoulder. “Hey. It’s okay, Ash. You wanted clothes and I was more than happy to get them for you.” Her hand then shot up to the total price when Ash began to wince and look up in that direction. “Don’t even worry about that, sweetie. Pete and I talked, and frankly… you are still way under budget.” Taking her card back, she stuffed it in her purse and smiled once again at Ashley. “Honestly… I think he was worried that you were going to be another Little like Melissa. Not bad, just…. well, you know…” Ashley grinned and nodded. “I kind of bet him you weren’t, but he insisted, so… gives us a little extra to spend today.” She then grabbed the bags and began walking out of the store, Ashley following right behind. “How about we save some for a rainy day and use some to get an ice cream? What do you think of that?” Ashley smiled and nodded. “I would like that very much…” So, soon, Ashley and Betty both procured a nice portion of ice cream for their respective sizes. The Big at the counter offered a free cone, but Betty had almost shouted ‘no’ at him, eliciting quite a few stares from others… especially Bigs. Sitting down, Ashley was distant and slowly eating her double chocolate ice cream… but then finally spoke up. “Uh, Betty? Why no cone?” Betty daintily licked the spoon full of her mint chocolate chip ice cream but stopped before getting to the tip and looked at her Little with sad eyes. “Remember I said that Pete and I are different than other Bigs?” Ashley nodded. “Well, that goes for more than just in Peirama.” She sighed and gestured over to the server who had offered the free cone. “I bet you anything that he’s one of the nastier ones. Subtle, but make no mistake… if he had given you that ‘free’ cone, right about now, you’d be wiping ice cream off your shirt or from your lap… embarrassing yourself and looking like a complete baby.” “But I can hold a cone!” Ashley defended, sounding a little whinier than she had clearly expected to, based off the look on her face afterward at least. “Of course not, sweetie.” Betty then scooted closer. “It’s just… the cone might have been faulty. Tasted good and all, but maybe a little weaker to one side… or maybe leaning more in one direction… or it might suddenly dissolve in one tiny section to get it to drip all over you…” Ashley stared back, wide-eyed and in clear disbelief. “Make no mistake… out here, Bigs can be ruthless… So, whenever we come back… watch out…” “Watch out for what?” a familiar voice asked in a high-pitched tone that contained some degree of arrogance and superiority. Turning around, Ashley saw it was Melissa and waved her off. “Oh, nothing… just…” Antiope then appeared right behind her. “Nothing at all… Just talking…” Melissa squinted for a moment, so setting her cup of mostly melted ice cream now, Ashley pointed to her bags full of new clothing. “But look! Got some nice new clothing!” “Oh!” Melissa’s eyes practically bugged out of her head as she raced over to look inside. “Lemme see! Lemme see!” Setting her cone done with a smirk, Betty opened the bags just out of her reach and showed her what was inside. “Oh, Ash! These are beautiful! Maybe there’s hope for you yet!” * * * Day 20 – 8:58 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “…and there was that brief hiccup in the store with the ‘Littles’ clothing, but… I can’t argue with all the other clothing and those sheets that she got me today,” Ashley noted in the mirror once more. “Maybe I’m fooling myself, but it’s hard to fathom someone spending hundreds of dollars on you to be mature only for them to revoke all that and regress you later. I mean… am I missing something here?” She sighed and looked out her window briefly. “I guess… well, the journalist in me is screaming out that I am absolutely missing something, but me… the person with boots on the ground here and now says no. After all those articles that I read, I know I should be skeptical, but… I just don’t want to be alone or… an outcast anymore. Betty is helping with that, and Melissa… Melissa…” Ashley paced over to her closet and looked inside at all the new clothing that had been freshly washed by the superfast and high-end washer and dryer set-up Pete and Betty had here. “I guess I should thank her as well for all this, but… I just wish she was more… more like me. A better friend… or at least someone who wasn’t entirely obsessed with jewelry and makeup and…” Ashley then paused and got a funny look. “What’s that?” It almost sounded like a vent rumbling a little too loud at one point, but stepping closer to the wall, Ashley put her ear to the wall, and it was harder to make out, but something more could definitely be heard. Pressing her ear right against the wall, even more came through. “And why is she going back to work exactly?” Pete asked from the other side of the wall. “I d… know. I thought that may… you would or at least be able to tell me why…” Betty seemed more upset at something now. Ashley had passed out on the way back up and down the mountain and had woken up to Melissa looking nervous and Betty staring questioningly at Antiope. “I wish I did, Bee. I… Geesh, do I need new socks…” Pete grumbled, clearly in his closet, which likely explained why Ashley could better hear him from hers. “Yes, dear… I’ll m… a note of it, but focu… Antiope is going… to work.” Again, Ashley could hear the bitterness in that statement. “You know what… at means for Melissa now that it’s fulltime again.” “Yes, Bee… of course I know…” Now, it was Pete’s turn to sound defeated. “Maybe Melissa could still be friends with Ash. You said the two seemed to be getting along?” “Well, I don’t… seem to be getting along, but… ashion obsessed for my taste and you know how Ash is about some of that stuff. Although… today you should have…” Betty then trailed off. Ashley sighed in frustration but only cracked her knuckles instead of yelling out or hitting the wall like she originally looked like she was going to. “That’s wonderful to hear, Bee. Thank you for doing that for her.” Pete paused and a loud ‘thunk’ could be heard from the other side of the wall. “Maybe there will be a gap between the two, but maybe it won’t be as big as we’re thinking now.” “No, well… I don’t know,” Betty responded, now clearly getting closer to Pete. “We chose her for a reason over the others from that place. You know that means she’s different…” “Yes… I was there too you know…” Pete said with a giant heaping dose of sarcasm. “Yes, yes… very funny, Pete,” Betty said like she was entirely used to his antics by now. Even through the wall though, Ashley could now hear her sigh. “I just…” “Easy now…” Pete’s voice faded a little bit like he had just exited his closet now. “One step at a time, but maybe… we keeping looking for a new friend for her. You know how this place is… you just never know who’s coming here next. Besides… the next person she meets could be…” An audible thud and then click could be heard and Pete’s and Betty’s voices became little more than a dull hum in Ashley’s closet. “Darn! I wish I could hear more… but…” She sighed as she exited her closet. “I just don’t know. They seem to think that Melissa could be leaving me soon. Not sure what that all has to do with Antiope going back to work, but…” She shook her head. “Could be a story there. I just need to dig further and question Melissa as much as I can before then. Shouldn’t be too hard. I mean… she’s not going anywhere… right?” * * * Day 23 – 10:57 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “You’re going where?” Ashley questioned Melissa as the two sung back and forth on the playground. Apparently, it was what Littles did in their spare time… or at least one of the things. Ashley had briefly worried about the childish nature of it all… especially seeing the baby swings there as well, but after only talking to Melissa all day two days ago, Ashley seemed to be more at ease on the playground now… until right then. Both stopped immediately and like she had seen a ghost, Melissa looked back at her friend with fear written all over her face. “Daycare, Ash. I’m getting sent to daycare.” “I just… is this because Antiope is going back to work full-time?” Melissa could only nod and stare down at her painted hot pink toes, now practically shining through her sandals. “But… aren’t you an independent Little? Doesn’t that mean you can be on your own here?” Melissa shook her head. “That’s what I thought, but I guess… well, I guess I was wrong…” Melissa looked down again and looking closely, a tear or two could just be made out as part of her makeup ran down her face. “I… I don’t even care about that, but… daycare?” Now, the Little looked utterly terrified. ‘I don’t understand… a lot of Littles go to daycare. What’s so bad about daycare? Still… Mel might be a pain, but she’s the closest thing I have to a friend here…’ Ashley sighed and reached out a hand to rub her back like Betty seemed to do expertly with her now. “Mel… it will be okay. It’s just daycare. I’m sure they have a section for mature Littles. I mean… they can’t hurt you or anything in there, right?” Mel looked up, and for a split second, looked at Ashley like she was out of her mind. It didn’t last long though, as her tears soon returned in full force, and she broke out into a sob and collapsed from her swing right into Ashley’s chest, her silver necklace clanging against Ahsley’s knees as she did so. ‘What the…? I 100% feel that I’m missing something now… I should ask Betty when I get home tonight. Definitely seems like the makings of a story, but for now… Mel.’ Ashley ran her fingers through Melissa’s platinum blonde hair. “Shhh… shhh… it’s going to be okay, Mel. I’m not going anywhere… promise.” The Little continued to sob into Ashley’s new shirt and was even starting to get the attention of others… particularly a few nearby Bigs. Most looked on with sympathy… some looked on with envy or even desire… like her and Melissa were somehow prizes to be sought after. Ashley didn’t like those looks one bit but quickly shifted her focus back down to her friend. ‘I need to be there for her… no matter what happens. I don’t think she’s strong… so I need to give her some of my strength. She’s not my greatest friend ever, but she’s still a friend. I can’t lose her in here… I just can’t…’ Ashley continued to stroke Melissa’s hair and then started on her back. Whatever was wrong with daycare, Melissa at least seemed to like the extra attention. Her eyes staring off into the distance, Ashley was likely silently thinking that she didn’t mind the extra attention from Betty either when it was her turn to be soothed.

Thanks for the feedback! This site can be hit or miss, but I was just genuinely curious if there was a glaring error I was missing or something. Most of the time I've gotten critiques on here, I see them myself and it's usually a nice facepalm afterward. This time... not so much. Also, I was definitely not going for an Eureka vibe at first, but once I started writing this... I just couldn't unsee it. Great reference by the way! (I promise not to include a Fargo character) Welcome! New commenters are always a great sight and comments are always nice to see regardless. As far as my next story is concerned, I like nearly all my stories but each has a hook that I truly do find enjoyable. So, trust me, if I didn't want to write it, there's no way I would put in a poll for you all to vote on. As for the rest, all I can say for now is... spoilers! All will be revealed one by one by the end.

Hey everyone! So, I separated this chapter from the previous one, so our total is now up to 25. I probably could have kept my original plan, but with all the thoughts and fleshing these places out that I wanted to do, splitting just felt better in the end. Also, I’m trying to keep the timeline in pace throughout the story. I don’t want to skip a whole bunch of days to follow the plot I previously laid out in ‘Project Nurture’ but I don’t want to drag things out either. So far, I think I’m balancing that out pretty well and I hope you all are feeling the same. Also, and please don’t take this to mean any more than curiosity, but I’m wondering if maybe I need to lay off the DD stories for a little bit after the next poll or if it’s just this story or the timing of it all. Again, I do all this for the love of writing and letting my imagination and writing abilities go free. It certainly helps offset my ‘adult’ job, but it is something to pause over when I see the lower number of likes or number of views with these things. No big deal… my ego isn’t that small, but I also like others to be entertained… so, I’m genuinely curious what you all think. Next, just as a reminder, a new poll is up for you all to let me know which story(s) you all would like to read next. Story options and the link can be found back in the beginning of chapter 2. As I mentioned before though, if you feel more comfortable leaving a comment here or as a private message to me, I will count these as well. Additionally, like before, this poll will be shut down right before I post my final chapter on here. Further announcements will be made regarding this when the time gets closer. Last but not least and as usual, I hope everyone enjoys this next chapter! Chapter 5: An Eventful Day Day 18 – 8:12 A.M. MDT – Earth 2 “Okay… another day… another adventure…” She paused. “Well, if only…” Ashley sighed as she looked at herself in her bedroom mirror. It had been five days since she had arrived in Peirama, and the only thing that seemed to change was the mentality or waning physicality or abilities of some of her fellow Littles that she had seen around. For example, the Little she had waved to on her first day here across the street was now definitely back in pull-ups. She might have guessed that before, but when his ‘Daddy’ dropped his shorts to check him yesterday, she didn’t need to guess any longer. “I don’t know if I’m ever going to find my story here. I want to, but…” Ashley sighed again. “I just… I feel I’m on the outside of everything. I’m witness to a place where if I saw a flying car, I honestly don’t think I would be shocked. It’s amazing the different little pieces of technology they have here. Like the other day, I saw they have a weather manipulating machine here… it’s one of the of the reasons it’s actually green here! They’ve basically terraformed this whole valley.” “It’s amazing!” She then wistfully looked outside the nearby window, likely looking at the clouds already forming in the distance. “But that’s not my story here. Fascinating, but not the dirt Mr. Swarthout wants from me on this assignment…” She then glanced down at her own clothing, now a wash of something that any adult might actually be wearing. “I guess if I’m being honest with myself, it might be me… I seem to be the oddity amongst everyone else here. Littles are forced away by their Bigs, and the Bigs either whisper about me, scoff at me, or treat me like some… some… oddity of science!” The frustration on her face was entirely visible. “I would never want something bad to happen to me to get that level of connection, but something needs to change. I don’t know if I need to start getting nosy or maybe it’s just a question of timing where everyone just needs to get used to m…” “Ashley!” Betty called from downstairs. “Breakfast!” Ashley smiled and yelled back, “Coming!” She then turned back to the mirror briefly and spoke back at her normal volume. “I guess only time will tell what happens. For now, though… it’s pancake time. Maybe Pete even made his specialty version of them.” She paused for a moment. “No story right now, but… at least it’s a nice place here…” * * * Day 18 – 10:43 A.M. MDT – Earth 2 “Any of your new hybrids in, Betty?” yet another customer asked today, pointing to the sign that advertised ‘New specialty species coming in soon!’ on the countertop. “No,” Betty replied with another defeated sigh. “Not yet. I’m getting close to a breakthrough that will knock everyone’s socks off, but I still have a few quirks to work out.” “Oh… that’s a shame…” the customer’s eyes then flicked over to a display to the left of the counter. “But what’s this? It’s looks pretty close to what I’m looking for and…” “That’s for another customer,” Betty explained as Ashley neared to lightly mist a few of the plants up front as she had been tasked to do each day now. “Just please… don’t get too…” “Oh… it’s so… so… beautiful!” The customer smiled lackadaisically. “I want to…” Then then wandered up to the plant with widened eyes… almost like they were being drawn to the plant and the chemicals that surrounded it. “Ooh… it just looks so…” “Iago! No!” But it was too late. Right as Betty called out the customer’s name, they already had lunged out for the plant and had inadvertently knocked it over. Ashley, posed nearby and being the good helper she was, reached out to catch the plant… saving it, but spilling the chemicals all over her hands in the process. “Iago! I told you to leave it alone!” Betty scolded. “Just… get out of here! Take a walk and get some water!” Iago hesitated. “Now!” Shaking his head like he was just coming out of a trance, Iago ran from the store, clearly embarrassed and more than a little confused over what had just transpired. Sighing a little, Betty’s attention then turned to Ashley. “Now, let’s see the… oh!” She rushed over to Ashley, plucking the plant from her hands. “I’m sorry!” she cried, likely thinking that she was now in trouble for not catching the chemicals as well. “I tried to catch it all, but the plant… it was too heavy, and…” Ashley’s eyes dropped to the floor and her hands, now both covered in the strange smelling chemicals. “That’s okay… but… shoot! It’s bubbling now. Quick! Sink! Now!” Almost picking her up, Betty practically shoved Ashley toward the rear of the store where a watering station and sink had been set up. “Under the water! Hurry!” Ashley didn’t need to be told twice and soon both her hands were immersed under a steady flowing stream of water. The bubbles started to dissipate once hit by the water. Still, Ashley winced. “It’s starting to itch and burn!” The water was only going so far, and the bubbles were still forming along her forearms now. Seeing that, Betty grimaced and surged down to help the poor Little get better water coverage. Sensing what was happening, Ashley was able to remove her bracelet, which marked her as an independent Little, right before Betty pushed her arms up to her elbows under the water. “You need to get everything washed off, sweetie. I had that stupid package out for a very important customer, but…” Her eyes shifted to a clock up above them and then back to Ashley’s arms. “Dang it! I thought so!” Betty seemed to practically spit and curse over even mentioning them in passing. “I can’t believe they’re late! Those elements should’ve been gone hours ago, and they can be highly… problematic… Shoot! Especially for Littles! I’m so sorry, Ashley…” “It’s okay…” Ashley’s pinched expression began to relax, the water clearly doing its job to rinse off the chemicals, and therefore the burning sensation, from her arms. “Wait… this won’t cause anything permanent, or… unnatural, right?” Betty shook her head with a slight smile as she pulled Ashley away from the water and then turned it off before drying her doused arms off. “No… it shouldn’t. I’ll keep an eye where you were splashed over the next few days, but you should be good.” ‘Shouldn’t? Should be? Not exactly encouraging words… Still, she did help me, and the stuff is off now…’ “Thank you…” Betty nodded, and soon, both she and Ashley retuned to the front of the store to clean up the rest of the mess, both seemingly wanting to forget what had just happened. ‘At least nothing bad should come from that… could have been much worse though I’m sure…’ * * * Day 18 – 11:24 A.M. MDT – Earth 2 Ashley strolled down the street and entered Caesarea John’s for subs once again. Today, she was determined to get the ‘Master Meaty,’ containing at least seven different types of meat. It was a hefty wield, even in the ‘Little-specific’ size she got, but after Pete had raved about it last night, she was determined. “Usual today, Ashley?” Bruno asked from behind the counter. “Just for Betty, Bruno. I think I’m going to get the ‘Master Meaty’ instead today,” she replied with no small amount of pride, the sub seemingly being a classic for Bigs everywhere. As a result, several Bigs gave her the stink eye, but Ashley was mostly used to them by now. So, she just ignored them, paid, and stood to the side while the two subs were being made. Most Bigs seemed to let it go. Not everyone though… “And just what is this? A Little ordering form the Big’s menu?” The angry police officer questioned. “What kind of joint are you running here?” Bruno held up his hands defensively. “A respectable kind, sir. Ashley is a regular. She comes in here every day for…” “Can it!” The officer then grabbed Ashley’s arm and held it up as far as it would stretch, eliciting a small yelp from the Little half his size. “See here? No bracelet!” ‘Oh no! I removed my band when those chemicals were spilled all over me!’ “No band means an escaped Little… or at least an illegal one at that.” He snarled down to Ashley. “Come with me, little girl. I’m taking you…” “Now, wait just a minute, Officer Decker!” Bruno shouted, seemingly finally finding his courage. “You can’t just take her away! Bracelet or not right now, she’s still under the protection of her Bigs.” Officer Decker glared back at Bruno. “And how do I know you’re not just covering for, huh? There’s a growing pro-Littles movement, you know?” The way he said ‘pro-Littles’ practically screamed at how little he respected or even cared about them. “Don’t take my word for it, officer. Take her Big’s word.” Bruno then reached across the deli counter and handed Ashley her usual massive Big, at least for a Little, to take back. “Here you go, Ashley. Show Officer Decker to Betty’s shop… and don’t dawdle, okay?” Ashley took the offered bag and clutched it tightly to her chest. Clearly unnerved by the whole series of events, she couldn’t make out a single word and instead just nodded. Looking back up at the officer, Bruno glared. “Now, go with her, officer. You clearly don’t know who her Bigs are, but I suggest you don’t deviate away from Betty’s Bouquets. I doubt Betty… or Dr. Jones will be at all pleased if they find out otherwise…” There was a chill in the air after Bruno mentioned Pete, and Ashley briefly stared questioningly at everyone who now seemed to shy away from her. ‘Curious… I wonder what Pete’s done to elicit such a…’ “Get moving, squirt,” Officer Decker growled unkindly, seemingly only slightly intimidate by the mention of Pete’s name. Now, normally, the word ‘squirt’ would be used by most Bigs for a Little to bring about feelings of their shrunken cuteness. For Officer Decker though, it was most definitely an insult aimed right at Ashley. * * * Day 18 – 11:43 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 The bell rang as usual as Ashley pressed her way into Betty’s Bouquets, but this time, there was a hardened and grumbling officer right behind her. The whole way back, his sneers and growling had only increased with each storefront they passed by. Right before she entered, Ashley’s heartbeat had skyrocketed. ‘Whew! I swear he was about to snatch me away and then I would be whisked away to…’ Ashley momentarily and subtly shook her head as if to clear the thoughts. ‘No, Ash. Don’t think about that… Focus on Betty… Betty… Betty… where are you, Betty? Please still be here…’ Not breaking her stride, Ashley veered into the store, when a lovely and familiar voice sounded from the rear. “I’ll be right out! Look around and just let me know if you have any questions about anything you see.” Officer Decker was just about to speak up, likely demanding that Betty show herself, but she was a little too quick for him. “Now, what do…?” Betty paused and looked from Officer Decker down to Ashley, partially obscured by her bag of subs for their lunch. Wasting no time, Betty peeled her thick rubber gloves off and rushed over to crouch down before then taking the bag from Ashley. “Oh, Ash! Are you okay? Did you get hurt?” This time, before Ashley could make out a word, Betty looked up at the officer. “Officer? Did she get lost? Hurt?” Panicking at her own suggestion, Betty looked down at her Little and began to shuffle her around as gently as she could, clearly looking for any signs of injury. Looking too petrified still, Ashley didn’t budge an inch. “No, ma’am,” Officer Decker replied. “I’m afraid it’s much more serious.” Betty stopped immediately and arched an eyebrow as she raised herself to meet his stare as best she could. “Oh? Did something happen to Ashley out there? Was it a problematic Big, maybe?” Officer Decker frowned and shook his head. “No, ma’am. This Little claims she is yours but was outside without a bracelet on. Now, either she’s lying or…” Betty held up her hand to cut the officer off. “No, sir. Ashley isn’t lying, and as protector of this town… this small town, you should know everyone here.” She then looked down at Ashley. “Ashley? Go back and retrieve your bracelet while the good officer and I have a little… chat.” Ashley looked petrified as she glanced up toward the officer as well, but stepping forward slightly, it was obvious he wasn’t going to stop her now. So, determined to get her bracelet as soon as possible, she hurried away and toward the back. ‘Holy…! I’m never leaving this place without a bracelet as long as I live! This place is crazy! But hold on… maybe corrupt cop snags Little is…’ But Ashley shook her head as she retrieved her bracelet. ‘No, no. Not a good story. Makes me look bad and that thing probably happens with Littles all over this world. Peirama isn’t unique in that way at least… bigots…’ Snapping the bracelet back on, Ashley made her way to where Officer Decker and Betty had settled to by the front exit… almost like she was already forcing him out. It was a strange scene, but Betty almost looked like she was scolding the officer. He was still his brutish and snarling self, but almost meek whenever Betty looked to be more animated in front of him. ‘I could get used to watching this. Maybe I just…’ A little too clumsy, Ashley shuffled a plant and made a large rustling noise. ‘Well… I guess that’s off the table. Now way they didn’t hear that…’ So, rejoining the two, upon seeing Ashley, Betty smiled like everything was okay now. ‘How did that happen? Am I okay? Why does Officer Decker look like he just saw a ghost?’ Ashley seemed to burn with questions, but Officer Decker just looked back at the Little with hate in his eyes, but a seemingly newfound humility and maybe even fear as well. After a second of silence though, Betty cleared her throat. Seemingly more apologetic now, Officer Decker tipped his patrolman’s cap at Ashley. “Errr… sorry about the… mix-up…” He looked toward Betty and glared for a moment before relaxing his face once more. “Just… be more careful and always wear that bracelet…” Looking at Betty next, she nodded before he beat a hasty retreat. Right before he exited though, he glared back down at Ashley. “At least for as long as you can…” It was under his breath, and if Betty had heard as she had already started shuffling items around in her shop, she didn’t indicate otherwise. With the door closing to the tune of another jingle of the bells, Betty stopped and looked back at Ashley. “You okay, hon?” Betty didn’t say anything, seemingly too shocked by what had just occurred. ‘What was that? I’m entirely grateful that I’m not absolutely screwed right now, but… what the heck?’ Sighing, Ashley held back and only nodded her head… seemingly good enough for Betty. * * * Day 18 – 3:19 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 Looking around for things to do, Ashley began to smile as she perused the shop that she had started to come to know so well. ‘This world is hard on Littles but thank the almighty whatever for Betty here. Definitely seems more like a Big who is pro-Little. Now, I don’t think she would let me go free right now… but that’s a long shot with anyone. At least here in the shop I’m safe, right?’ Ashley finally spotted a few plants that didn’t have a sticker price on them. The gun to label them was a smidge unwieldy for her, but after a few tries, Betty allowed her to use it unsupervised. Holding the gun up after retrieving it from the back, Betty only smiled and gave her a thumbs up. Sticking each one on the pots or holders beneath the plants, Ashley smiled as she sniffed in the intoxicating aromas around her… and listened in nearby. The shop was nothing if not a housing for wild and exotic plants, but juicy gossip as well. “Did you hear about Sharon’s boy?” one Big asked as she started to look over one particularly vibrant red of a plant, it’s long petals even bigger than her fingers in parts. “No!” the other Big exclaimed, looking at a blue variety of plant right next to the red one. This one opened like a clam and smelled of chocolate and blueberries. “Did he try to escape again or something?” “No…” The other Big looked at her with wide eyes. “Worse.” She then looked around, almost like she was about to say something she wasn’t supposed to. “They gave him that new chemical compound. Apparently, he went from being some…” She briefly paused and stroked her chin. “Hmmm… business tycoon? Real estate agent? I’m not sure right now… but he went from that to barely being able to say his ABC’s. Can you even imagine what…?” “Oh! Aren’t you just the cutest widdle thing!” Ashley froze from her duties and turned slowly to her left. There, an enormous Big with glasses towered over her. As had happened with Pete the first day she was here and a few times after, Ashley suddenly felt very small and almost like a lab caught in a maze. “Do you have a mommy, Little one?” Ashley should have been more prepared for the question. Her bracelet was on, but the nature of Bigs and all… it only seemed to mean so much… which was probably one of the reasons she had forgotten here in the first place. Only the police here seemed to really notice… this Big definitely didn’t seem to fit that category. “I… I…” ‘Stupid words! Out, dang it! Call for help, dummy! Say no! Anything!’ But as try as she might, Ashley’s words still failed her. “Aww! Someone’s a little shy.” The Big then bent over and smiled knowingly. “I think I know what it is. I see it all the time in the lab with my test subjects. You just went potty in your diapie, huh?” Ashley let out a squeak, but still nothing more that would stop the condescending Big. “Here… let me check for you sweetie.” Her hand then snaked its way over to Ashley. “Don’t want to get a nasty rash, do we?” She smiled, but the Big’s eyes seemed like a snake worming in on its prey. Her fingers curled and crept further. While Ashley didn’t recognize their location right away, despite all the clues the Big had dropped, as soon as they dropped below her waist, even her shock didn’t stop her from guessing what she was about to do. ‘Diaper check! Diaper check!’ Her mind reeled and she nearly swooned under the realization. Her eyes bugged out and looking closely, anyone could see that she was starting to breathe more heavily. For the reaching Big, they probably just assumed that Ashley was panicking that her supposed wet diaper would be exposed… a Little likely not used to using them. ‘Say something! Now, you idiot!’ But, at that one moment, there was only one thing she could think of. “Stranger danger! Stranger danger!” The Big’s hand shot back, and she looked both mortified and confused. “What…?” As she recoiled, the nearby gossiping Bigs looked over and glared at the Big. “I… I…” “Hold on!” The two most glorious words from the most beautiful of voices were followed by two more. “I’m coming!” In seconds, a worried Betty bound through her shop to the scene of the incident. Seeing her savior, Ashley just pointed to the Big, letting Betty figure out for herself what the problem was. “What is going on here?” “I… I… Betty! It’s me! You know me! I know Pete!” the other Big defended. ‘Wait… they know each other? Crud. I didn’t think about that possibility… Still… come on Betty! Believe me! Please, oh please believe me!’ Betty relaxed slightly but still glared at the Big. “And just what are you doing here, Sylvia? What are you doing with my Little? Not one of your experiments I take it?” She glared and then stepped forward. “Because… I think you know what that would entail if you had…” “Wait… your Little?” Sylvia looked back at Ashley, still too stunned to do much more than raise her hand to confirm what was just said. Turning back to Betty, she looked horrified. “Betty! I… I… She just looked embarrassed and she’s a Little, so I… I just was going to check her diaper!” Betty’s eyes squinted further into a visible frown of disapproval. “She’s not wearing one,” she said coldly. Sylvia looked back at Betty like she had somehow lost her mind, but Betty doubled down instead of trying to rationalize why. “And you would know that Sylvia… I know you would know that from Pete if nothing else. But if you didn’t… let me make one thing abundantly clear… She’s my Little and I’m in charge of her.” Betty then paused and looked down at Ashley, smiling briefly in reassurance over the Big’s protection of her. She then glared though and snapped back up to Sylvia. “And another thing! Look before you leap, doctor. She has a bracelet, or were you so wrapped up in finding a new potential subject to notice?” “Betty… I… I…” Sylvia seemed at a loss for words before bowing her head in shame. “I’m so sorry, Betty. I… I’ll just be going.” She turned heel and nearly jogged to the exit. Right before leaving though, she turned one last time back toward Betty. “I… I really am sorry…” Several of the customers began to stare and whisper, but Betty was still in her protective mode and raised her arms as if to invite further trouble. “What? Would any of you not defend your own Littles?” Several nodded and hurriedly went back to their business in her shop. Seemingly resolved now, Betty eased up a little bit and looked back at Ashley. “Are you okay, sweetie?” In truth, Ashley was not. ‘I want to so badly tell her the truth. I want out of this place! I want to find a small story and then get out of here before it’s too late!’ Ashley Stevens would have simply escaped, or at least would have tried to, that night… every rational Little would after a day like that. But Ashley Cutters, the journalist… she would stay. So, choosing journalism over her own safety once more, Ashley nodded her head instead. “I’m okay… thank you…” * * * Day 18 – 5:08 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 Walking home that afternoon, as they did most evenings now, Ashley walked in silence alongside Betty… something that was unusual. Betty seemed preoccupied with a few last-minute orders for tomorrow, but Ashley had her mind on other things too. ‘Two incidents in one day? Am I cursed… or is it just this place?’ Looking around, one might have been forgiven for thinking that Peirama was a place of luxury and peace. After all, a Big and a Little were walking side by side, and the Little wasn’t diapered or under any kind of duress or hypnosis by the accompanying Big. It was nearly unheard of in most of Libertalia in the past few years, and Ashley was keenly aware of that… but something still nagged at her. ‘Why am I different?’ Turning off the main road, still a little walk away from home, Ashley finally her head up towards Betty. “Betty?” The Big kept walking but looked down at the Little with curious… almost like she had been knocked out of seem deep thought herself. “Am I…?” She sighed. “I really don’t know how to ask this…” “Don’t worry about how it comes out, sweetie,” Betty noted, slowing down a little. “Just ask and we can decipher whatever comes out afterward.” It seemed so obvious, but Ashley had been putting her guard up more since Officer Decker and then Sylvia. Betty had popped the occasional glance over at the Little but had said nothing about it. Now, it looked like a large weight had been lifted off the Little’s shoulders as she nodded. “Well… I… today… there were two Bigs that treated me differently.” Betty nodded her head, following along. ‘Good… please stick with me, Betty.’ She then held her hand with bracelet on up to her. “And I doubt it’s just because I didn’t have this thing on briefly or that one Big decided to ignore it.” Betty looked like she was about to say something but seemingly changed her mind and began to ponder. ‘There’s something to this… I just know it…’ “Betty… please tell me…” Betty sighed and nodded. “Well, I guess fair is fair… see, a big thing you’re seeing is a difference in personality sets between us Bigs. Sylvia… Dr. Sylvia and Officer Decker… well, they tend to be a bit more conservative in their values with Littles. Modern movements might call them ‘pro-Big.’” It was a perfectly rational explanation, but as seemed to be becoming typical with any conversation about Peirama, the statement always felt like there was an unspoken ‘but’ at the end. ‘What is it? Is it me? Is it them? I need to dig more… even if I wind up worse than where I’m at now…’ “Makes sense, but… why do you treat me differently?” She paused and gestured to the nearest Big looking at her strangely. “Like why not like them?” Betty glanced over and the Big in question quickly looked away, but the sigh from her indicated that she had seen them staring regardless. “That’s a long answer, Ashley, but… maybe for another night.” Maybe it was the unconscious pouting of Ashley right then or maybe it was just Betty’s big heart not wanting to leave something so unanswered, but no matter the reason, she sighed and continued. “For now… I can at least tell you this…” Betty took a big breath, stopping momentarily before leaning over just a little bit. For her part, Ashley leaned in closer as well, curious as ever. “Pete and I value independent Littles. A lot, and I mean a lot, of other Bigs here don’t. A lot of this gets complicated quick, but… and maybe I won’t speak for Pete on this, but I value you for who you are. Whatever that means… whatever the future holds, just know that I don’t care about other people here and how they see you… even if that means you’re different than others. Just know… I still care about you.” It was a lot to take in for Ashley, and even as Betty beckoned her to get back to the house so she could make sure dinner was ready, the Little remained mute. Inside though, was a different matter after the initial shock had worn off. ‘Wow… I mean, there’s definitely something else going on here… something I think Pete is a part of, but… I just…’ Ashley sighed outwardly and while Betty looked back briefly, said nothing. ‘I knew Betty was one to get attached quick, but… I was not expecting that. Feels… nice…’ Ashley shook her head of those thoughts. ‘Story… focus on your story, Ash. Don’t get distracted with your feelings… even if they are… no, no, no! Story, Ash. Focus on getting your story…’ * * * Day 18 – 6:29 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 Passing what looked like peas around on her plate, Ashley remained silent as Betty recounted their day to Pete. He apparently had another long day doing whatever it is he did. Ashley still wasn’t sure, but between finger her story and what Betty had told her earlier… she was pretty distracted. “Ash? Ashley?” Ashley stopped fiddling with the single pea on her plate and looked up, blushing a little as she saw both Pete and Betty looking right back at her expectantly. “You okay there?” Pete asked innocently. “Me?” Pete and Betty nodded, both looking a little concerned. “Oh, yeah… just…” “Was it about what I said?” Betty asked first. “Or about what happened at the shop?” Pete asked next without giving Ashley anytime to respond. “Both, but…” ‘If I tell Betty about my feelings… that could make all this complicated very fast. I’m trusting her… or at least as much as a Little can trust a Big around here, but… why risk complications? No… just focus on the shop…’ “I’m more worried about the shop… and the other Bigs around here. I feel… weird.” Pete set his fork down and nodded like he had just understood some theory of the universe. “Right… I see. Well, that’s a tricky one, and I’m really sorry to heart that, but… I think you’re unique. Also, I think that…” “Pete,” Betty said quickly slightly cocking her head and looking at him with wide eyes… almost like she was trying to ensure he kept a secret of some kind. “It’s okay, Bee,” he said with an ounce of certainty and calm in his voice. “She wants to know, and I think she should…” His attention shifted back to Ashley, but from the corner of her eye, she could still see a highly concerned Betty. “Other Littles here are treated a certain way, and we would never force that on you, but I think other Bigs might think you think that you’re above them… or at least the other Littles.” “They do?” Ashley asked, looking disturbed at the notion. ‘I never even thought about it like that… Wait… he’s not suggesting ai blend in with diapers or anything… right?’ She shifted uncomfortably in her booster seat at the notion. Pete nodded. “I can’t be sure, but it’s a good guess. In fact… I think I have an idea.” Ahsley leaned in as if her wide-eyed stare wasn’t proof enough of her interest in fixing the problem at hand. “I think you might have a better time here with other Littles and Bigs if you maybe get to know one and…” Betty then stood and glared at Pete. “Pete? Is this what we talked about before?” Pete looked a little nervous now but ultimately nodded his head. Betty seemed upset almost immediately, and while flames could have been burning behind her eyes, she turned to Ashley with a smile. “Sweetie? Can you go into the other room for a minute? Pete and I need to talk… alone.” Ashley sighed a “Fine…” and then left the table to go into the other room as requested. ‘Geesh… what could be so darn weird that I have to leave?’ Almost as soon as Ashley turned the corner into the other room, muffled but impassioned voices could be heard from the dining room just beyond the kitchen. ‘Oh… what I wouldn’t give to have a bug in that room… I should suggest that kit for anyone who might follow me after doing a story here…’ Listening in, only parts of the conversation could be made out. It was broken, but Ashley heard two main pieces that stood out the most to her: ‘she’s not like others’ and ‘needs to fit in.’ It wasn’t much, but she was starting get the gist of the conversation… to the point, that when she was called back in and saw a saddened and resigned Betty, she already knew the outcome. “Ashley,” Pete began steadily, Betty still seemingly lost in her own disappointment, “we have decided that while you will still accompany Bee… Betty to the store still, we’re both going to work to get you to start branching out to meet other Littles specifically from Earth during the day. Your bracelet should help with this as well, but just in case you might feel uncomfortable at first, Betty or I will be with you as well.” Pete then shifted in his seat to better face her before folding his hands together. “So, any questions?” Ashley didn’t say anything at first. ‘I… I feel like I don’t have a say in this. It feels like a trap, but… I need to see other Littles. Faster to find a story for sure… better to blend in… maybe even get accepted by the community. Could even prevent stuff like today from happening… It’s all just a wing, right?’ “Well… not really… just… more concerned. You know… I’m a Little and if I’m with other Littles who are… well, you know… I’m not going to be grouped with them, right?” Pete seemed more stumped at the question, but in a way that made it seem almost like he had an answer but didn’t want to say it. So, Betty spoke up instead, the weariness palpable in her voice. “I know this might be scary, sweetie. It’s… a lot, but… I actually already have someone in mind that we might be able to start off with. I can even give them a call and start off tomorrow. Does that sound okay?” Ashley looked nervous still but still nodded her head. “Yes… make the call.” Betty nodded as Ashley just stood there. ‘Rip it off like a Band-Aid… I need to do this and the faster I do… the fast I can find a story and leave. Sorry Betty, but… I value my own life more than your feelings right now. If I ever want to see Earth again… that’s just how it has to be…’ * * * Day 18 – 8:35 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “Well… it’s confirmed,” Ashley said, once again into her mirror, her diary held in one hand with a finger over the play and pause button. “Tomorrow… I’m going to see another Little. Betty says I should like her…” She removed her finger from the play button. “Don’t know how much that counts for, but…” She hit the play button once more. “I need to at least give it a try…” She then set the diary down and began to pace around the room. “I want to be strong here… I need a story, but… every time I think I’ve seen it all… I find some other shadowy corner.” She then stomped over to the mirror and looked at it with wide and fearful eyes. “I mean… what the heck was that about to with the whole ‘escape’ thing?” She winced, briefly rubbing her arm. “And those chemicals… I know Betty needs them for her projects. After all, you don’t get some of the colors, vibrancies, or even smells she does without a little science… but why were those chemicals out? And who was getting them?” Ashley sighed and paced a little more. “Too many questions and not enough answers. Maybe tomorrow will help me out, but… I’m just not sure about anything anymore with this place…” Ashley then went over and sat on her bed, the sheets now more of a dull purple instead of their previous gray. “Speaking of not sure… Pete. I think he’s coming from a good place, but… I just don’t know what to make of him. His name seems to command respect… or fear. I’m honestly not really sure, but either way… I think I need to keep my eyes open still…” She took a breath and then shook her head. “I guess like the rest of this weird place… I feel there’s more to him under the surface. Maybe tomorrow I’ll somehow find out more about both him and this place…”

Hey everyone! Good golly, do I hate allergies. I have so few, but in Spring when cut grass and pollen hit me at once… ouch. So, several apologies for the late posting of this chapter, but when you can barely see or breathe… editing tends to take a backseat. Next, just as a reminder, a new poll is up for you all to let me know which story you all would like to read next. Story options and the link can be found back in the beginning of chapter 2. Also, should have said this before, and apologies for that, but with this poll, I’ve decided that you can vote for two options if you want. As I mentioned before though, if you feel more comfortable leaving a comment here or as a private message to me, I will count these as well. Additionally, like before, this poll will be shut down right before I post my final chapter on here. Further announcements will be made regarding this when the time gets closer. Last but not least and as usual, I hope everyone enjoys this next chapter! Chapter 4: Welcome to Peirama! Day 13 – 3:22 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 Driving through Provo, Mona, and several other cities that seemed seconds from being blown into oblivion by the slightest storm, Ashley had come to know the landscape of the more central part of Utem very well over the past few hours. So, as the Jones’ car rambled along the roadways of the town of Peirama, the lush greenery and foliage everywhere struck Ashley with wonder. ‘A literal oasis in the sand… it’s beautiful, but…” Her eyes peered out of the car and saw more regressed Littles in minutes than she had on her whole trip so far and more small bits of technology than would be found at even the most high-tech facility back on Earth. “There’s an oddity in the beauty here… just how did they get it to look like this?’ Additionally, it didn’t take long for Ashley to notice that despite all the technology around, there was also an Earth 1950’s-esque design to many of the buildings. ‘I want to ask so many questions right now… but I need to bide my time here… blend in and figure this place out. Each block we go further, I’m more convinced that something is going on here… If I wait, I’m sure to snag the story of the century back home.’ Finally, the Jones’ car turned onto the marked ‘Cheery Lane’ and then a few cookie cutter houses later, pulled into a smooth driveway outside a seemingly large typical suburban house. Unlike most of the homes around the neighborhood though, an expansive garden stretched around the entire house and was flanked by two massive and twisting trees on either corner of the building. “We’re here!” Mrs. Jones said, looking quite relieved. “Thank you for driving, honey.” Mr. Jones nodded. “No problem, Bee.” He then turned around and looked at Ashley with a smile. “And how are you? Do you need any he…?” But Mr. Jones stopped as he saw Ashley fiddling around with her seat belt already. “Oh… I guess you don’t need any help then.” Ashley looked up from messing with her seatbelt and smiled but shook her head. “No… no thank you, Mr. Jones. A little tricky but…” The belt buckle then popped open as she finally was able to click the stiff button. “Just needed a little extra leverage.” “Very clever…” He smiled again and then exited the vehicle. ‘Scientist, huh? Why do I feel he was just observing me like some lab rat and then was happy that I had accomplished a task already.’ Still, despite the feeling, Ashley smiled as she began to wiggle out of her seat while opening the rear door to exit out of. ‘Maybe I’ll get a piece of cheese for my success…’ “Something funny, sweetie?” Ashley looked up and saw that Mrs. Jones was hovering right over her… almost like she was prepared if Ashley should suddenly fall in exiting the vehicle. Seeing the ground far below where she was normally used to, she didn’t object but still hopped out with a solid thud. She did teeter for a moment and Mrs. Jones briefly twitched but her hands remained resolutely by her sides. Ashley then looked back and shook her head. “Nothing… just… nothing…” “Very well, sweetie. Just… don’t be why around us. I promise… we don’t bite…” Another Big saying that might have seemed like a trap… like a few of the prospective Bigs had the past few days of interviews. For Mrs. Jones though, there was something genuine about her expression, so Ashley just smiled and nodded in acknowledgement toward her new carer. Mrs. Jones, seemingly not wanting to push the new Little under her care, only smiled back before going over to help Mr. Jones with their own and Ashley’s suitcase from the trunk of the car. Earlier in the drive, Ashley had volunteered to take her own suitcase inside or even get it out of the car, but Mr. Jones was insistent on her just relaxing. So, Ashley wandered over to the end of the driveway to get a better look around. She momentarily caught a glimpse of a worried Mrs. Jones looking on, but not intervening, Ashley kept going. ‘She would’ve stopped me if I was doing something wrong, right?’ Stopping just before the edge of the driveway, Ashley could make out the long street they were now on… perfectly straight and partially lined with large and well-trimmed trees along the crisp and clean sidewalk in front of each property. Each house, aside from a few architectural features, colors, and the contents of their gardens or lawns, looked eerily similar. ‘Well… I guess this is their version of paradise, huh? Surprised I’m not seeing a white picket fence somewhere around here.’ Just as Mr. Jones grunted, getting the last of the suitcases out of the trunk, Ashley spotted another Little across the street kicking a ball around in the yard. Looking over she smiled and waved to him. ‘Maybe he’s someone I can interview for a story, or… well, just be honest with yourself, Ash… Maybe he could be a friend instead. Either way… bonus…’ He waved back, but his own Big seemed far more protective and suspicious and ushered him back inside the house. The Big gave Mr. and Mrs. Jones a wave but only stared back warily at Ashley. ‘Is it me? Is it something I did? Or is it something I’m just not seein…?’ “Ashley?” Ashley spun around and saw Mrs. Jones beckoning her back. “Come on, sweetie. Let’s go inside… give you the grand tour.” Ashley briefly looked back at the other, now empty, lawn across the street, but only sighed and rejoined Mr. and Mrs. Jones. * * * Day 13 – 3:36 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 The inside was a fairly simple and had a mostly open layout between the stairs going up, the living room, and the entryway. Despite a few outlets’ safety covers, the near extreme levels of cleanliness seemed to indicate that no other child, or at least regressed Little, lived here. Setting the suitcases down, Mr. Jones then pridefully gestured to the house. “Tada! This is it. Our humble abode.” His words almost had a gleeful singing-like quality to them. “Should we start with a tour or…?” “How about the kitchen first, honey?” Mrs. Jones suggested, her eyebrows bobbing up and down almost like she was trying to indicate something. “Right?” At first, Mr. Jones seemed confused. “The…” His eyes widened a bit and whatever she was indicating obviously finally clicked in his head. “Oh… right. Kitchen first.” Ashley seemed to be entirely out of the conversation, but with both of them leading the way, she just shrugged and followed them into the aforementioned kitchen. Stepping through the archway, it was immediately apparent why Mrs. Jones wanted to go there first. A large and colorful banner that read ‘Welcome Home!’ had been hung up and spanned the length of the kitchen, easily stretching over ten feet long at least. “Oh…” Ashley stopped and stared at the banner, not really anticipating something like this to greet her here. ‘They… it’s almost like they think I’m their daughter already or something… I thought this adoption thing was just a formality… This though… this feels like something… more.’ “Thank you, Mr. Jones… Mrs. Jones.” The smiles that had so clearly been lit over the pair’s faces diminished almost immediately before they looked at each other and back to Ashley. “Sweetie…” Mrs. Jones started. “We should have told you earlier and I know that’s how we were introduced at Carer+, but you really don’t need to keep calling us that.” “It’s… it’s a sign of respect.” In full truth, Ashley wasn’t lying but had also been more focused on escaping when they told her their first names a few days ago. ‘Do they really want me to call them by their first names? Feels so… personal…’ Mr. Jones smiled, again like earlier, as if he was seeing an experiment with wonder. Not like a mad scientist though… more like a happy man over seeing something like a puppy catch a frisbee for the first time. “Well, that’s very sweet of you, Ashley, but… we don’t need that. So, please… call me Pete, Peter, Dr. Pete… any of those will work just fine.” Mrs. Jones nodded in agreement. “Yes… please call me Betty. Mrs. Jones was my mother…” Ashley sighed, her unease clear, but she also seemed willing to do as they asked. “Okay… Pete… Betty.” Both the Bigs smiled widely at the sound of their names on their new Little’s lips. “Wonderful!” Pete perked back to his previously smiling face, his light scruff like dot art stretching out over too large of a frame. “Now… how about that tour?” Ashley smiled. “That would be great.” Pete and Betty smiled back and then started to guide her around the house, making sure not to miss a single corner of Ashley’s new home. Everything was pretty normal… but she was starting to get an odd and uncomfortable feeling as she noticed a few things. While on the tour, several items appeared that caused Ashley to wince in discomfort over seeing them. She didn’t want to pry… even after seeing the swing set in the backyard, a place once again, covered in all manner of seemingly exotic plants and flowers. She didn’t question the folded-up playpen either… or the chest clearly marked ‘Toys’ shoved out of the way. Each could have been written off as long forgotten relics not used anymore or just features that came with the house… until the highchair; an object not even fully attempted to be hidden. Making their way back to the kitchen to grab a glass of water after talking so much themselves, both Bigs stopped talking long enough for Ashley to make her move. “Okay… I tried to be calm… but what is that?” Betty paused her tour of the kitchen and glanced to where Ashley had been pointing. A look of satisfaction quickly was replaced by worry. “You mean the highchair?” “Yes! The highchair!” Ashley placed her hands on her hips and worked everything within herself not to stomp her foot as well. Pete and Betty didn’t seem like typical Bigs so far, but everyone had their breaking point it seemed with Littles. ‘Definitely not testing where that is right now, but… I need answers.’ Ashley glared at Betty who looked like she was trying to form her answer with a great deal of thought and care. “Uh… not to bail, but I’m going to let you explain this one, Bee…” Pete said after about a minute of silent tension, now beating a hasty retreat from the kitchen much to the eyeroll of Betty. “I want to check on the… last room before too long… just to be sure.” Betty’s frustration with her husband though evaporated as soon as he said the words ‘last room.’ Ashley raised an eyebrow to go along with her curious expression. Meanwhile, Betty sighed but nodded. “Go, go. We shouldn’t be too long. Just make sure everything is set, okay?” Pete waved but didn’t say a word more as he exited the room. Turning back to Ashley now, Betty smiled. “As for the highchair…” Ashley leaned in closer. “I have it because I volunteer to watch over other Littles here… like a community babysitter of sorts.” “That’s all?” Ashley questioned suspiciously, feeling that Betty was already lying to her less than an hour into her arriving at their home. “Yes,” Betty confirmed, no trace of lies in her eyes though. “See, we’re a tight-knit community here, Ashley. We all have our jobs… I’m one of the botanists here, but I’m also the florist and impromptu babysitter when others aren’t available or there’s a massive project being pushed through. Not having any Littles myself, and with other Bigs needing a break with some of the more… unruly Littles, I volunteer to help them out. It’s that simple. I promise… nothing more for its use right now, okay?” “And that’s truly all? No other reason at all now or in the future?” Ashley raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. ‘Why do I feel there’s something else she’s still leaving out?’ “Well… yes. That is the truth of why the highchair is here right now, but…” Betty trailed off for a moment. “But?” Ashley frowned at the Big before her. “Well…” Betty seemed hesitated further but then let out a big sigh. “Well… two things, Ashley. First, about the Littles… if you want me to stop that, or have me let you know when I do, so you don’t have to be down here… we can do that. I want you to be comfortable here… if not at least happy. I know some Littles would kill to be with other Littles, but I know some… well, frankly, would rather be on Mars.” Ashley smirked a little at that, but her continued suspicions seemed to cloud most of it over in seconds. “I see… Thank you for the offer, but…” Ashley stepped closer, “what’s the second thing?” Betty winced and leaned over on the kitchen chair, briefly looking at the highchair stationed nearby. “I was kind of hoping Pete would be down here for this… but I guess there’s no need to put it off now.” She took a deep breath and then stared back at Ashley with an intensity she hadn’t seen before. “Pete and I aren’t the strict kind of Bigs. I want you to know that, but … we’re also practical.” “Practical?” Ashley stared with trepidation at the highchair. ‘How is that thing practical?’ “Simply put?” Ashley nodded back, clearly eager for Betty to answer quickly and truthfully. “Pete and I know you’re not a baby…” “Well... that’s a relief.” A little tension could be seen leaving Ashley. Clearly, that notion of a possibility even had been weighing on her mind, and while Betty could have been lying right then, it seemed that even just hearing those words was a good thing for the questioning Little. “Yes… but let me finish…” Ashley blushed a little, to which Betty seemed to notice while also appearing to be trying hard to stifle a giggle. “See, we don’t deal in self-deception here. We have plenty of heart, but in the end, it’s all about the truth for us. So, if we see a need, we fill it. Plants, medicines… you.” “Me?” Some of the previous happiness that Ashley had gained seemed to dissipate. “Yes. This could mean getting something to make you happy or,” Betty then gestured to the banner above her while a strange thud could be heard as well, “like making you feel more at home, but… this could also mean implementing rules and new routines if needed in the future.” “That seems reasonable…” Ashley hesitated to agree to something like that… feeling somewhat like it was writing out a blank check to Betty. ‘But… I’m an adult. I don’t need any of the Little stuff. I’ll be fine…’ Betty smiled while almost looking identical to the look of relief Ashley had only moments before. “That’s wonderful to hear you say that. I’m sure Pete will be happy as well, but…” Her eyes then shifted above her as a thud could be heard. “I think that’s our cue to see something that should help you out here…” Betty beckoned Ashley to follow her back up the stairs. They had been up there before, but one room had been seemingly left out. At the time, Ashley had just assumed she would be staying in the basement or something of the sort and that the last door on the left was just a guest room or a home office. “Okay… you ready to see your new room?” Pete looked practically like a giddy child himself as he poised over the doorknob while Betty stood behind Ashley, almost coaxing her onward at this point. “You mean… this isn’t your office or something?” Pete shook his head. “Or… I don’t have a room in the basement?” “No!” both shouted at once, while Betty simultaneously hurried to her husband’s side. Both had faces of fear and concern, almost like Ashley had just revealed some massive state secret. ‘Geesh… it’s just a basement, right?’ Almost seemingly too tense and worried to lecture right then, Betty elected to explain what was going on before Pete did. “No, Ashley.” Instead of her near sunshine-like voice that Ashley was used to, this version was more severe… cold… restricted. “Sorry, but this is your room… not the basement.” “And never… I mean never ever go down to the basement.” The journalist in Ashley was clearly leaking out though. ‘Maybe just a peek… maybe I should…’ “Do you understand?” Pete’s voice this time boomed off the hallway, his previously stunned self now completely melted away. Ashley practically shrank under it, now feeling the Little she was seen as more than ever. Even more than at the police station, or when some Big at Carer+ had checked to see if she was wet before they knew she was undiapered. There was just something about Pete that made her feel small right then. “Y… yes, s… sir.” Betty softened first, but Pete was more visual and immediately came over to her after and bent down. “Oh, Ashley… no, honey. Don’t be scared. I’m so sorry… I just…” Pete grimaced and looked concerned still, but an aura of guilt hung heavily over him now. “The basement is my office. It’s just…” Betty cleared her throat behind him and Pete stopped cold. “It’s just unsafe for almost anyone… especially Littles. Do you understand that? I don’t think I could forgive myself if you got hurt by something from down there, okay? I just want you to be safe.” “We both do,” Betty chimed in as well, lowering herself to a crouch as well, her previously cheerful personality nearly snapping back at the same time. “I’m sorry… I just… I didn’t know…” ‘Dang it… I thought I got enough sleep before… why am I so emotional with these people? It’s almost like there’s something in the air here that makes Littles tiny weaklings with Bigs when it comes to their emotions at least…’ “It’s okay, Ashley. Really…” Pete raised his arm, seemingly to go for a hug or rub her back, but at the last second, smoothed the motion out and just ran it through his hair instead. “How about this? Would you like to see your room now? Maybe take a rest or two as well?” Ashley looked over at the still shut door that was to be her room for however long she was going to be here for. ‘May as well get this over with…’ She sighed and looked back to the two Bigs. “Yes… please.” Both nodded and returned to their feet, towering over Ashley once again. Pete then went to the handle once more and turned it open with a tiny clicking noise on the other side. “Well, here it is.” Opening the door, the three of them all walked in at once. Inside was not what Ashley was expecting. If she wasn’t surrounded on her left and right now by two Bigs… each who had a good four or five feet over her, she might have even thought this was any room back home… albeit with an at least 15-foot-tall ceiling. Simplicity seemed to be the main theme with only a small desk, a bed, a bedside table, and a dresser of drawers on the far end. An empty closet accompanied it all, and a new smell of paint could just be made out, seemingly accounting for the nearly shining and pristine walls. “I don’t understand…” Ashley audibly wondered after she spun around while entering further into the room. “I’m a Little and all this is so… so…” “Mature?” Ashley quickly nodded her head, and both Pete and Betty laughed a little. “We wanted you to feel at home here,” Pete explained. “It’s not Earth but…” “But there’s always room for more if you want,” Betty clarified. “A few local stores sell some stuff you could add, but until the tunnel is built… the mall is on the other side of the mountain. We could make a day out of it if you want. Or we could just leave it alone… completely up to you.” Ashley only nodded back. ‘I just… I don’t know what to make of this place…’ After a moment of silence though, Pete spoke up. “I mean… we can always get you something more childish… babyish even if you want.” Ashley stared back at him, clearly horrified, even if she did see his sly and devious smile. A second later though, Betty hit him lightly and playfully in the chest. “Pete!” she chided. “Don’t joke about something like that. Ashley doesn’t know you enough to know that you are most definitely joking!” Pete looked guiltily back at Ashley. “Oh, right… shoot! Sorry about that…” Still a little petrified over even the mere mention of the possibility, Ashley only shakily nodded her head. Betty groaned a little and forcibly pushed Pete out the door, still seemingly annoyed at his little antic there. “Sorry about him, but, well… you get some rest. We won’t be so bothersome to you anymore. Just… come down when you get hungry, okay?” Both started to leave when Betty snapped quickly back. “Or earlier… if you want.” Ashley smiled. “Thank you, Betty…” She nodded and then closed the door as she and Pete exited the room. ‘Geesh. I can feel their desperation… might use that to my advantage… but at least I feel safe here. For now…’ * * * Day 13 – 7:12 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 The clanking of the last dish ended. “Come on, Pete. Just set out the dishes on the drying rack. We can get them later.” Another clank could be heard before Pete appeared in the doorway out of the kitchen. “Just didn’t want any of them to start getting all smelly, Bee. You know how I am about smells…” He slightly grimaced and Ashley took notice. “Yes, Pete… I know your thing about certain smells… too many years under a fume hood I think, but now… it’s Ashley’s time.” Both Bigs then looked right toward Ashley as she sat, nearly enveloped by the soft couch. ‘Oh boy… what now?’ Right before Pete sat down, Betty stopped him. “Wait… can you get it before you sit down?” Pete grumbled for half a second before leaving once again. “Thanks, babe!” She laughed a little at his antics… Ashley joined a little as well. Returning, Pete held up a small gift bag and smiled as he handed it to Ashley. “This… is for you.” “A gift?” Both Bigs nodded, and as Pete sat down finally, Ashley looked at the purple and gray designs on the bag and tissue paper. “But… you really didn’t need to get me anything. Just the room is plen…” “Nonsense!” Pete said, cutting her off slightly. “Sorry, but nonsense. Under this roof… expect more than a few gifts, okay?” Ashley went to object over such extravagant treatment, still not used to extreme gift giving with having grown up in the ‘dark times’ back on Earth, but Betty held her hand up. “Please… just say yes. Maybe a simple thank you and then think nothing of it. We took you in, and for us,” she gestured to Pete and herself, “this is part of that deal, okay?” Ashley nodded but it was clear that she still felt unwary of the gift. Despite that though, she slowly opened the bag and reached inside to pull out the awaiting gift. ‘Well… I can’t say no to whatever this is. Even if it’s the most babyish thing in the world… I have to say thank you to them. I have no idea how long I’m staying here… I can’t go making enemies by rejecting the first gift on my first day.’ Ashley’s short arm had to dive in a little to finally touch something solid. ‘Oh great… feels like a book. Probably how to go potty or something to help me learn my ABC’s…’ Pulling her hand out, guiding the gift through the wrapping paper though, she saw that it was in fact a book… just not one for babies. “It’s a diary,” Betty explained. “Janice told us that you like to kind of… talk to yourself and that you said it helps get your thoughts out.” Ashley blushed. ‘I can’t believe that of all the things I told Janice, that was the one that stuck.’ “So, we felt you could use this instead.” Ashley stared at the gift in disbelief. “You can write in it… or talk into it,” Pete explained. “It will even register a whisper if you want it to. Very simple to set up… you could even use it tonight…” “And… we promise we won’t snoop around on it,” Betty said first before both Bigs crossed their hearts with sincerity in their eyes. “I…” Ashley stared back at the unexpected gift, seemingly quite speechless. After a moment of stroking the synthetic and smooth fabric-like outer material… almost similar to leather, she looked back up. “Thank you… really. I just… I’m not used to these things…” Betty looked at Pete with worry written all over her face before turning back to Ashley with a strained smile. “Well… I’m sure you’ll get used to it here.” Ashley nodded, words seemingly escaping her… her hand running over the cover once more. * * * Day 13 – 9:55 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 The room was darker now, but it was very clearly Ashley’s sparse but mature bedroom. Looking back at the mirror, the digital diary could be seen clutched in Ashley’s fingers. “Well… it’s the end of my first day here. Betty and Pete were going to let me stay up later, but…” She grimaced a little, almost looking a little embarrassed. “I kind of got used to the earlier times of Carer+. One of the Littles there said they were dosing our toothpaste while another claimed it was in the vents before bed or something… Not sure, but…” As if to already prove her point, Ashley yawned widely. “Ugh… need to get to bed soon. I would really hate to pass out in front of any Big… even if it was Betty and Pete…” She then looked down at her new diary. “This… this was unexpected…” She held it up and clicked what seemed to be the power button. “Pete helped me set it up… seems kind of the tech guy around here, but yeah… pretty simple. Just… I guess I need to watch what I say on it.” She then lowered her voice. “Betty also promised not to snoop, but… I don’t know if I absolutely want to put that on faith right now.” She pulled the diary closer to her. “They say it records audio… might just do both of these logs at the same time… I can just pause the diary when I want to say something else though… good cover. I hope…” * * * Day 15 – 11:37 A.M. MDT – Earth 2 Ashley walked down one of the streets just off the main way in and out of Peirama. After Betty, Pete, and Ashley had gone through the stand-alone guardhouse just after the welcome sign they saw coming in, they had turned down this same road to get to their house. Today, Ashley strolled all alone… a rarity here. Ashley briefly glanced down at the green band attached to her wrist that made it all possible. ‘At least I have this thing… mark me as an independent Little and all. So far… I’m the only Little with it though. Freeing, but… isolating…’ She then shook her head and continued onward down the street. Today, as if it was starting to become routine, she was out running a few errands for Betty at her floral shop. Pete didn’t seem too thrilled about Ashley spending her days surrounded by flowers instead of something like books, but Ashley didn’t mind in the least… particularly as she entered her last stop… the nearby deli, Caesarea John’s. Standing on her tip toes, Ashley peered into the glass cases full of meats, veggies, and cheeses. Betty got something called the ‘Itali’ and she was starting to appreciate the ‘Supremo’ for its use of bacon and roast beef. “Like yesterday, Miss Ashley?” Bruno asked from behind the counter, recognizing the Little before him immediately. “Yes, sir, Bruno, sir,” she replied back with a smile, finally resting her feet full back on the ground as she stared up at the Big. Minutes later, the subs were done, and Ashley hauled the bag over her shoulder as she paid with the small pre-loaded card Pete had given her for such moments. “Thank you, Bruno…” “You’re very welcome, Miss Ashley,” he said back, no sign of ire or condescension anywhere on his face… a seeming rarity for some of the Bigs around here. “And you tell your Mo… Betty how appreciative I was of the flowers over at the local temple. They simply look stunning!” “Will do, Mr. Bruno, sir,” Ashley acknowledged, pushing on the door to leave as she waved goodbye. “See you again tomorrow!” Bruno waved back and Ashley exited the store to make it back to Betty’s shop before the midday rush that they had gotten yesterday. Apparently, some dance was happening soon, and everyone seemed to want her services for one reason or another. Moving right along, Ashley alternated between tip-toeing and outright dashing as she passed by several of the local shop windows. Peirama was a peaceful place so far, but it had its share of darkness and secrets. Hushed conversations stopped as she neared, or others downright whispered about her… the most common questioning being ‘is that her?’ Littles would be walking like usual but then take a pill offered freely by their Big and minutes later would look like nothing more than a big baby ability wise. For the stores though, most were normal… with the notable exception of a few. Passing in front of one of them on her way back, it was mostly dark or completely covered up on the inside, but from what Ashley could make out, that might have been a good thing. Advertisements hung in the windows and while most promised pain relief or specialty orders, others seemed laced with hidden meanings beyond Ashley’s understanding… or at least of what they were fully and truly about. Implications of ‘helping with troublesome Littles’ and ‘fixing behavior permanently’ stood out the most to her… and started to get under her skin. There was a part of her that was terrified for sure, but there was also the journalist in her waiting to break free. ‘Do I dare investigate further and find my story… or is it simply too risky?’ Deciding not to for today though, she shook her head and walked quickly back to the now familiar shop, Betty’s Bouquets. Before even walking in, floral scents of nearly every variety would greet one as they entered. Coming in, not a single customer didn’t gawk for at least a few seconds, even repeat customers, as they viewed the various hybrid plants and flowers perched in nearly every corner of the lower two thirds of the main retail space. The upper third acted as a greenhouse of sorts and bathed most plants with a brilliant light, seamlessly showing off the plants of blues, purples, reds, yellows, and so many other colors that Betty had carefully crafted over the years in a lab. Apparently, she almost called it ‘The Jungle,’ and while most people had thought it was apt, Pete’s idea of ‘Betty’s Bouquets’ seemed more inviting, and the name simply stuck. Either way though, her business never seemed to be lacking for customers… particularly today. The bell ringing as Ashley stepped inside, the noise could barely be heard above the bustle of the crowds already forming. Betty looked up and gestured for Ashley to race around the crowds to join her behind the counter. Getting over to her finally, Ashley leaned over and took the lunch from her. “Put your apron on… just in case a customer gets bumped or suddenly becomes clumsy in here today, but first… any issues today with what I asked for?” she asked as she began cutting the stems of roses to create a corsage for tonight. Ashley retrieved her apron and shook her head. “No…” ‘Should I tell her or even ask her about that one store I went by…?’ The idea was tempting, but another customer began to ring the bell and started to look impatient. ‘Hmmm… maybe not… if I’m going down that road, I want her undivided attention.’ “No… just the usual around here for a Little running a quick couple of errands…” * * * Day 17 – 1:26 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 Ashley strolled by Betty as the two made their way to the park. Pete was once again too busy with his job at what Ashley could only make out to be the local company building… something that seemed to be the central hub for the entire town. In fact, as she started to ask just about anyone that could regarding what they did here, they either supported that strange and secretive facility or they supported the people working for them. Even someone like Betty had privileges there to create the hybrids so vividly displayed in her downtown shop and around the whole town as well. The store finally calmed down after the local dance last night, so Betty had decided to close the shop early today and go to the park instead. ‘Probably trying to bond with me… I’ll let her… but I really need to find a way out of here before it’s too late…’ ‘Too late’ was a bit of a relative saying, but Ashley had started to find it could mean a lot of different things here. Some of the shops catered to emergency situations with Littles and she had even heard it being directly quoted by one salesman trying to sell diapers the other day in one of the stores Pete and Betty had taken her to. Entering the park though, filled with many of the species that Ashley had cultivated, the saying ‘too late’ took on a whole new meaning. Ashley could really only stare and try not to hold her mouth open as they entered the park and were surrounded by dozens of Littles. ‘I know from Carer+ that I’m not the usual Little… but this?’ Everywhere she looked, it seemed to be ‘too late’ for yet another Little under the care of the Big with them. Of course, there were the typical Littles that she had sadly become used to over here in this dimension since first coming here over two weeks ago now. Some played while others were at least outwardly content to just lay on their back and bat at sunbeams and butterflies. Nearly all were diapered and most either had drool, their thumb, or a pacifier in or hanging precipitously from their mouths. Upon coming to Peirama though, Ashley had quickly surmised that here… there were more than just purely age or ability-based Littles. She wasn’t sure what it all meant yet, but a pattern soon began to emerge. While methods of the how varied, the end result seemed to be the same. Some Littles took pills while others were injected with shots. A few watched screens and some listened to music, but in every case, almost immediately after, they would begin to act differently. For most, they reverted into the babies that this world seemed to think they were, but for others… particularly those who got a little… frisky, it was hard to know what the meaning behind all of it was. Worse of all types though, were the Littles Ashley saw playing in the sandbox today. Under the hot June day that it already was, most were wearing just a shirt and their diaper… which meant a lot of their skin was showing. Their carers applied some strange cream to their exposed skin, maybe to prevent them from getting burned… but that’s not what Ashley was focusing on though. Instead, she looked on with horror to their painfully visible surgery scars. Counting, even at this distance, conservatively, each Little showed at least 20 different scars on various parts of their bodies. ‘I remember that one article… old surgeries designed to make Littles more baby-like… I’d be surprised if there weren’t a few scars under their hair as well… monsters… I just hope I’m not wrong and Pete and Betty would nev…’ “Do you want to go join them, sweetie?” Betty asked as if it was the most natural thing in the world. “What?” Ashley stopped and snapped back to Betty. “With… them?” She gestured over to the heavily scarred Littles and shook her head. “No way!” “Oh, Ashley…” she replied with a sigh. “Not those Littles. They… they’re being taken care of as wards of the state after a crazed scientist went rogue.” Sadness swam in her eyes for a moment before she shook her head, bore a smile once more, and then pointed to the right of them and a large section of playground equipment. “What I was asking about was that… the jungle gym with all the Littles. Do you want to join them today?” “I… why… you… I…” Ashley stammered out her words as if she had suddenly gotten stage fright while performing on stage. “Why… why would you ask me something like that?” Betty sighed and sat on an empty park bench before patting the spot next to her. Ashley sighed, having to hike her way up the hard way, especially by not utilizing the helping hand offered by Betty. Betty didn’t seem to take offense though. “Pete and I took you in,” she started to explain. “We didn’t have to, but we wanted to. Now, I know you’re an independent Little.” She then pointed to the green bracelet still on Ashley’s arm. “That’s why we insisted on you getting that bracelet. If you look around… no one else here has it.” “I did notice that no one else seemed to have it, but… am I really the only one?” Independence was one thing but being the only of anything was something else entirely. Betty shook her head. “No, sweetie. There are others… but that’s kind of why I’m asking. I know the solo road can be better in some cases, but I also want you to be happy. I mean, you should be happy without others… but I know being a Little can be tough. Another person… or some people, might help you out. So, if your answer is yes, don’t worry. I wouldn’t judge you anyways, but I especially wouldn’t think anything of it if you said yes to wanting to join in with other Littles.” From Ashley’s expression, it seemed that it was likely a lot to take in. Looking around the park though, one thing was obvious between the diaper changes being performed on benches because the line was too line at the public restroom, or from something like Littles having the time of their life ‘feeding the duckies’ or pretending to be dinosaurs or princesses. “I… if they were more mature… I don’t know… maybe?” “Hmmm…” The gears in Betty’s mind already seemed to be turning over the notion. “I’m going to have to think on that one…” ‘Oh great… Betty is going to set me up with some pants wetting Little. Compared to most here, a Big might sadly consider them mature. Crud!’ “Yeah… I think that might work. I’ll have to call one of my frie…” “Stop it right there, kid!” Betty quickly stopped and she and Ashley looked over to see what the commotion was about. There, near the pond and a running trail by the fence to the edge of this one park was a Little. He seemed freaked out and nervous… From this distance, Ashley could only think of one thing. ‘If I was just a little closer… I would have sworn that was Ophelia… same type of escape attempt, I guess…’ But as fate would have it, cops swarmed all around them and stopped the likely attempting to escape Little only a stone’s throw away from them. Quickly cornered by the police that had followed him in and the ones that had rushed past both Betty and Ashley, and the impending barrier fence covered in ivy from the park, the Little was utterly trapped. “Just take it easy, kid…” the seemingly commander of the forces now surrounding him said forcefully but calmly. It was evident he wasn’t a shoot first and ask questions later person… despite a few guns trained on the Little. ‘Geesh! A little overkill, don’t you think? I mean… it’s not like a Little around here is going to find out state secrets or something… right?’ “Simon! Simon!” a woman Big came hurdling through the paused crowds and over toward the Little and the police already formed there. “Let me through! Let me through! That’s my Little!” But it was too late. Simon was looking for an exit and was eyeing the fence precariously. Seeing nowhere else to run, he charged headfirst into one of the police. “Take him!” the commander ordered. In seconds, a burst of air could be heard… almost like an even further muffled gunshot. Steps before getting to an officer, Simon slumped to the ground… only stunned. Issuing the orders, once the police had him restrained and helped his slackened form back up, clearly no longer a danger to anyone or himself, they let his supposed Big through. “Oh, Simon! Why did you run away like that? Why did you charge them? You knew you could escape here! Why did you leave Mommy!” For his part, likely from whatever fasting crud was in what he was hit with, he only smiled and gurgled back. His ‘Mommy’ only looked devastated as he was hauled off and only cooed under the restraint. “Ma’am?” the commander asked briskly once Simon was out of view and one of his apparent subordinates had finished showing him something on a tablet of sorts. “You said this… Simon, was it?” His ‘Mommy’ nodded. “I see… you said he’s your Little?” “Yes, officer…” A look of sadness and fear were immediately apparent with Simon’s ‘Mommy.’ She then looked back at the officer and even began to beg for Simon. “Please… please don’t hurt him. I’m sure he’s really sorry about all this. If I just get him home… I just know that he’ll be just the perfect Little. If I get him back, then he’ll be just fi…” Sighing though, the officer shook his head. “No, ma’am. I’m truly sorry, but I can’t let you do that… not anymore.” The woman Big looked like she about to question everything, but the officer seemed experienced in these matters and was just a little too quick for her. “Please understand… I just had one of my sergeants confirm what I already thought…” He sighed and even looked a little regretful himself. “I’m afraid this is strike three… with the program he was enrolled in… it can only mean one thing: phase 2.” “No…” The woman Big now looked horrified, as if they had just told her that Simon now had cancer or something of the sort. “Please… there has to be something else you can do…” The officer shook his head. “I’m afraid not, ma’am.” He sighed once more. “This was a legally binding clause. If you want to change that… meaning an official ruling by you-know-what… that means you will need to talk about you- know-who about reversing the next steps outside of the agreement.” The woman’s eyes bugged out and looking sad afterwards, now only nodded her head and followed the officer and his underlings outside of the park and out of view. For her part, like seemingly every other Big and most Littles even, Betty shrugged and stood up. “Come on, Ashley. No need to linger. One of my friends messaged me this morning that they will be in this park today. I didn’t know I was going to close the shop earlier than usual today, but now that we have… I think we should meet them. In fact, they even have a Little themselves who you might like…” She smiled warmly but Ashley seemed to falter for a moment, only blinking back wide-eyed over what had just happened, before nodding her head. “Wonderful!” In truth though, deep inside, Ashley hadn’t really heard a word of what Betty was saying. She was simply too deep into her own thoughts and had only nodded casually to whatever had been said. Dangerous, but Ashley had bigger concerns. ‘Program? Strike three? Phase 2? What was Simon shot with? You know what? You know who? Wait… where are we going?’ Too many questions lingered in her mind about what had just transpired less than 30 feet from her. Worse though, in seconds, no one seemed to bat an eye. ‘Whatever that was… it wasn’t out of the ordinary…’ As Betty stood up and gently guided Ashley away from the scene and park bench, a true and legitimate worry began to take ahold of her for the first time. ‘They said three times… Simon tried and, more importantly, failed three times. Maybe there’s something wrong with him that prevented all that… but what about me?’ Since Carer+, Ashley had been scheming everyday to leave her confines, find a story, and then leave this dimension and never come back. It was simply proving too hazardous. She was adventurous… not stupid. With all that she had seen though, and Simon’s failed attempt glaringly obvious to everyone watching, Peirama began to seem like a gilded cage. Beauty and wonder everywhere, but seemingly, around every corner felt like another secret… another hazard for being a Little. Of course, looking around at the greenery, one might have been tempted to say that Ashley had found paradise, but just beyond the lush canopies of trees, showed the truth… the mountains. While other places in Libertalia would have presented their own issues, even if Ashley did escape, she was still in the middle of the desert. Sensing all that truly for the first time since she got here, there was only one terrible conclusion. ‘I’m stuck in Peirama… escape might be possible… but what’s on the other end of this place? Steep mountains, barren desert for miles around, and only small communities beyond that… Hopeless…’ As Ashley mindlessly followed Betty out of the park, she could only sigh with the realization that her temporary stay here was now likely much more permanent and real than she ever could have guessed or imagined.

I guess you'll just have to wait and see... As far as the setting, I would highly recommend checking out the map I did of Libertalia, but to answer your question... yes. Alati Lake City, the Carer+ building, and now Peirama are all in the state of Utem... our Utah.

Hey everyone! Okay… so maybe not my most popular story by a long shot so far, but it seems several of you have already voted in the poll, so I thank you for that. As I always say, I don’t write these stories for the likes or views, but any engagement with my stories or the polls is always nice to see, so, for those of you that have already, thank you very much. Now, speaking of the poll… just as a reminder, a new one is up for you all to let me know which story you all would like to read next. Story options and the link can be found back in the beginning of chapter 2. As I mentioned before though, if you feel more comfortable leaving a comment here or as a private message to me, I will count these as well. Additionally, like before, this poll will be shut down right before I post my final chapter on here. Further announcements will be made regarding this when the time gets closer. Last but not least and as usual, I hope everyone enjoys this next chapter! Chapter 3: Waiting But Not Hoping Day 6 – 9:12 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “Head down… into the back like a good girl now, you hear?” the police officer instructed as he slightly pushed Ashley toward the rear of his squad car. Handcuffed already, Ashley knew not to struggle at this point. There would likely be time to fight later, but now… she knew she couldn’t risk agitating the situation even more by refusing to cooperate. Sure, there was a risk of everything suddenly going wrong and her being whisked to a black site somewhere far off and never to be seen again, but those situations were few and far between… at least that was the hope. ‘Just get me to the interview room and I’m sure I can take care of this… or… at least I hope I can. Gotta stay positive, Ashley!’ “Central, this is Officer Munez,” the gruff spoke into his walkie. “I have a Little fitting roughly the description from the escaping Little reported missing earlier tonight. Bringing her in for processing now.” Buckling her seatbelt with her hands still cuffed in front of her, Officer Munez closed the door and went to the front seat of the squad car. Not long after, a younger and stockier man entered the squad car as well. “Well?” Officer Munez questioned. “Anyone else? Signs of anything illegal… maybe even rogue portal activity, Officer Jones?” “No, sir,” Officer Jones responded, shaking his head. “Checked all around. No signs of illegal tech or burn marks from a portal travel blip gone wrong. No discarded clothing, IDs, or anything illegal either.” “Hmmm…” Officer Munez pondered while he shifted the car into drive. “Well, we better bring her into the department for questioning anyways. Definitely a person of interest hiding out like she was…” “I… yes, sir…” Officer Jones dejectedly looked back at Ashley, but the Little refused to say a word. ‘Just get me there in one piece… Don’t panic… Don’t struggle… Don’t scream…’ * * * Day 6 – 10:04 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “Another Little on the books, huh, Munez?” a suited man joked harshly as Ashley started to be booked. From the looks of the other officers, it didn’t seem to be noted as a compliment. “Oh… Detective Staunton…” Officer Munez looked back at the detective with a pinched expression, one which Ashley took note of. ‘I don’t think those two are friends in any capacity…’ He then smiled slyly. “Good of you to notice my record. Ten Littles this week and counting. Must be some kind of convention in town with all these Littles breaking the law.” Officer Munez paused for a moment. “Or… maybe if you actually upheld some of these convictions, there wouldn’t be so many breaking the law so vagrantly around here.” Detective Staunton waved his finger and smirked before walking off, seemingly taking the high road by not escalating the situation further. Once out of earshot, Officer Munez grunted annoyedly and then turned his attention back to Ashley. “Come on, Little. Processing time…” Leading Ashley to a chair, she sat down and immediately felt small compared to the large wooden desk before her and all the towering officers walking by right behind her. Dropping a stack of files before her and startling her a little, Ashley then stared wide at the pile that almost seemed to threaten to swallow her. ‘Yikes! Please tell me that’s not all the charges!’ “These… are the files of outstanding Littles in the area that match your description,” Officer Munez noted, almost like he could read Ashley’s thoughts. “I bet you match at least one of them… but I promise you this… we’ll be here all night until I get some answers.” Ashley swallowed and looked terrified but still remained as quiet as ever. * * * Day 6 – 11:41 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “Hey, man… look you got what you wanted. Ashley Stevens and all… nothing wrong there, right?” Ashley had been at the police station for over an hour now, but Officer Munez seemed to be purposely dragging his feet. Officer Jones assisted him dutifully, but a flash of guilt kept eclipsing his face. Officer Munez looked at her confiscated ID. “Maybe… but you’re a liar, and I intend to prove it.” He then scoffed at her. “Also… nothing but an ID and a hotel keycard… not to mention that you were found in the very vicinity where a FOY drug bust went down.” Officer Munez placed the ID back down on the desk and walked over to where Ashley was standing behind the prison bars of the main holding area, having been put there after about 40 minutes of her answering in a way that Officer Munez clearly didn’t appreciate. Unfortunately for her, there was little room to maneuver about and on top of that, she was the only Little in this cage. In the one on the other side of the room, however, it was nearly bursting with other similarly looking Littles. “But just so we’re clear… you’re a Little. Even if all the other stuff wasn’t the case and my sense about these things wasn’t ringing loud and clear… you can’t do a thing about this.” He smirked a tiny bit at that notion. “You’re a Little… and that means a judge has to sign off on you being let go. So, for now… you stay right where you are.” He then paused and looked over to a room clearly marked ‘Interrogation.’ “Also… how much do you wanna bet that we get the dealer to come out and after putting you in a line-up… he chooses you in less than a minute, huh?” Ashley backed up and remained silent… fear washing over her eyes vividly. Officer Munez smirked sickeningly. “Yeah… I thought that might be the case. Just you wait, missy. We’ve got a whole night ahead of us and…” “Boss?” Officer Jones called out to his partner as he held up Ashley’s ID to the light. Officer Munez quickly turned, annoyed but seemingly interested in the small slip of plastic. “You might want to come and see this!” “Oh?” Officer Munez questioned the Little with nearly a hint of glee in his voice. “You found something?” Officer Jones nodded, and Officer Munez quickly joined him and looked at the ID. To the obvious dismay of Ashley, he then smirked widely. “Oh… little lady… do we have some questions for you.” Ashley gulped heavily. ‘Whatever they’re seeing… it can’t be good for me…’ “Hey, Little one…” a Big then creepily spoke up behind her. Ashley turned and saw the greasy-haired and bearded Big sitting on the bench and staring right at her. “You need someone to help you? I could be that help… if you want…” He smiled, showing off his crooked yellow teeth. ‘Oh great… can this night get any worse?’ * * * Day 7 – 1:34 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “Tell us where you got this ID and tell us now!” Officer Munez slammed on the table, causing Ashley to flinch and look down in fear at her presented ID on the table. “Are you working for LRG? The resistance? Are you an escaped Little?” “N… no! I don’t know!” Ashley was turning desperate. For almost two hours now, she had been questioned on and off by Officer Munez. He was clearly trying to shake her down for information, but Ashley hadn’t given anything up… not that she could. Yes, she was lying about being ‘Ashley Stevens’ but as the interrogation proceeded, it became clear that Officer Munez thought she was a native Little and had joined one of the ‘anti-Big’ organizations… or at least that’s what some of the more hardened Bigs called them. In truth, from her research, Ashley knew they just wanted equality and fair treatment under the law. After tonight, though, she couldn’t blame them, but for now… she had to focus on herself. “I swear! I’m from Earth! Why don’t you believe me?” “Why?” He pressed closer. “Why?” Ashley nodded rapidly and Officer Munez smirked sinisterly. “Why is because this ID…” He pressed his pointer finger down on the edge of Ashley’s ID card. “This ID… is a fake. A damn good one, but fake.” Ashley’s eyes bulged out and her breathing increased. ‘Oh shit… oh shit… Damn it, Stuart! What did you screw up now? I knew I should have gone with Sgt. Elias’ work instead for this assignment!’ “Hmmm… would you look at that?” Officer Munez recoiled slightly, not in shame or fear, but of absolute triumph. “Guess I’ll take that as a yes then. Fake ID and a Little in my city. Well, looks like you’re going to be in for a world of hur…” “Officer Munez!” the interrogation room door slammed open, and Detective Staunton appeared, looking both disappointed and horror-stricken with the scene before him. “You are relieved from this interrogation.” Officer Munez stood up from his slightly crouched over position in interrogating a Little and glared at the detective. “This is my collar. You find your own da…” “Officer Munez!” a portlier and more gray-haired figure then appeared as Detective Staunton filtered into the room. The imposing man’s mustache seemed to bristle with each breath and would have even looked unruly if not for what had to be its religiously combed straightness just covering his upper lip. “You will release this Little into Detective Staunton’s custody immediately. If we hadn’t just had one of our larger busts of this whole year so far, you would have been out citing parking tickets and reeling in the drunks long before now.” “Chief… I…” It was apparent that the Chief commanded a great deal of respect… even from someone as odious as Officer Munez, seemingly silencing Officer Munez without speaking a single word. Ashley looked bewildered at the scene before her, but a feeling of relief seemed to be quickly replacing it. ‘At least maybe I’ll get some justice now… maybe…’ Not saying a word further, the Chief just pointed out the door, to which Officer Munez humbly followed. “Okay, Staunton,” the Chief said with a sigh once Officer Munez had completely left, “talk to the Little. See what’s really going on here. I want to get to the bottom of this before morning so the judge can make a decision right away. Understand?” “Yes, sir.” The Chief nodded, and then left the room, now leaving the detective all alone with Ashley. ‘Okay… he seems better… but right now, I don’t think I can count on my luck turning around anytime soon tonight…’ Sitting down, the detective pulled out a manilla folder and opened it. Ashley stared wide-eyed at the contents, that despite being upside down, were clearly of her. “Okay… Ashley… Stevens…” He sighed and stared back up at Ashley. “That’s not your real last name… is it?” Ashley could only swallow hard and not say a word. At this point, denying question could be used against her later, but if she confirmed it, then her position as a Little from Earth would immediately be put into question… and that would be even worse. “Very well…” the detective noted glumly. “I guess we need to go through all this again. See… I can’t just let you leave at this point. If nothing else, you are a Little with a fake ID…” “It’s from Earth!” Ashley blurted out. ‘Maybe if I claim that instead of one being from here, he might not know. Maybe all this is just a clerical error rather than a massive mistake from Stuart?’ The detective paused and looked down at the ID closely. “Yes… I can see that.” Ashley looked relieved, but the detective then leaned forward. “But still… I can tell it’s a fake. With so many Littles coming over from Earth now, most police take a yearly refresher class in Earth studies. I actually pay attention, and this,” he held up the ID card, “is a fake. A very good fake, but a fake, nonetheless.” Ashley remained motionless, her possibly last saving grace now vanishing in the wind in the blink of an eye. ‘Well, crud… I guess I’m really in this thing now…’ Ashley sighed and sat back in her chair in defeat. “Now,” the detective continued, smiling warmly back at Ashley, “let’s take this from the top and see if we can find any truth somewhere here, okay?” Not sure of what else to do, Ashley could only nod back. * * * Day 7 – 6:12 A.M. MDT – Earth 2 The detective sighed as he came back in the room and shook the sleeping Little awake. Ashley had fallen asleep about an hour ago while the detective was out conferring with the Chief and a few other selected personnel. “Ashley… Ashley… wake up, please…” “Wha…?” Ashley stirred to life and confusion quickly followed by panic and then soon after by what could only be described as dread set in, likely in the realization that all this hadn’t been some horrible nightmare. “What do you want?” she asked grimly. The detective walked back over to his former seat and leaned over on the table. “Well, our little chat helped your case immensely. If it was up to Officer Munez, I think you might have gone to one of those dreaded reform centers…” Any sleepiness left in Ashley dissipated in less than a second as she recoiled in her chair over the thought of going to one of those places. ‘Oh God, no, please no! I remember those places in the report! I won’t become some pants filling newborn Little trapped in this world!’ “I see you’re familiar with them, but take it easy…” He held up his hand to calm her fears, and it along with his calming words seemed to work a little, but Ashley still seemed petrified. “I would never allow that to happen. I’m a Big that thinks those horrible places should be outright banned, but… I guess I’m more of a progressive Big these days on that front. Still…” His warm smile faded. ‘Oh no… that can’t be a good sign…’ “I’ve looked at all the options here for you…” He then pulled out another file and opened it to several pages. “I looked into your story… about the Hermes Travel Company… and well, it seems they have a policy in one of their clauses that you violated. Seems leaving the group severs their liability from you getting captured and they are under no obligation to retrieve you again. They were able to confirm you were from Earth, but I’m afraid with a fake ID and you still refusing to tell us your real name, the Earth embassy,” he pointed to another document with several notes scribbled within the margins, “cannot intervene either. With the treaty in place… they simply can’t take back a Little without the proper documentation. And getting that back… well, it can take a while…” ‘I think I know what he’s trying to imply, but holy… please, please let me be wrong…’ Ashley grimaced and leaned forward. “Tell it to me straight, but please tell me I’m wrong in what I’m thinking… please, detective…” The detective sighed and shook his head. “I’m afraid so…” Pain overtook his expression. “For now… you are stuck here. And…” A further look of sadness now began growing over his face, “according to Utem state laws… you are now a ward of the state…” The words seemed to slam into Ashley like she had just been hit by a train, the Little even collapsing back into her chair… silent, stunned, and horrified. ‘I wanted a story… I guess I’m the story now… shit…’ “I’m so sorry… Ashley…” His words of her name seemed somehow forced and foreign to him, but hearing her name, Ashley looked on at the detective with the ever-briefest ray of hope. “I just… I wish there was another way, but my hands are tied.” He sighed and pulled his chair to the other side of the table where she was at. “But please don’t look so glum… these facilities are much nicer than they used to be. I even put in a good word for you, so you should get…” A sudden knock on the door cut off his words entirely. The detective looked back at Ashley for a moment, but she still seemed too entranced in her own worries to notice. “Just wait right here. Let me see if that’s who I think it is…” The detective then stood up and went over to the door, opening it just to see who was out there. A few muffled voices from the outside echoed in, but Ashley couldn’t make much out. ‘I’ve been in sticky situations before… Mexico… Iraq… Germany… even that one time to Japan was a little hairy… but this? How do I get myself out of this one?’ As the muffled voice continued though, one thought did pop into her head. ‘Mr. Swarthout… he said October to send help… it’s June now… Shit and double shit! That’s four months that… I… I have to make it here until then… Shit! I… well, I’ve got to try…’ “I think it’s too early. I only just told her about you all and…” Detective Staunton paused and looking back, Ashley could see him nodding to someone just outside of the door, their voice nearly entirely muffled… likely as a result from a more soft-spoken figure and the soundproofing of the interrogation room. “Yes… yes… no, I understand. Just… I know you usually do, but as a favor to me, please make sure to go easy on her…” A few more muffled responses followed, but then, the door opened. Turning fully around to see who could possibly come into the room at this early hour, but Ashley’s eyes widened as she saw the dark blue uniform she had seen before… and questioned. “Hello, dear,” the older and kindly woman began, her wrinkles stretching across her face, almost accentuating her gentle smile. “My name is Janice… you can call me Miss Janice, but I’m from Carer+. I’m here to take you home…” From any other lips, especially from someone like Officer Munez, those words would have seemed mocking or just completely false. From Janice though… there was an odd truth and certainty to them… of which the relief could then be seen wash over Ashley. ‘I don’t know about this… but I guess of all the options… this is the least objectionable… I guess?’ “A little shy maybe?” she questioned as she leaned over to Detective Staunton, almost like Ashley suddenly wasn’t in the room right in front of them. “Nervous more like it…” The detective then walked over to Ashley before crouching down. “Again… I’m so sorry about all this, Ashley, but Miss Janice is going to help you now. And I promise… she isn’t so bad.” He then turned back to Miss Janice, who proceeded to quickly step forward and nod her head. “That’s right, sweetie,” she confirmed. “I just want you to be safe and happy. So… whenever you’re ready, hop off that seat and we’ll get you all sorted…” Ashley looked between Janice and the detective, both smiling down at her with a sincere kindness that she valued. ‘I guess there’s always worse, but… and I know I don’t have a choice by now… I just…’ Ashley temporarily winced. ‘I guess out of the frying pan and maybe into the fire…’ Sighing, she then hopped off the chair and soon followed the two out the door. * * * Day 7 – 5:25 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 Ashley itched what best could be described as a religious school uniform, complete with the knee-length green and blue plaid smock, the white shirt underneath, and even the ankle-length white socks and black shoes. “Ugh! This blasted collar!” She grimaced and still yanked at the Peter Pan collar, seemingly searching for relief. Finally, she gave up and began to pout. “I guess it’s my own fault for dressing more casually… as soon as I got to this place… off went all my clothing and replaced by… this.” Her disgust was palpable was she flexed out the seemingly stiff plaid dress she now wore. She sighed heavily. “I mean… I guess Carer+ isn’t that bad, but… I’m definitely not treated as an adult here. I have to ask permission for everything… even the… bathroom.” She winced and then slowly lifted her skirt, revealing a childish set of thick training pants, complete with an embroidered sunshine over the front. “It was either these or pull-ups… and… well, that’s not really a choice, is it? Worse… they even made it seem like a privilege to even be wearing them in the first place. Not good at all.” With a small groan, she let her dress fall back down. “Definitely a story here… though I think I’ll have more a problem of which to choose in the first place. I mean, all the other Littles have ever worse stories. Some already looked regressed… one even wet themselves without any warning. They cried… others laughed… Janice just took her away and brought her back with a waddle.” Ashley shivered at the implication of what that meant. “I… I need to find a way out and back home but these ‘carers’ just won’t leave me al…” “Ashley?” a woman’s voice asked from the other side of the door after a small light tapping. “Are you okay in there? Is someone with you or… did you have an accident, sweetie? It’s okay if you did… I just need to…” “No!” Ashley shouted, a slight blush enveloping her cheeks at the mere notion. “Just needed to take a second for myself… I…” Panicking slightly, likely over the notion of her camera being somehow found, she turned on the sink, dried her hands, and then opened the door. “Just needed a second… washed my hands too.” “I see…” the tall woman, slightly younger than Janice though still showing streak of gray in her hair, said smiling right before crouching down to get more on eye-level with Ashley. “Were you talking to yourself, dear? It’s okay if you were… we find that some Littles need a little conversation with the only one they can trust after whatever ordeal that they’ve been though… often settling on themselves. Maybe I can interest you in a bear or maybe a rabbit instead? A stuffy always…” “No, no!” Ashley grimaced at the notion of possessing a stuffed animal. “I’m fine… thank you.” The words seemed to hurt to say, but she knew to keep peaceful relations with her ‘captors.’ In truth, according to Big laws here at least, all this was perfectly legal, but for Ashley… it helped to think of them as jailors instead of any other name they chose to call themselves. “Suit yourself,” the woman said with a sigh. “If you ever need any help or comforting while you’re here though… you just let me know. I’m told I give the best hugs.” As if to emphasize her statement, her arms went wide as if she expected the Little to fully embrace her right then and there. Ashley though, shook her head. “No, I’m good… I just… I’m good.” “Very well,” the woman then stood back up and gestured for her to follow. “Come along dear… it’s dinner time and I know no Little… no matter how mature they believe they are… could always use a yummy meal.” Ashley’s left eye quivered, clearly keeping her true emotions in check taking a little toll on her, but she only nodded and followed the woman back into the main area of the building. * * * Day 8 – 10:23 A.M. MDT – Earth 2 Ashley sat on a small and colorful plastic chair, eerily reminiscent of the ones that could be found in any preschool or toddler room. Despite her childish attire though, a quick look over the rest of the Littles in the room marked her as one of the more mature. A few seemed undiapered, but most looked as if they had gone through a lot already. “Hey… what’s your name?” Ashley questioned to the Little directly opposite of her, now furiously coloring in a scrap piece of paper… lines seemingly meaning very little to them. The Little briefly paused and looked up at Ashley. “Wen-ay…” Ashley stared back at her fellow Little, trying to decipher what she had just gargled out. “René? Is that your name?” The other Little enthusiastically nodded, like that it was rare someone was actually able to pronounce her name, her pigtails flapping all about as she did so. “Oh, well good to meet you, René.” She smiled briefly back at Ashley. After a little time of the two just staring at each other, Ashley sighed over not being responded to at all. ‘I guess I need to adjust my expectations for lengthy conversations with most of these Littles…’ She then turned her attention back to René to hopefully start something back up again between them. “So... you been here long?” She looked for an answer from the Little, but René had already gone back to coloring speedily. Right as Ashley was prepared to get her attention again, however, the Little popped a large pacifier into her own mouth. Recognizing a frustrating source… if not useless one now, Ashley knew she had to move on. Most in here had great stories, but getting them out to actually report on was proving to be a challenge. Most seemed just above a toddler level, but even the ones higher than them seemed not much better in multiple ways. Some Littles had speech impairments while others had loss of muscle control or basic hand-to-eye coordination. Even worse, Ashley estimated that at least 60% were in diapers all the time, and another 30% at least wore some kind of protection. Needless to say, her investigation hadn’t progressed much beyond everyone’s initial story that she already knew. Later, just as her final potential Little wandered off in search of a snack rather than a desperately needed change, Janice popped over and briefly paused before looking down with questioning but already disappointed eyes. “Oh, Ashley… is that you?” Ashley’s eyes bugged wide, and it looked like she was about to lose it right then, but her arms dropped to her side, and she breathed in and out deeply three times. Truthfully, she was learning… or conforming. Either way… the system here seemed to work for her. “No, Miss Janice… it was…” She went to point at the culprit, but they had vanished from sight already. “It wasn’t me… they left already…” “Oh… I see…” A faint hint of relief could be seen in her eyes. “Well, that’s good, because today starts your interview process.” “Interview process?” Ashley questioned. ‘Is this for a job? Am I finally being recognized as an adult and not some little kid?’ “Yes, dear…” Janice dropped to the floor where Ashley was now seated and picked up three small dolls. “This is you… the smallest.” Ashley willed it within herself not to roll her eyes. “These others,” she noted, gesturing to the two larger dolls,” are us Bigs. “Now, one used to take car of you. Maybe they weren’t even a Big back home on Earth, but they cared for you back then. Seeing your situation though, you left them…” Janice’s eyes briefly saddened, and she even pouted her lips. “They must be very sad, but now…” She set the first tall doll away and jumped the smaller doll over a discarded box of crayons. “Now, you are here, but… oh no!” An exaggerated look of worry took hold of her. “You have no one else to help you!” Ashley groaned but quickly shoved that feeling deep back inside of her. Janice had been understanding and patient… but Ashley knew better. ‘Don’t test her patience now, Ash. She’s nice and all… but she’s a Big and explaining all this with dolls to you. Don’t put it past her to punish you like the child she thinks you are…’ “Oh?” Janice continued, now looking happy and surprised. “What’s this?” She had the second of the two Big dolls hop over and then bow to the smaller doll. “It looks like a new Big wants to help you… guide you…” The dolls were then set down and Janice turned back to Ashley with a smile. “So… that’s what will start happening today… like all others in here…” Ashley squinted, hoping she was wrong, but looking queasy likely because she knew her gut instincts were right. Smirking, Janice scooted closer to Ashley. “Today… a Big or even two Bigs will come and start interviewing you, dear… for adoption, I mean.” Ashley once again grimaced, and her hand briefly touched her stomach as if she was in pain. ‘Yeah… that’s what I was worried about…’ * * * Day 8 – 2:16 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 Ashley drummed her fingers together as she sat in a room eerily similar in layout to the interrogation room that she had just been in yesterday morning. Of course, being the daycare-like building it was, instead of unfeeling concrete and cold steel greeting her eyes, the colors seemed almost too bright, the smiling cartoon animals playing with each other nearly fading away against such extremes. Considering that two of the four were diapered and that the third was wearing some kind of pull-up, Ashley could only sigh for what waited for her on the other side of the doors. Being left here, Ashley had all the time in the world to think. ‘Do I try and escape here, or do I wait until I’m housed with whomever these new Bigs are? Maybe if I stay, I’ll get an even better story? But what if I stay and the first thing that they do is to send me to a clinic and have me butchered for their own purposes? Would I still be a credible journalist if I spoke with a lisp and had to crawl everywhere?’ Before she could think any more though, the door slowly opened, and Janice walked in first. “All ready, dear? Ready to take that first step here to happiness? Ready to meet your first prospective carers?” Ashley grimaced and tried to lean over to see if she could make out the figure or figures about to come in, but Janice’s large form blocked the outside hallway almost completely. Resigned, she rubbed the side of her head and then smiled back at Janice, putting on a performance of some kind. “I’m ready.” “Very good…” Janice smile and opened the door further. “Now… if you need anything, just let me know.” Ashley nodded and Janice gestured just outside the door. “Come on in…” Looking back in the room, she smiled. “Ashley… I’d like you to meet Mr. and Mrs. Apolonia.” * * * Day 10 – 12:38 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 * Footage not found. * * * * Day 11 – 2:49 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 Ashley sighed in resignation. It’s not that everyone here was horrible, but she just wasn’t a Little… or at least not the Little everyone seemed to want. Yes, that meant that Ashley still had control of her bladder and bowels… yes, that meant she had her teeth and could walk… yes, she wasn’t afraid of the dark, and no, her favorite show was not Adventure Sam or Lyle the Giraffe. And that was fine, but… rejection still stung, especially after interviewing with 23 couples. For perspective, a Little like René had been accepted by a couple up north after only her third… and that was fairly typical around here. To Ashley, following the pattern, it seemed that only troubled Littles, usually emotionally, had more than 20 interviews. Of course, most Littles could only do a few a day before needing a diaper change or getting too bored or emotional to continue. Ashley had been running straight through, and three days on… she was exhausted. “Ashley? Ashley, dear?” a voice came from above, the feed strangely blurring her out slightly. Ashley stirred and the image of the woman came back into focus. “Janice? When you’d get here?” Janice smiled sympathetically and patted Ashley on the back. “Just a minute or so ago, sweetie. But here…” she then passed a cup over to her. “Drink this. It’s just juice… nothing sinister or anything like that, but… another couple is here to meet you. One’s a scientist of sorts and the other is a botanist. Isn’t that interesting? The two were just dying to meet you.” “Yeah, great... but… a couple?” she questioned before drinking the sweet juice she had come to appreciate here. ‘Those are actually pretty rare from what I’ve seen… something about a drop in the male populace I think I read? Not sure about that, but… sound they sound interesting at least…’ Janice nodded. “That’s right. They come from a small town south of here. Seem like good people too… It’s a nice bonus.” She then stopped talking for a while. Finally, hearing a little beep on her watch, she smiled down at the Little. “So, you ready to meet them?” Ashley sighed and set down the cup of juice, now mostly empty, which Janice promptly took back. “I guess as ready as I’m going to be…” “Okay then…” Janice then walked back to the main door of the interview room as she always did and briefly turned back to Ashley. “I know you will but… smiles and best behavior please…” Straightening up, Ashley remained silent but still smiled, knowing the routine cold by now. Smiling back, Janice opened the door before looking back out at whoever was there this time. “Mr. and Mrs. Jones? You can come in and see her now.” * * * Day 13 – 10:24 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “Do you have everything packed, sweetie?” Janice asked as Ashley finished the last steps of packing her small suitcase. Since she had come here six days ago, Carer+ had lived up to their name. She had been fed, allowed to shower independently, and was dressed each day in clothing befitting a Little with some maturity… childish, but that was a spectrum, even in Utem these days. So, folding her clothes up nicely, each fit into her small suitcase nicely. “I do, thank you, Miss Janice…” This time, her ‘thank you’ was less forced… more genuine as if they had become closer in that span of less than a week. Considering the alternatives though, it might have been more of a case where both appreciated each other’s uniqueness… a less strict Big and a more mature Little. “Well, I know it’s not much we could give you, but… the Jones’ should provide you with plenty of new clothing.” She started walking to the door but then stopped and held up a finger. “Oh… and packed plenty of training pants?” Ashley immediately blushed but nodded… even shoving one shirt aside to show the hidden thick undergarments underneath. “Yes, Miss Janice…” The Big simply nodded back, choosing not to press anything further. Soon, both exited the room and walked through the daycare. Despite most of the Littles shooting through the Carer+ building within a week of coming here, they had made it a tradition to celebrate as each of them departed towards their new families. It wasn’t big by any means, but a nice farewell celebration as they exited out, marked the occasion nicely. “Goo’ wuck, Ashie!” one Little shouted, a tiny amount of drool discernable at the edges of their lips. Similar sentiments echoed behind them as well… most looked about the same. Ashley smiled back but sighed once out of eyeshot of them. ‘Not sure if they know all what’s happening anymore… but it’s still nice to be sent off like this…’ “Come on, Ashley,” Janice beckoned, holding the front door open to the point of letting in a blast of hot air from the outside. Being mid-June already, the temperature had begun to creep up as the sun rose from the distant mountains. Donning a pair of plastic purple sunglasses, which Ashley had initially thought were both ridiculous but functional, she could just make out the highway beyond the parking lot as it weaved below the hill the Carer+ building was perched on. ‘Day 13… The tour group should be in Prata by now… hundreds of miles away from here even if I did somehow break free…’ As the waiting car hummed in the near distance, ready to take Ashley away to some ‘town south of here,’ it increasingly felt that any attempt at escape would now be completely on her own. She had half-expected the tour group to somehow realize their error and come find her when she didn’t show up… but after the third day here… that hope quickly faded. Now, it was almost all but gone. “Well, come on in, honey,” the tall blonde woman beckoned as she opened the car door. “Mr. Jones is already inside and keeping the car cool. But we need to hurry… takes a while to get to where we’re going.” “You didn’t leave this morning… did you?” Janice asked, concern heavy in her voice, almost like she was worried about their ability to drive under such fatigue. “Oh, good gracious, no,” Mrs. Jones exclaimed, even clutching her chest and slightly shaking her head. ‘At least she seems nice…’ Ashley walked a little closer and saw the booster seat… something she was made aware of that was required by law for her to use in a Big manufactured car. “We got a hotel room last night to be nice and fresh.” “Oh,” Janice said with no small amount of audible relief. “I’m glad to hear that… your town is… how many hours away again?” “Officially… it’s only supposed to be three, but we live in a valley of sorts over there. Until they finish the tunnel next month, we have to drive up and down a mountain… takes about four hours now.” “That long?” Ashley paused and looked back at Mrs. Jones with some concern. She had memorized the area around the route the Hermes Travel Company was going to take, but not much else… or at least not to the level of detail she needed to escape successfully. Sgt. Elias had given her a crash course last year in navigating all sorts of ways, but they hadn’t yet gotten to the part of trekking over the countryside without a map yet. ‘Stupid procrastination…’ Mrs. Jones briefly looked worried. “Oh? Are you worried about going potty, sweetie?” Ashley blushed but let the insinuation stay instead of protesting it. It was mildly concerning, but not her top concern by far. “Well, if it is, don’t worry. We’ll have two stops at least, okay?” Ashley only nodded and then turned to haul herself up inside the car. As much as Bigs had the power in Libertalia these days, some Bigs, like Detective Staunton, weren’t so bad. Additionally, with Carer+ rules, a Little was able to say no to a candidate for adoption who had selected them. It had to be for a good reason, but the policy stuck. For example, the second couple she met raised all sorts of red flags when they began to ask her all sorts of questions like, ‘How well do you do with pain?’ or ‘How would you react if you lost an ability that you now currently possess… like seeing or walking?’ Gratefully, Janice saw all of it too and Ashley had been saved. For the Jones’, Ashley had actually said yes to them, and for two big reasons that she knew she couldn’t undervalue here… they seemed to both listen to her, and they both seemed to respect her. So, when she climbed up, Mrs. Jones and Janice didn’t help her buckle her in like most other Bigs would. It was small, but a small victory here could mean larger victories elsewhere. “Well… good luck then,” Janice said, smiling warmly back at the Little, her eyes still performing a quick check to ensure the booster seat was firmly in place and that Ashley wasn’t going to go anywhere. If Ashley noticed though, she didn’t say anything about it at least. “And remember… just listen to Mr. and Mrs. Jones and you’ll have a new and wonderful life ahead of you.” “Thank you, Miss Janice… for everything…” Despite a look of skepticism over her advice, Ashley showed no regret or remorse in her words this time. ‘She might have been the Big to put me in training pants… and I’m going to a whole new life forcibly, but I know Janice could have been so much worse. All totaled, I know I should at least be grateful for that…’ “You’re very welcome, sweetie.” She smiled once more and then backed away before closing the car door. Waving goodbye, Ashley and Mr. and Mrs. Jones soon followed. Not long after, they pulled out of the parking lot and away from Carer+. ‘Well… I guess there’s no turning back now…’ * * * Day 13 – 2:55 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 The backroads heading down the mountainside rattled the car all along for the past hour. Truthfully, Alice gripped the seat of her booster tightly and breathed deeply. ‘Gosh! I hope all this ends soon… Definitely glad I went to the bathroom at our last stop for lunch. If I hadn’t… well, that might have made for a really bad impression before I even got to their home…’ “Almost done, sweetie,” Mrs. Jones noted, gritting her teeth a little. “Geesh, dear…” She was now looking at Mr. Jones. “Easy on the rocks. I’m sure we all want our spines after all this.” “Sorry, sorry,” he said, looking a little regretful and frustrated. “I think with the tunnel coming into the nearby town, they haven’t done much maintenance to the road.” The car then hit a particularly nasty bump and briefly stopped him. “Besides… you know what we do here… can’t exactly be in the most convenient of locations exactly…” “Yes, I know that,” Mrs. Jones said, rolling her eyes a little as they hit another bump before leveling out a little. “Just… a smoother road is all I ask for. Considering what you do… you think they would accommodate your requests a little more here.” “You would think, but you know the budget with DT and all… if you want anything more than a paperclip, it takes forever to get… even for this place…” He momentarily paused and ran the wipers to clear some dust away from the windshield. “And anyways… once you’re down… you know all the work they’ve done with this place…” “Yes, dear,” Mrs. Jones sighed. “Just wish it was easier. That’s all…” “I know this place can be difficult but just wait until the tunnel. There’s a city almost right on the other side and I heard they even have a pretty great… oh, look!” The relief laced in his voice was obvious and Ashley immediately perked up even more than she had before when he started talking about whatever ‘DT’ was. “We’re here!” The car stopped and Ashley looked through her window, but the dust was still settling. “Where? I don’t see anything.” Mr. Jones edged forward a little more. “How about now?” It still took a minute for more of the mountain dust to clear, but soon, an oasis in the desert landscape soon became visible. The town stuck out like an emerald amongst the dirt and sand, and right in front of it, leading right into a guardhouse of sorts, was a single large sign like one would find all over the remote counties and small places of the country. Looking closer, Ashley could just make out the words: ‘Welcome to Peirama.’ Mr. and Mrs. Jones turned around in their seats and smiled warmly back at Ashley. “Welcome home, sweetie.” Ashley smiled, but if one looked closely at her eyes, they would have seen only fear and uncertainty. ‘Well, here goes nothing… a new place surrounded on all sides by mountains that no one has heard about before and being taken in by a lead scientist of some kind and his wife as they both treat me like a Little… What could go wrong?’ Despite her apprehension, whether she liked it or not, the car soon moved forward and, as Mr. and Mrs. Jones had said, to her new home.

Hey everyone! Sorry about the whole editing issue with the last chapter. Between my job and all the stuff going on in the Spring, there was just no way I could fit everything I had to do and still get the chapter out… especially when I started writing this chapter and forgot to check the time to be early enough to edit the first chapter. Not my finest moment admittedly, but it’s now been edited. Moving forward, I’m going to try and switch my schedule to write as much as I can one day and then edit during the day for the day I want to post. If there’s time, I can start writing more, but this way at least I can edit when I’m not already nodding off. Moving on, originally, this chapter was supposed to be the ending of the first chapter, but when I realized the length of the first chapter, I realized I needed to split this up. Plus, going through the whole plot of the story, I realized I needed to add more to this section anyways. With how I laid out this story, it takes a second to maneuver through some plot, but we are rapidly getting to the spot I want this story at, so no worries. As is usual lately, I am giving you all the option to vote in a poll for the next story I write. As I said in the previous chapter, this is the first DD story, so the options for the next story are mostly holdovers from the previous poll, with one extra added. Also, as a reminder, I will be posting the results of this poll within the beginning of the last chapter for this story. I will also give you all at least one reminder of this during the story and a final reminder in the penultimate, or second to last, chapter. For now, though, here are the ideas: Bethany Set as a semi-sequel to The Opening, follow former drug runner, Bethany, as she strives to find herself a better life that has been promised in the newly discovered dimension, tentatively called, ‘The Amazon Dimension…’ though, some have begun calling it another name due to the ever-increasing rumors of something awaiting all portal Littles on the other side. Join Bethany as she looks to turn her life around there and maybe even find a redemption of sorts and something else in the most unexpected of ways. Watch out though… in this new world, new and even greater dangers than the ones she left lurk around every corner. The CONtinuance As the concluding story in the CON series set in the often-dreaded Diaper Dimension, travel back to our world with Percy and his Big mommy, Samantha as they now infiltrate the convention that Percy once attended and was initially taken from. Grapple with Percy as he works feverishly to fulfill his duty to the academy while also not trying to become the monster that he once thought Samantha was. Intrigue, betrayal, conspiracy, traitors, and a plot to change the fabric of both worlds forever all unfold in this final story of this trilogy. Sissification and Babification Government Study Enter a world of government experiments gone amuck. Assigned a series of points they can spend on luxuries, follow Jack and the other candidates as they begin to discover that it pays to have more. More frugal and able to live without some items most would consider essential, journey with him as he discovers just how long he can keep his meager lifestyle up… and when temptations begin to strike. Further, and far more intriguing, find out just what he’s willing to give up, even if that means doing something drastic and… life changing. Soon, questions start to arise for our poor protagonist. How many spankings can I deal with on a daily basis? How much humiliation is too much? Are diapers so bad? Am I okay with eating better but then being forced to wear a dress? Find out the answers to these and so many more in this winding tale of acceptance of a bad situation and just how far Jack is willing to go to stay both sane and not lose himself in this process. This poll can be found here: https://strawpoll.com/7rnzVOYz3nO Last but not least and as usual, I hope everyone enjoys this next chapter! Chapter 2: You Know What They Say About the Devil and Idle Hands Day 1 – 5:35 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “And we’re moving! And we’re moving!” Miss Ripert was nothing if not a dedicated tour guide, but her almost gleeful-like avoidance of talking any further about what had just happened with Ophelia clearly was unnerving most of the rest of the tour group which now lagged behind her. Most seemed just about ready to turn and leave straight back for Earth already. “What the hell was that?” one of the shorter sandy-haired men said, alarm painted all over his face. His eyes shifted rapidly back and forth, almost like he was making sure he knew each and every exit from the current street just in case he had to suddenly flee. “I don’t know, but I don’t think I want to stay here for too much longer,” another tourist said, their spiked-up hair jittering under their frayed nerves. “But we just got here,” a mousy-like woman noted, her face pensive but her eyes full of wonder still. Most everyone had the same look before the incident with Ophelia, but now, she almost seemed out of place compared to the rest. “I mean… we all knew the rumors, right? Nothing too shocking or unexpected compared to them, you know?” Some in the group didn’t seem to appreciate the sentiment. “Well, if you’re so inclined to be happy with Bigs that can just do that to us and not face any consequences, why don’t you just go and join them?” a brutish but still dismayed man sneered at her. He almost looked like a Middle… at least until someone who was obviously a Middle passed right behind him and still towered over him by at least a foot. “No, no… I just…” The mousy woman backed off and retreated to the others of the group that seemed less afraid. Taking notice, one of the tourists, looking like he had just come from a college football tailgate party, stood in front of her. “Hey, man. Why don’t you just back off? We’re all in this together, and some of us actually want to explore around here. Besides, how are you all even going to leave?” He wasn’t the most eloquent of the group, but his words were true and revealing. As Ashley watched on, observing more than talking to anyone at this point, her wide-eyed and surprised expression exhibited much of the same feelings most others were having right then as well. ‘I never even thought about that… we came in at Niveis 1 and are moving towards the east. The next closest portal station by then would be Colorubrum 1… and even that is at least a seven-hour drive from here. Besides, would they even be able to transfer our return ticket?’ Based on the murmurs circulating around, most others seemed to be coming to the same questions about their options now. The sporty college kid stepped back up. “I say we ride this thing out. Stick close to Miss Ripert as she said and enjoy ourselves. We have a week here as well as some of the local ski resorts before we head over to Aprisium and then… I can’t remember, but then definitely head over to Prata before leaving to go back home. All in totaled, it’s just two weeks. I mean… that’s not so bad, right?” The half of the group that had already voiced their concerns didn’t seem convinced, but the other half by him and the mousy woman all nodded their heads in agreement. Ashley, though, seemed to find herself stuck near the middle of the group. ‘I want the story… but all this just feels… well, it’s a lot.’ She then winced and even faltered for a brief moment. ‘Geesh… how long is this fog and tiredness from the portal supposed to last?’ Shaking her head from the exhaustion, she turned back to the group just in time to hear the others in favor of staying trying to convince the other half of the group. “And what about adventure here? Back home is great, but here… it’s all new and exciting. I mean, did you see the fruit in the lobby. That apple was as big as my head practically!” “Food?” the sandy-haired man questioned with a great deal of judgment laced within his single word. “Really? You put food above your own safety?” Another, taller and more confident man shook his head. “No, not just food. They were just using that as an example. Just think of all the other stuff here. Museums, temples, food galore, and even some chances to go skiing two days from now…” He then turned and pointed between the massive giants of buildings. “More specifically… skiing down those.” If it wasn’t for the people in the pictures from around here that had been sent back to Earth, most of the landscape looked surprising like their counterparts back there. At first, most didn’t think too much of it, but upon further studies, most scientists realized that also meant that everything else here was double as well… including geographic features like the mountains. Reading about it last month, Mt. Everest was first on Ashley’s mind. ‘Oh woah… those things must be killers to ski down. Some experts even put their version of Mt. Everest at over 50 or even 60,000 feet! Not as high for these, but still!’ Ashley quickly put her hand to her chest and her breathing visibly quickened in excitement right as a small smile appeared on her face. “You’re all fools…” the spiked-hair man noted, his eyes drawn and unfocused on the ground before looking up at everyone else. “You think you can survive this place… but each of us were also fools to think we could be safe here. I say, we leave tonight.” “Screw that!” the college-aged man said, seemingly disgusted with that option. “Yeah… I have to agree,” the brutish man noted surprisingly, much to the clear shock of those around him. “Just think about it…” He scowled at the group around him. “Miss Ripert said to stick close to her. We leave tonight without any preparation? We’re likely to end up dead… or worse.” “Worse?” the sandy-haired man questioned. “How could anything be worse than…?” “Is there a problem here?” Miss Ripert had stopped talking and no one in this tiny feud, not even Ashley, had seen that she had stopped the tour and had now come behind them. “Is there something I need to be aware of? A safety problem maybe?” Each of the Littles, even the ones that were all for staying here, didn’t say a word. Ashley, though, didn’t want to linger any longer and knew from her past experiences at this type of moment that transparency in this case was best. “We… we were all just concerned about the thing with Ophelia… the Little. Just shocking is all.” “Oh?” Miss Ripert seemed intrigued by the notion. “Is that so?” Many of the Littles nodded their heads but remained mute overall. “I see. Well… that’s okay!” Her previous darkened and even brooding demeanor switched back to one more of warmth and gentleness. “I’m glad you told me. Helps me know to avoid some of the harsher parts of the city now. It might take a second longer to get to a few spots, but it’s also much, much safer. Does that sound okay to everyone?” “Yes… Miss Ripert,” the college-aged man said slowly, the rest of the group seemingly almost quaking in their places too much to respond as well. “Thank you…” “Oh, no problem,” she said graciously, an air about her voice of superiority but caring as well. “After all, I’m your tour guide here. Unlike others… like Diamond Tours…” she momentarily gritted her teeth at the sound of their name on her own lips, “my job is to actually get you all back safely. So, if you’re really worried about any of the other nasty Bigs, just stick by me, okay?” A series of murmurs and half nods went up amongst the group. Ashley squinted cautiously at her but nodded as well. Smiling, Miss Ripert beckoned everyone forward before taking her place in front of the rest of the group once again. “Now, with that done, as you can see on your left, our first stop… Alati Enterprises! Home of several of our most endearing products from the city, ranging with just about everything, from dresses to home electronics, and even diapers!” Ashley swallowed hard at that last one, but didn’t want to raise a fuss and quickly entered the building with everyone else. * * * Day 1 – 9:55 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 Ashley sighed as they exited yet another company headquarters, this one right across the street from their hotel where Miss Ripert was leading most of the group. It was some search engine place that she claimed was ‘the best in the world,’ but being from Earth, most of the group had never heard of it before. Unlike the four other company offices that they had visited though, at least they had served dinner. “Sweet Jesus,” the college-aged man, called Ian, noted. “I don’t think I can stand one more minute of these boring places she keeps taking us to. “At least we’re safe,” the mousy woman, Emily, stated, now seemingly leaning more toward the cautious half of the group. “Where’d your guts go, girl?” Alex asked, shaking her shoulder slightly as her longer hair flapped in the slight wind of the evening. “Come on everyone! Don’t you want to live a little at least?” Several murmured amongst the group and hesitantly watched as Miss Ripert started walking away from most of them, their shield against this world now seemingly disappearing. “But Miss Ri…” “No, no,” Alex pressed. “You all stop thinking of her and think for yourselves. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. We’re in another dimension for Pete’s sake! Live a little!” Her words did little to dissuade those like Brian, the brutish man, or Syd, the spiked-hair man, away from going with Miss Ripert, but some, like Phillip, the sandy-haired man, stayed behind. For her part, Ashley looked desperately between the second split of the day with the group, and while her inner voice screamed to ‘Be safe and go with Miss Ripert!’ another part entirely was telling her ‘I came here for a story and finding one will never happen sitting in a hotel room by myself.’ So, despite the weariness in her body and her aching feet, Ashley remained with the others outside of the hotel. “Alright, excellent!” Alex practically squealed once she saw who was staying. “Where to first?” * * * Day 2 – 10:22 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 The beat of the music inside seemed like it was pulling each of the Littles in as they stumbled through the entrance of the local nightclub. Alex had begged and even bargained to go to a place like this first, but others like Phillip and Emily had just been persuasive enough to stop at a smaller bar first… just to test the waters at least. Ashley had practically gagged on the strong drink she was given, but it also gave her a barometer of how much caution she needed to use tonight in drinking further. Additionally, despite just having met these people, she also knew that keeping an eye on them would be more valuable… especially if it gained her a new story over here, or at the very least, allies if she had to run in and save them. “Keep pushing!” Alex shouted out, barely audible over the thumping of the loud beat pulsating into the floor of the establishment. Half blind but just hearing her above all that, Ashley nodded and pushed forward, taking Emily by the hand. Like a train used to keep Kindergarteners in line, each held each other’s hands and proceeded forward through the club. “Drinks are on me this round!” Ian called out once they made it to the bar. Nodding, each then downed a single shot… although to them, the shot seemed more like a double or even triple version. Needless to say, by the time they were on the dance floor, each was already exhibiting signs of being intoxicated. “You okay?” Ashley asked Emily, the small frame of a woman already swaying back and forth involuntarily under the effects of the drinks she downed tonight. Looking at her, Ashley could only sigh. ‘Probably a lightweight even on the stuff we have back home. Definitely need to keep a close eye on her tonight…’ “Wooh! Par-tay!” Alex was nearby and gyrating to the beat of the music with Ian doing the same nearby. Keeping an eye on both was Rahul… more of a silent type, but one who seemed to like to dance without imbibing any alcohol. “Come… on…” Emily said sloppily already to Ashley. “We need to… get out there… and… dance!” Her feet seemed completely uncoordinated for the task but her desire to go seemed stronger than being held back by something as small as that. “Fine, fine… just…” But Emily was already yanking her out onto the dance floor, to which Ashley could only sigh, nearly losing her new friend in the sea of people out there. Between her small size and the mix of other Littles, Middles, and Bigs, she almost vanished completely. ‘Definitely need to keep a closer eye on her… it’s going to be a long night…’ * * * Day 2 – 11:54 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “Four thousand, five thousand, six thousand!” Alex shouted while Ian downed a local beer at the next club scene. Alex wanted something extreme or fast paced, while Emily requested a bar instead. Finding this place that seemed to do both equally well, everyone in the adventurous group agreed to come here next as a compromise. “Come on, Alex!” Emily cheered as well. She had slightly sobered up and was now getting into the swing of things once she came in here, but all that was largely only likely due to Ashley filling her up with water instead of more shots or beers. “You think one of them is going to pass out by the end of tonight?” Ashley questioned Rahul, the two of them now seemingly filling in as defacto chaperones for the others. At first, Rahul only shrugged his shoulders, but as Ian finished and Alex and Emily soon congratulated him as if he had just won a marathon or an Olympic event, Rahul nodded. “At this pace… yes… but we definitely need to keep an eye on them. No telling what could happen if we’re not carefu…” “Hey… that was pretty impressive back there…” Rahul and Ashley stopped talking immediately and looked over to their three fellow tourists, now confronted by an imposing but seemingly friendly Big. “Mind if I buy you all another drink in celebration?” Before Rahul or Ashley could object though, Emily quickly nodded and even clasped his arm with a big smile. “Oh, thank you so much! We would love it, right you all?” “Definitely!” Ian almost cheered. “Count me in, bug guy…” Alex said about near to seductively as she could with at least four Big-sized drinks already in her. “Maybe after… we could go someplace else?” The Big smiled and slightly bent down to look Alex better in the eyes. “I would love nothing more…” * * * Day 3 – 12:37 A.M. MDT – Earth 2 * Footage not found. * * * * Day 3 – 1:58 A.M. MDT – Earth 2 “Jesus, Jesus! Sweet Jesus!” Alex panted and ran away with the other in the group. “He’s right behind us!” “Stupid, stupid, stupid!” Ashley cursed, dragging Emily along behind her as best she could. “Why did you leave with him away from the rest of us! He’s a Big!” “Buh’ he seemed so… nice!” Emily partially slurred, apparently slipping in several drinks throughout the night beyond Ashley’s watch. By the time she had realized what was happening, she put a stop to it immediately at the last club, but the damage was already done for the night. Looking around at the dark alleys they were now passing, Ashley groaned. “Rahul… do you know where you’re even going?” Rahul sped on ahead, or at least as much as he could while also dragging Ian along as well. Like Emily, he had slipped in several more drinks as well… the Big apparently plying Emily, Alex, and him secretly since they had met earlier. Being buzzed already, none had questioned it for a minute… until the Big got alone with Alex later. “I think we take another left up ahead!” he said, a small degree of panic setting in his voice. “I remember this building, but… they’re shutting off some of the lights now!” He then glanced down at his watch. “Shit! It’s 2 A.M.! Everything is shutting down… we need to hurry!” “Wha’s da wush?” Emily said, clearly not paying attention to her drunken words and half giggling throughout them. Ashley could only roll her eyes and pull her onward more. “I heard Bigs stroll the streets at night looking for vulnerable Littles,” he noted with the same pallor and shakiness in his voice as if he was telling a ghost story. “After 2… they find the weak… and the drunk, and pounce… the Littles never to be seen again.” The news seemed to sober Emily and Ian up… at least temporarily. Alex, however, scoffed. “Please… that’s just a rumor,” she noted, clearly unbothered, despite what had just happened to her… or at least what had been attempted to happen to her. “No!” Rahul slowed down a bit and gave her the most hardened look I had seen from him yet. Part judgement and part disbelief and anger, Alex even stopped in the back alley briefly. “He was liquoring you all up all night! He was taking out the people that were closest to you to kidnap you! Don’t you get that? If you hadn’t switched those drinks out for water in the last 30 minutes, you wou…” “But I did!” Alex defended. “And we got away, didn’t we?” Rahul angry glare softened for a moment. “Yeah! That’s what I thought. So, quit your complaining and let’s just get back!” Grumbling a little, Rahul turned back to finding the hotel. Finally coming into view, everyone let out a sigh of relief. “Come on, Em’. We need to get inside before anything else goes wrong tonight. I don’t even want to think of what would happen if you all were caught by the police tonight or if Rahul and I weren’t with you all.” Pausing for Rahul to take his keycard out, the rest of the group stopped, and Emily was finally able to more or less stand up straight. Smiling at Ashley, she patted her on the cheek. “You wowwy too much, Ash… Can I caww you Ash?” She giggled briefly. “Tanks for aww you did toni… tonigh’.” She giggled again, smiled, and then fell right into Ashley’s arms. * * * Day 2 – 1:24 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 * Footage not found. * * * * Day 3 – 8:32 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 Ashley paced around her hotel room and occasionally pushed one of her fingers back like she was counting something in sync with her barely audible mutterings under her breath. She then stopped and went over to the mirror in the bathroom. “Okay… figured I would at least say this out loud. I think maybe I need to hear it audibly with how ridiculous it sounds… but here it goes.” She winced briefly. “I think I want to leave the tour group…” The pain and trepidation on her face was immediately apparent. “Yeah, yeah… I know what any future viewers of this recording are thinking… after the other night, between Ophelia and that one Big at the bar, why would I want to leave?” She then paced around the hotel room a little more before stopping at the mirror once more. “Well… it’s simple really… at least from a journalist’s perspective.” She then reached into her pocket and pulled out a tag that was clearly marked ‘Ski Lift.’ Yesterday and today, we went exploring the more outdoorsy aspects of this area. Beautiful… striking… I think I nearly teared up at the top of the ski lift, but… no story there.” She grimaced and paced again. “It’s just that… well, I feel I’m getting the shiny tour… like the one a factory inspector would get on inspection day where everyone knows it’s coming. It’s all bright and shiny and compliant, and the factory will pass… but it’s not the full truth of daily operations. Same with the tour.” She looked in pain again almost like she had already punched herself for such a stupid idea in the first place. “Don’t get me wrong… it’s great and all, but… it’s sterile… at least for a journalist like me. There’s no story there. No danger… no intrigue beyond what a travel writer would document… and like it or not, I’m not one of them. Maybe that will be the next piece, and if so, sign me up. I’m hearing all kinds of wonders of this world… like the continent of Atlantica just off the coast of Florida. The place is made from the remnants of Atlantis that actually survived the sinking in this world… complete with some of the best technology here, a paradise for Littles, and beaches and museums for miles around. Sounds amazing… but as far as a story… it would be more of a puff piece… unless someone got really unlucky… great, but not my thing.” She sighed. “So… I’m left to my own devices here, and the other night… dangerous… too close for comfort being only seconds away from Alex being lost to us completely. But… it was brilliant!” There was a tiny flicker of excitement in her eyes. “It’s the type of story you tell your friends or a hot date when you’re trying to impress them. It has the angles I want and the intrigue I need. And, simply put, that’s the story I’m looking for… but…” She grimaced once again and batted the ski lift ticket around for a second. “I just… I don’t think I’m confident enough to leave on my own… yet. Going to a temple tomorrow… maybe something will be there I can write about, but if not then I…” * * * Day 4 – 10:15 A.M. MDT – Earth 2 Shining opalescence seemingly stretching higher and all the way to the heavens. Steel glinted, glass reflected the world back seamlessly and endlessly back at itself, and the stone around the façade of the temple practically sparkled under the bright June day. Back home, such places of worship were once used to hide from the horrors of the outside world during the ‘dark times,’ but didn’t always withstand the onslaught of bombs, gangs, and just the slow decay of time without further funds to repair them. As such, Ashley and many of the others on the tour gawked in wonder up at the temple before them. “As you can see, the founders built this place to last but also to inspire countless generations of a spiritual connection here in our city. Inside, millions have worshipped and billions across the world have listened to the famous chorus housed here throughout the year.” Miss Ripert continued to explain all about the temple, and Ashley was enthralled completely by its beauty, but her eyes soon began to shift elsewhere once inside. It was no less impressive, the organ towering far over each of their heads and the ceiling perched even higher but inside was also a place where thousands congregated every day. When services weren’t being held, the population of the city gathered inside for all sorts of purposes. Tourism and religious vows or pilgrimages were the peak reasons to visit, but others lingered for their own purposes as well. “Money for the needy,” a sweet old lady chimed from the side, her dark blue dress plain but striking against the stonework behind her. “Littles need care too. Reach out into your hearts and help those in need.” Having traveled all over Earth and seen the desperate and needy by the thousands, Ashley instantly recognized a charity in need when she saw it. For her though, her experience with charities tended to focus on those most in need, like starving kids in the center continents, or the remaining war orphans from places that had only just stopped fighting in recent years. With the influx of the Bigs technology, many of those problems were vanishing, but they hadn’t altogether disappeared. What intrigued Ashley about this particular charity though, was that here at least, it seemed that Littles in general were those that were now in search of a miracle. Other places targeted groups in other countries or at different poverty levels maybe, but here… it just seemed to focus on the entirety of the Little population. Here, they needed charity. They needed help. They needed the money of others to survive. Seeing that, as soon as Miss Ripert was done giving her tour guide speech, she leapt into action to ask her directly as the others began to wander around and tour the building on their own within the designated spots for tourists. Near the altar, there was even a line. “Miss Ripert! Miss Ripert!” Ashley momentarily cringed. ‘Gosh! Why does that have to sound so childish when I say it?’ Miss Ripert turned to face the Little approaching her, who was now pointing over to the pushed-aside table where two old ladies were seated. “Who are they?” Miss Ripert turned briefly toward the gestured group to the left inside the temple. Currently, they were talking with a few tourists that seemed to be ready and willing to offer money to their cause. “Oh. That’s just Carer+, Ashley.” Ashley’s slightly perturbed look indicated she didn’t like the familiarness from her, but without any objection outwardly, Miss Ripert proceeded normally. “They take in lost Littles and find loving homes for them. Unlike some of the others, they tend to be a little more selective on who is allowed to adopt a Little and have even been shown to treat Littles with more respect and equality than most others these days. Definitely one of the better organizations out there regarding Littles.” Miss Ripert then paused and looked at Ashley closely, almost like she was studying a curious or unique specimen of an insect beneath her. “Is there a reason you’re asking, hon?” She paused and from all outward appearances, one could almost hear the metaphorical gears clicking her head over what she was witnessing right then. “Are you asking because maybe you’re intere…?” “No! No! Definitely not!” Several of the other tourists in the temple wheeled around and faced the Little and Big from Ashley’s small outburst… one that seemingly endlessly echo off the walls of the temple. Sensing her mistake and everyone’s on them now, Ashley blushed a little and then quickly walked over to be closer to Miss Ripert, who also seemed to take notice of the Little’s movements and embarrassment and lowered herself closer to the ground to hear her out. “I mean… definitely not, Miss Ripert,” she said with a renewed hushed but forceful tone. “I was just curious. They seemed different than most of the others here. Nothing more.” “Very well…” Miss Ripert smiled and stood back up fully, now towering over Ashley once more. “Now… is there anything else you need?” Ashlye looked over at the Carer+ table, highlighted with pictures of desperate Littles. She almost looked like she was going to say something but ultimately shook her head. “No… no thank you…” Miss Ripert was about to reply when Ashley quickly pivoted away. ‘I do have several questions, but Miss Ripert… I just don’t think she’s going to the person to ask about it.’ Her eyes focused briefly on a few of the images… particularly of those with Littles wearing juvenile clothing and diapers. If they were children, she might not have thought anything of it back on Earth in truth, but her eyes couldn’t get over some of the very… mature curves on some of the Littles. ‘Wait… are those scar lines at a few of their joints?’ * * * Day 4 – 3:12 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 * Footage not found. * * * * Day 5 – 8:55 A.M. MDT – Earth 2 Ashley waved at the mirror like she had done back on Earth. Her clothing was different once again, and a nice tan looked like it was starting to set in. “Hey… I guess, future me?” She shrugged. “Not sure about that one for the future recordings on this thing, but I needed to come here to say something… at least for the record if nowhere else…” Ashley then winced and sighed before looking back into the mirror. “I think I want to leave the tour group.” The words alone seemed painful, but Ashley still pushed through. “Just temporarily at least. I just… I need something more for this trip other than another ski slope or pretty building or intriguing new company with technology that could revolutionize Earth back home.” She then walked over and looked down at her dresser, now littered with souvenirs from several spots that any local could recognize as a tourist hotspot. “I’ve traveled a lot and done so much… like this one here.” She then picked up a magnet that showed a large building of sorts and printed with the words ‘Alati Lake Power Plant.’ “Truly a marvel of engineering. This one power station could probably power the entire state of our own Utah back on Earth. If some of the tech companies in the area weren’t pulling so much power, the plant could serve at least a 1000-mile radius outward… but instead, they have four more in the northern part of the state alone. And what’s even more mind-boggling to me is that this technology isn’t even considered advanced here. I just…” The excitement was visible on her face, but it was soon replaced by one of overcast and resignation as she set the magnet back down. “It’s a great piece for the magazine… but for someone else at Times Reporting… not me. I need something more… bitey… dangerous…” She then walked over to the large window looking out over the city. “Even if that’s a risk… I feel I need to take it.” Her eyes then shot downward to the darkened alley that the window partially overlooked below. “When I first started, I investigated a small but widespread drug ring. No other journalist could figure it out… until I walked into some dark alleyways. Risky? Yes, but it was worth it in the end. It sealed my job with Mr. Swarthout, and within a year, I was one of the headliner investigative journalists. It was my big break, and I think…” She sighed and focused more on the darker parts of her view instead of the glitzy and impressive top-side and outer facades of the rest of the city. “I think I need to go deeper… get dirty… risk it all, but… find the truth in the end.” * * * Day 5 – 4:55 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 Ashley tiptoed through one of the darkened alleys that she had been traipsing around all day. The tour group got some excuse of her being sick, and while Ashley had felt some degree of guilt, now, she seemed more intrigued than anything. “Okay,” she whispered to herself, “I know this thing can pick up my voice at the very least right now. Not sure if other cameras or whatever can see me, but I’ve been following rumors all day.” Ashley briefly stepped into the light, and instead of her ‘costume’ of more sporty clothes, or her old ones of rugged but practical elegance, these seemed more casual and grungier. “I’ve been trying to look for a fix all day like a junkie… slow progress, but I finally heard something called FOY. No idea what it is… but it sounds dangerous… definitely a drug of some kind.” Her eyes then lit up with intrigue and even a little hope. “Sounds a like a story to me…” Ashley then peered around the corner, and three individuals could be made out. One was a Middle while the other two were Bigs. “Trade you for the FOY…” the Big said desperately. “Need it for my Little and they can’t suspect…” Ashley clutched her chest. ‘Okay… here we go… just breathe, Ash. Don’t think… just go…’ Ashley breathed in once more and then peeled herself away from the brick corner and toward the dealer. * * * Day 6 – 9:42 A.M. MDT – Earth 2 “Okay… I can do this… I can do this…” Ashley looked into the mirror of her hotel room, once again dressed in her more casual clothing. The few crumbs leftover from breakfast that morning still clung to her clothing as well. “Okay… you told the group you wanted to go solo today since it was the last day here in Alati Lake City. I’m sure Aprisium is something special… but I need to do this.” She then looked down at the vanity area and to the tiny vial nearby. It was FOY, and she had gotten a ‘sample’ last night from the dealer. He almost seemed enthusiastic about giving it to her and even volunteered her to get a piece of the cut tonight if she came back, took a small dose of the drug, and helped him sell the product to others. For Ashley, trying to find her story, it felt like too good an opportunity to pass up. Of course, coming back last night, she had started sweating profusely when she had pocketed the drug and walked past her tour group, Miss Ripert, and hotel security, but she had made it back in time to look up the drug extensively online. Once she was able to find out that it at least wasn’t illegal, she tried a tiny dose. It made her feel… funny. Not queasy, but… goofy. She marked it right away as a narcotic and knew that she had to find out more. “Just think… Little busts open the myth of this dimension…” she said in awe, her eyes nearly twinkling as they seemed to already be picturing the headlines of her story when she returned home. “A dimension shown for what it truly is. Could even be a yearly piece for the paper to show all the dangers here. It could last decades from what I’ve seen at this point.” She then glanced back at the vial and picked it up. “But first… a FOY deal tonight.” * * * Day 6 – 7:42 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 ‘Okay… not going exactly to plan… feel funny… goofy… happy, but… I’m here…’ The Middle drug dealer of the FOY drug stood by her side in the alleyway. Apparently, a big scorer was coming tonight and Ashley needed to be perfect. The Big had even tousled up her hair briefly and then got her to tie it into pigtails. It seemed so strange, but Ashley oddly didn’t mind. Part of it felt like an obligation to get her story, but part of it… felt like the FOY. ‘Maybe it’s like alcohol where it lowers your inhibitions? ‘Cause… whew! I kinda don’t care…’ “Okay, look alive, Little,” the dealer said, straightening out his shirt and trying to stand as tall as possible, his Middle ego seemingly fragile in the face of a potential Big client. Standing a few inches behind him, Ashley clearly had to place a hand over her mouth to stop from giggling. There was a little fear in her eyes, but she remained still as three Bigs approached. * * * Day 6 – 7:54 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 “We said three vials… not two,” one of the Bigs said angrily, her fierce eyes popping out from her mass of curled hair. “Why you tryin’ to piss us off, Meisner?” The Middle quickly shook his head. “No, no. Several apologies.” His fingers trembled under the weight of his bag as he fumbled through it. “Just a miscount. You know Middles!” He then whacked himself on the head. “Doy, doy, right?” Again, Ashley kept smiling, but was also clearly bursting at the proverbial seams trying to hold her laughter in. She was the lowest of the social hierarchy represented here tonight in the alley being a Little, so whenever a Middle or Big did something foolish, her inner glee always lit up. Maybe due to the FOY she had ingested though, tonight, she seemed to be having a tough time holding anything back. The second Big grumbled and snatched the third vial away from the dealer, Meisner, as soon as it was free from his bag. Holding the vial up to the buzzing dim yellowish light overhead, the liquid inside almost seemed to glow. “Hmmm…” “Well?” the third Big questioned, seemingly impatient. “We good, Marcus? Good sample of FOY for us?” Marcus lowered the vial and turned before nodding. “Good…” The atmosphere seemed to freeze. If it had been raining, water droplets would have felt like they were hovering midair. Breaths being let out in the strangely colder June weather looked like they had halted. Maybe it was the FOY, but Ashley’s eyes became fearful in a moment… almost like part of her body knew that something was wrong before it even happened. “Alati Lake City Police!” the third Big shouted, pulling a badge and a gun out, now pointed precisely at Meisner. “You are under arrest for selling drugs to minors, distributing a controlled substance without a permit, and violating your parole with a concealed carry.” Meanwhile, Marcus and the woman followed suit, and so now three guns and badges faced back at Meisner. Groaning, and likely dreading the charges, he seemed to try to find a way out. Being an alleyway though, police sirens now flashed from both ends and a chain-link fence blocked the only open-air area within sight. Snarling at the three, he flinched towards them, which only prompted the third Big to jiggle their gun threateningly as the other two took a step closer. Likely seeing no alternative, Meisner raised his hands in defeat. ‘Shit! Shit! Shit!’ Ashley panicked and she knew that FOY was legal, but she was a Little and there was always some technicality that could be used against her as a Little. Being a Little in the situation though, was bad legally speaking, but also likely not thought of as a threat. Looking around at the one Middle and three surrounding Bigs, it became very obvious that no one was paying attention to her right then. So, freaking out about as much as she could, her eyes darted all around for a way out. ‘There’s no way I’m getting mixed up in this… just need to find a way out of here…’ Maybe hoping beyond reality, her eyes still scanned for any way out. With limited options though, only one way presented itself… a small opening in the base of the chain-link fence. Not wasting a second and with no one directly watching her, that option was practically a miracle alone. So, with a tiny sigh, Ashley stuck to the shadows and backed up right toward the hole. Crouching down, it was just big enough for her to get through. ‘Oh shit! What the hell do I do now?’ She had been in tight spots before, but her face reflected a fear of the combination of seemingly every nasty thing she had ever heard about Littles and this dimension. She only had one option and even that… “Wait… where did the Little go?” Marcus, if that even really was his name, questioned. “Shit!” the leader cursed. “Fan out! Find her!” Hearing it all, Ashley knew she had to run. Thinking could come later. Gratefully, the past few days of Miss Ripert’s tours of the city paid off in full as she could find her way around the back alleys using the lights in the distance as markers for where she was. It was still difficult, but she was making her way through and away from the police now surrounding the area where she had been and where Meisner had gotten pinched. Unfortunately, looking ahead, cops had started swarming the whole area. Approaching and blocking off the alleyway from both the north and south points, the cops had now flooded most of the surrounding blocks as well… which meant that escape back to the hotel was near impossible. ‘Crud! What do I do? What do I…?’ “Hey! I think I heard someone back here!” a cop shouted from the main road, now shining his flashlight back to where Ashley had stopped. ‘Shit! I gotta…! * * * Day 6 – 8:58 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 Ashley panted and ducked quickly under what looked like a storm drain under a particular section of road. To the near distance, trees, bushes, and flowers dotted the landscape of the local memorial park. Dodging the police for over an hour now, Ashley panted hard, but panic was also etched all over her face. Alati Lake City was only so big, and the police were surrounding several other spots… cutting off the hotel almost completely. Still, having taken a second to think a few minutes ago, she knew of one last spot she could exploit. Now, she was poised and ready to go. ‘At least I have my hotel key and fake ID with me… didn’t want to bring the rest though… that could have been really bad if I was caught.’ It was a risk to go without her passport or other things of sorts, but they were easily worth triple their weight in gold for a reason. Lose those and a Little was stuck here. After all, Bigs didn’t want to run the risk of a Little of their own world simply slipping through and making their way over to Earth. It was a concession of the dimensional treaty and one that the Bigs had insisted on above nearly all others. Ashley sighed and tried to peak out over the roadway while also trying not to get her clothing dirty. She had ditched her sweatshirt and redone her hair… just in case she happened to be caught. A Little caught was bad, but a Little caught that had been selling FOY on the streets… even if the drug was legal, was so much worse. Reading past testimonies, she knew of five charges that she could be popped with already. Looking out at the park, the coast seemed clear, so Ashley took her first steps. ‘Okay… just go nice and easy. Don’t panic and just keep walking. I stay this way and use my hotel key; I can slip in the back. If anyone asks… I can always run to the tour group. It should be early enough that at least a couple should be in the lobby. But I have to get there first…’ Making her way through the park, the tall spires of her hotel could just be made out. Sires flashed in the distance, but most seemed to be staying toward the east. One or two to the west, but being a city, they might not have even been involved. ‘Or… at least that’s what I’m hoping…’ A twig then loudly snapped behind her. Seconds later, Ashley could hear the thudding footsteps approaching her quickly from behind. She closed her eyes briefly and kept walking. ‘Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe it was just a squirrel. Maybe it was just a falling dead branch, and I’m scare over nothin…’ “Alati Lake City Police! Hands in the air and don’t move!” Ashley shot her hands up into the air and then froze at the sound of the police officer’s instruction. “Good girl. Now, turn around… slowly!” Ashley nodded and began to turn around, a look of regret showing all over her expression. ’Breathe, Ash. Don’t panic… it will be okay…’ But anyone looking into her eyes would have seen the uncertainty of that glaring right back at them.

Thank you. This was one of the edits I did this morning.

Warning As with my previous stories, this one contains several elements inherent to the pre-established 'Diaper Dimension.' These include, but are not limited to: Diapers and their usage for their intended purpose Breastfeeding Non-consensual mental regression through various means (Including possible drugs, hypnosis, and/or surgery) References to surgery to achieve various nefarious goals Humiliation Giants, aka, Amazons or Bigs Predominantly female domination (some male) Babying of adults (perceived or otherwise) Experimentation on humans Kidnapping Coerced or manipulated actions through possible means of white lies, gas lighting, or incentives Mild language or use of explitives Depictions of death, illness, or handicaps Graphic imagery associated with any of these warnings This story has not been labeled as mature, due to a lack of specific references to anything overtly sexual, but this warning serves as a 'turn back' point for any readers who do not wish to read about the previous warnings. Lastly, this list is subject to change during the course of writing this story. While most of the plot is ironed out, more warnings may be added if needed. Hey everyone! Welcome back and I hope everyone had as good of a break as I did! Work was stressful, but it’s always nice to get away for a little bit from trying to meet my own personal deadlines, especially after such a large project as my last two stories were with all the completely new world-building and whatnot. Now, though, it’s just as equally good to be back and writing stories again. That being said, this story has definitely grown over the past two weeks from my original plan. Initially, I fleshed this thing out to be around ten chapters, but soon realized it needed more on my first pass. Seeing a lot was missing from the plot for the type of story I wanted to tell though, the chapter count now stands at 24, but checking out a few later, I can absolutely say that there might be more. As I promised before, since these stories are based on previous works of mine, I will try to include all the stories that might need to be read before this one. As it is a sequel, the primary previous story would be Project Nurture, as several of the characters from there will be mentioned and parts of this story will also align with that one. I would also suggest for more background that The Opening would be helpful as well, as it discusses when the portals first opened and gives some background on the two worlds in general. Lastly, looking at the map of Libertalia (in the Reference Guide) or the DD Timeline might be useful. As I try to do for each of these stories in the DD though, I will try to write most of this where reading them is not required, but as a warning, further details and some plot elements may not be discussed. Next, as is typical these days, I will post the next poll at the start of the following chapter. Since this is only the first DD story, my rule of two won’t apply yet, so I’m thinking I will include two DD and one non-DD story this go-round. So, be on the lookout for that. Also, looking ahead, I’m absolutely tasking myself with writing/editing three chapters a week. That being said, with 24 current chapters and at three a week, this will definitively bump into late May/early June, which means that I will be pausing at least at one point for a multi-day vacation. Considering it’s Florida and I always come back with at least three new story ideas, take comfort in the delay at least for future stories from me. Last but not least and as usual, I hope everyone enjoys this first chapter of my next story! Chapter 1: Hello. Name’s Ashley Cutters, Journalist It’s a small, unassuming house, but within lay so much more, particularly with a fringe member of LRG being tasked to look up the dirty laundry of the government here in Libertalia. Considering all the security measures in place and all the others that had ‘gone missing’ over the years from the organization, Vincent didn’t want to take a chance this time. “Alright… let’s see what we’ve got on the menu tonight…” Vincent was practically licking his lips in anticipation of what he could find in his search of the dark web tonight. “Join the Littles Revolution Group they said… Challenge yourself and change the world!” Vincent couldn’t help but roll his eyes a little at that tagline that had so easily ensnared his wide-eyed and younger and more hopeful self. LRG was a smaller group back then… more manageable and under the radar. Hacking to get free music initially, Victor had stumbled into the law a few times but always managed to get away. After his Little friend got kidnapped though, Victor had turned his attention to LRG and signed up to help after only a week of seeing what they were trying to accomplish. With his skills, incidents like the initial opening of the portals between worlds and the opening of Dark Cliff Prison were almost commonplace stories amongst the more rebellious Little population of Libertalia now. Being a Middle himself meant he was more or less immune from most of the horrors that came with being a Little in this world, but he saw a need and tried to fulfill it for others that definitely couldn’t. Little did he know that path of righteousness and good intentions would lead him here… somewhere in the backwoods of the state of Virgan. It had been a year since he last went to the movies… six months since a bar, and three weeks since even the dinky grocery store just off the main road from here to Columbia. Another LRG got him groceries now… especially after he found some piece about some new drug called ‘FOY’ and was almost immediately flagged and shut down by the Feds. Ever since, he had lived in a state of paranoia… hence the practically ghost cabin set in the middle of nowhere as his main base of operations now. Still, Vincent sighed and tried to think of all this as a game. It had worked in the past when these hacking sessions went into tedious or potentially dangerous places. The FOY thing was great and all no doubt, but… this wasn’t living. He needed something… anything to break up his routine. Maybe he would talk to Carlos the next time he stopped by for a food run about taking a vacation… maybe. Grumbling a little, Vincent shook his head and returned to the monitor as he finished off the last of his cheesy puffs. “Now… what do you have for me tonight?” His thick sausage-like fingers clacked on the keyboard with a rapid regularity that indicated years of practice at this sort of thing. As such, minutes later, Vincent had opened one of the deep web chatrooms like he was simply passing from one room to another. “Let’s see… anything to help LRG pass those restraint laws… equality and all? Anything at all tonight?” Vincent’s eyes strained against the bright screen, but an hour later, despite his impressive and extensive skills, he was still no closer to something definitive to send back. It was just that way sometimes. Yes, there were scores of plans and threats on there, but nothing with substance that could either be classified as reportable or even actionable. Just a bunch of hot air and… “Oh?” Vincent noted with some surprise, leaning in from his wide chair to get a better look at what he was seeing. “What’s this?” The posting was very strange to the point where Vincent even ran a check on it to make sure it was clean and wouldn’t upload a virus or crash his system. He had learned that the hard way back as a junior in high school. Looking more closely, something snagged his attention right away. “Holorecording’s, huh?” Vincent checked the file at least three times just to be sure he was reading it right, but it was confirmed and that piqued his curiosity more than any tagline associated. Vincent knew full-well that Holorecording’s were all the rage years ago, especially when agents of the old academy used to travel to Earth and pluck humans away for testing purposes before the dawn of portal travel and when they exploited soft spots instead. Seeing the ‘.vid.e’ label though, Vincent could already tell that it was the enhanced version instead of the original 2D video like any other old-fashioned video recording. In this case, enhanced meant 3D recordings and possibly sensation feedback and even mental thoughts if he was lucky. Not wanting to turn away now, Vincent clicked into the posting further. A brief description at the title of the page noted something about the files being ‘vital’ and ‘critical to understand.’ Vincent had his doubts about that, especially since 90% of the other posts said that, but he shrugged and kept at it… curious if nothing else over the holorecording file contained within. “Hmmm… seems intriguing enough…” Getting to the main page of the file and knowing what was next, Vincent got up and went to the backroom of the cabin where he stored most of the excess electronics and equipment associated. Looking around, he finally found the box he was looking for, a good layer of dust covering it that had to be blown away first. “Ah. Gotcha! Almost got rid of you last month to store an extra supply of rum in here. Good thing I decided I didn’t need more alcohol here… I guess.” Continuing to dust the box off, Vicent made his way back to the computer before sitting down again and then popping the lid off. Peering inside, he could see the headgear, visor, and even the contacts for one’s temple. “Looks okay… hard to tell really until I actually just go ahead and test this thing out.” Vincent blew a little more dust off and then gently placed the device over his head. Wincing a little at first, he made quick work of the device to relieve the tighter pressure and expand the halo section until it fit his head more comfortably. Taking the attached cord, he blew on it lightly and then hooked the device in. Soon, the screen before him blinked, and Vincent completed the preliminary set up as the newly clicked holorecording files were downloaded onto his server. Applying a little petroleum jelly to the contact points at his temple, he took a breath and looked over the various warnings on the box. “Warning… excessive use can lead to seizure, brain hemorrhage, and even death. Do not use with potentially corrupted files and do not use while alone.” Looking around the empty room, Vincent shrugged his shoulders. “Oh well… can’t stop all the time just because I’m a one-man team up here.” As he clicked on the final steps for downloading the files, Vincent felt a little fear over using this old technology once more. There was a reason for the warnings… why the technology had been dropped in favor of other more recent models here in Libertalia. Newer methods were safer… more legal. Looking around at half the equipment in here used just for pirating signals and hacking into government servers, it might have been an odd fear, but holorecording’s tended to brute-force their way into local servers rather than ask permission at all. It gave the recordings a true 3D experience to the viewer later, but the legality was sketchy at best in court cases, so the technology had largely been dropped in favor of more… legal ways. So, to see it so plainly on here for that fact alone was curious if nothing else. Vincent didn’t want to hope, but there were only so many who used this technology in the past few years… and they were either illegal, which could mean some great dirt on something out there that could hurt the Bigs, or they were less poised with technology, which could mean they were more desperate and likely more interesting. Either way, it boded well for Vincent’s mission and ultimately, LRG. Clicking onto the first recording once it had downloaded, the first screen showed the typical warnings yet again about using this technology, which Vincent promptly clicked through rapidly, understanding the risks… and quickly ignoring them. Next, and most curious, before the instructions, there was a brief blurb about what he was about to watch. It was something about someone named Ashley and this footage found from her imbedded camera. Most fascinating though, although maybe a little worrying or disappointing, it noted that ‘some pieces are missing’ from the recording and it is ‘unknown if they had been deleted by the user’ or were simply ‘too corrupted.’ Either way, Vincent pressed on with curiosity like that of a child potentially finding buried treasure in their backyard. The screen cut away, and then another popped up. “Place device on head now.” Vincent did as he was instructed, and as he remembered from the last time that he used this thing over six years ago now, the visor remained clear so he could see the screen and the next instructions. “Press here to proceed.” A decently sized green button then appeared below. Vincent hovered his mouse over the button, took a deep breath, and pressed it before relaxing back in his chair. * * * Black. Nothing. The screen was just a myriad of inky blackness, punctuated occasionally by a little blip or static on the screen. “Ah, shit!” a male voice called out from the abyss, remaining faceless in the darkened void. “Oh, perfect, Stuart!” a female voice said with a sigh and no small amount of clear frustration. “Just what this footage needs… cursing right from the start! This could be the beginning of some very serious report one day, you know.” “Sorry…” presumably Stuart apologized, grunting a little like he was trying to adjust something. Briefly the edges of the void curled in and flicked with static and a few green, blue, yellow, and red dots… and then pure nothingness once again. “Ugh! I just realized that the audio and video were off before. Now, it’s just the video and I’m…” He grunted again. “Trying to adjust that.” “Well, can you fix it?” the female voice asked, sighing heavily again and now sounding more than a little impatient as well. “This whole plan isn’t going to go very well if this stupid thing doesn’t even wor…!” * * * Day 0 – 12:30 P.M. EDT – Earth The screen cut back, and a white border, like from one of the old video systems, popped on as a frame around the main picture, which wasn’t much more than a computer lab somewhere, punctuated in several spots by at least ten twenty-foot-long sections of three-inch-thick wires. Multiple spots were frayed and pulled apart, while other sections were fully intact. One desk was cluttered with all sorts of odd metallic objects and scraps of wiring, while the other desk appeared to contain some sort of toolset and even a medical diagram of the head and an eyeball… though with something dark right behind the iris in this case. “Okay… that should do it…” a pale and scrawny figure noted, possibly Stuart, now coming into the frame. Unsettlingly in some way, he was looking directly at the camera with a calculating and curious expression. Before becoming too awkward though, he then briefly looked away and back to another monitor just off screen. “Okay… single feed up and running. Blink once for me, will you, Ashley?” The feed momentarily went black before snapping back to its previous image. “Like that, Stuart?” the female voice, presumably Ashley, questioned. This time, instead of one of annoyance, it sounded more hopeful. “Yep. That’s good, Ashley.” Stuart then hopped back and briefly went out of frame behind the monitor on the more crowded desk, and the sounds of clicks and clacks could be heard like he was typing something in. “Okay… now blink three times in succession. This might feel a little weird after, but we need this thing to reach out to other sources if you want more than a single shot from your eye. No point in this level of technology if we can’t get all the angles… just in case.” The feed temporarily dipped down and back up, almost as if Ashley was nodding while holding a camera. Then, the feed blipped out in three short bursts. Suddenly, the feed switched, and the previous single view of the camera now showed something more akin to a 3D image panning around the room. One watching from the outside would have likely felt the sensation that they could touch everything, rather than as if they were just watching a movie. The view shifted more, and more of the room could be seen. Nearby, lying down on an exam chair of sorts, like one would find in any dentist’s office, was a tall and skinny blonde woman, her blouse and slacks contrasting heavily was the disposable bib around her neck. “You good, Ashley? Still with me?” Stuart asked, pressing in on the blonde woman. “Yeah…” Her voice shook a little and her answer was anything but confident. “Just a little… dizzy, I guess?” She patted her eye tenuously and then quickly looked back at her fingers, almost like she was expecting something to be left there. “At least the bleeding’s gone now.” Stuart nodded. “Yeah. Not going to lie… you looked a little grizzly earlier when I was trying to adjust the feed. It looks like the micro surgeons did a great job though. No scarring from what I can see… which is impressive, because… you know… there’s…” He didn’t seem to be able to finish that thought and gestured with his hands awkwardly. His social skills didn’t seem to be one of his strengths, but Ashley only smiled back. “Because there’s a camera embedded in my eye now?” Stuart nodded and she laughed a little. “Yeah… feels strange to say, but you know the Amazon’s technology. It’s decades at least ahead of our own… even now with everything they’ve been trading to us and all the advances we’ve made since the opening of the portals.” “Yeah… this whole place… building and city too… run off what they’ve given us.” Stuart then rolled back to his monitor. Then, without looking back, he cleared his throat. “But also… Bigs.” Ashely looked at him strangely for a moment. “What?” “Bigs…” Stuart noted again. “You called them Amazons. They’re called Bigs. ‘Amazon’ is almost a derogatory word… especially coming from a Little.” “Oh… I completely forgot about that.” Ashley seemed momentarily stunned and nervous for a moment. “Hey… no big deal here, right?” Stuart leaned back over and looked at Ashley with reassuring eyes. “Just… keep it in mind when you’re going over there.” Ashley frowned and then suddenly looked defensive. “What? I’m not… I…” “Fine, fine,” Stuart said, retreating a little bit back to his monitor. “Don’t tell me about your plans with the tech I just helped set up, but I’m just trying to help. Don’t want a smacked bottom two seconds into your trip over there, do you?” Ashley grimaced a little and then looked slightly embarrassed. “Oh… yeah. Sorry, Stuart. Just… you know how these things go, right? Mr. Swarthout wants doubly sure that all this stays under the radar… at least until publishing. You know how he gets.” Stuart nodded. “Right. I mean, you are talking to the person who sets all this undercover stuff up in the first place for the magazine. Heck, discretion might as well be my middle name these days.” Ashley smiled and Stuart went back to clicking all over his monitor. “Okay… now, let’s check out the feeds. Turn your head up and down and side to side.” Ashley did, but the view didn’t change, and instead still seemed like a 3D experience and not being stuck in one spot. “Good. The feed didn’t change intensity or direction when you did that.” He clicked a few more times. “Now, blink.” Ashley nodded, but this time, the feed popped off and went back to completely blackness whenever she did so. “Oops. Need to… adjust… that… okay, now try again.” Ashley nodded again and blinked, but this time, the feed didn’t black out. “Phew! That could have been bad. Need to make sure you still have a view even if your eyes are closed… or blindfolded.” Ashley only nodded, a small amount of fear seemingly lingering in her eyes over why that would be a top priority that was needed. “Alright… lastly, let’s see if this other feed works… the mental one, I mean. 50-50 shot of this thing even functioning, but… let’s give it a go, shall we?” “Uh, do I need to do something?” Ashley looked around and she blinked a few times and even resorted to snapping her fingers, but nothing appeared to be working. “Hmmm….” Stuart looked closer at his monitor and clicked in a few places. “Let’s try it this way. I’ve increased the number of input feeds. Might feel a little funny, and we might still only capture some of your thoughts, but something would be better than nothing, you know?” Ashley nodded and her face soon relaxed. ‘I hope this works…’ Stuart’s eyes lit up. “Aha!” He seemed near ecstatic over what he was seeing on his screen. “Did you just think ‘I hope this works’ just now?” “Oh shit…” Ashley seemed petrified for a moment that all her thoughts were going to be recorded now, but it was soon supplemented by a look of fascination as well. “Intrusive suckers, those Bigs, huh?” “Maybe… no, definitely if even half the rumors are correct.” Stuart then wheeled away from his desk and came over to Ashley to start getting her ready to leave. “But just think about all those times where you couldn’t speak, and a recording of your thoughts might have helped. I remember you didn’t seem too pleased from that one assignment you had in the Middle East where you had to recall all that stuff for your article weeks after it had occurred.” Ashley nodded, seemingly appreciative of the technology more than worried by it. “You always bring up that assignment, Stuart. I’m still not forgetting how skeptical you were of me when I volunteered for that one.” “Alright, alright,” he said, defensively holding up his hands as he backed off. “I was wrong back then, and you proved to everyone of your skills as an investigative journalist. Just don’t go mucking everything up with this one just because you’re part-cyborg now or whatever. This tech is just a recording device… not a bail out.” Ashley sat up on the chair and waved his concern off. “I know that. Just tell me this… how does thing store data or how do I get it back to you all? Do I needed to do something further?” Stuart nodded and flipped one of screens back to her which soon switched from an MRI scan of her head to one of a process diagram. “Simple really… it has a memory of 400 TBs, but with our modification, it also will attempt to reach out and link to any satellites in the area and send back the feed to a safehouse. Then, if everything goes right, about one to two times a month, they’ll come back here and show us the footage.” ‘If everything goes right…’ The monitor pinged and Stuart looked back at it, and both smiled and seemed hesitant. “Yeah… I’ll admit it’s not the most assured plan using Littles over there to get us the footage, but it’s either that or we send in a person to take it from you, which could blow your cover, or we extract you early, with or without a story.” Ashley rolled her eyes. “Fine, fine. Just… I guess as long as the footage comes back intact for me to do a story after…” Ashley then hopped off the chair and walked over to where Stuart was sitting. “Now… how about that battery life? What am I working with here?” Stuart seemed more hesitant in this answer and then waved his hand around. “Well… difficult to say really. It could last anywhere from two months to…” * * * Day 0 – 12:30 P.M. EDT – Earth The clouds stretched for what seemed like miles as Ashley looked out over the budding metropolis of Philly. The so-called ‘dark times’ had hit the city pretty bad, but with the Amazons… Bigs bump in technology, the city was breathing a long sigh of relief and hope once more. Buildings shined, stonework had been repaired, and the streets now remained clean and devoid of pretty much every gang that once roamed so freely. Ashley was just a kid when all that was going on, and was mostly shielded by her parents, but now, both they and that old festering city were long gone. “Ashley?” Ms. Abernathy called from her desk, to which Ashley spun around. “Mr. Swarthout will see you now.” Ashley nodded and proceeded through the large wooden double doors and into Mrs. Swarthout’s office, the CEO of the magazine here. “You wanted to see me, boss?” Mr. Swarthout was looking at a painting behind his desk but then turned to see Ashley. “Yes… please have a seat.” As he gestured to the open seat in front of his desk, his mouth was grinning, but his eyes bore a heavy aura of dismay and even worry. “Is this about the assignment?” she asked, sitting down and getting comfortable while also trying to maintain a good posture in front of her boss… someone who could pull the plug on all this at the snap of his fingers. Mr. Swarthout sighed before sitting down himself and folding his fingers together. “Well, you are the investigator. I guess I shouldn’t try to hide my intentions of this meeting…” Ashley hesitated by ultimately shook her head. “Very well… I just wanted to check on a few things, but primarily…” He quickly looked like he wanted to puke or curse. “You have until the end of October to get back here and report your story. Beyond that, and regardless of your progress… I pull the assignment. Understood?” Ashley did and nodded, but her face seemed to swarm with questions. “I won’t need that long, right? I mean, if our reports are anything to go off, I should find a story worth all this effort in no time at all and be back before the end of August if my other timelines are anything to go off.” “Maybe…” Mr. Swarthout was a cautious man, but bold as well when he needed to be. Today, his cautious side was showing far more than usual. “It’s just that our reports also indicated that you could encounter no small amount of… trouble. And frankly, Ashley, that’s putting it mildly. I know you’re no stranger to conflict… civil wars, violent dictators, drug trafficking… your resume speaks for itself by now, but…” He trailed off and his eyes hung heavy with something like fear. ‘The pictures… the reports… he must be thinking about the same packet of information we got back from one of our vacationing reporters over there that sparked all this initially…’ Ashley shifted uncomfortably, likely recalling the effects on one such individual that escaped back here, as opposed to their own journalist which had not. “Yes, sir… I know the risks. Those other assignments had their own risks, but at the end of the day, a Kevlar jacket can keep a bullet away. Over there though… not sure how much I can do to stop some even half of what I’ve heard about if it comes to that.” “Exactly.” His words seemed happy that Ashley was showing that she wasn’t going into this blind, but the risks were clearly still sticking around in the front of his mind. “Just remember that most will be out to stop you if you get anywhere near one of the better stories. You will be a target already the moment you step foot on their soil… stats on humans returning from over there who stay more than a week aren’t good. Potentially, with the October cutoff even, you could be over there for over 140 days... more if even the slightest thing goes wrong. Plus, you could be walking right into a trap and not even know it until it was too late.” Ashley sighed, and she was clearly processing everything, but she nearly unbothered by it not long after. “Maybe… but I’ve done that before, and besides… maybe I won’t even deviate from the tour group I’m already signed up for? Could be something interesting there… Diamond Tours I think I heard? Or maybe that was the other one I investigated and then rejected…” The tiny scoff from Mr. Swarthout was audible, but he also didn’t press it any further. “Well… I guess I can’t stop you at this point. You’re stubborn, and that makes you a great journalist, but still, as they used to say… be it on your head then.” Just as Ashley started to stand after nodding in acknowledgement back to him, he then stood up. “Oh, wait… Ashley…” She stopped herself from leaving. “Speaking of tour group… do you have a backstory yet? Your name could be well-known… even to a bunch of Bigs.” This time Ashley smiled with confidence and then pulled out a thick manilla envelope from her bag. “All in here, Sir. Stuart set me up as usual, and I don’t open this thing until I’m locked-in back home. You just never know who could be watching and wind up blowing my cover…” “Hmmm… very diligent of you.” His eyes went down to look over the packet now gripped tightly in her fingers. “I’m sure it will all be up to our standards. Still though…” Worry eclipsed his face once more. “I’m just… I’m concerned about you, Ashley. Would you…” He briefly grimaced. “Would you maybe reconsider? As a favor to an old man?” Ashley frowned at first, shaking her head and then backing away from the seat in front of his desk with a warmer smile instead. “No, sir. I’m not giving up this assignment for anything. I value your concern, sir, but now. Besides, I’ll be fine. I’m not a rookie anymore… so please… stop worrying, will you? I’ve got everythi…” * * * Day 0.1 – 12:30 P.M. EDT – Earth A small room came into view, suitcases and cardboard boxes taking up a majority of the initial frame. Some framed photos were perched nearby, but most of the items besides the main furniture pieces seemed to be souvenirs from around the world, presumably from Ashely’s travels in her job. One could tell a lot about a person looking at just their walls, and Ashley was no different, definitely being the type of person who valued degrees and awards over relationships, and beads from a far-off country to even something as simple as a pet. “Okay… back at my apartment now…” Ashley blinked a few times as she stared into a nearby mirror, temporarily pressing around the feed of her eye. “Still find this strange that everything is recording. Going to the bathroom felt wrong at first… but Stuart assured me yesterday that a filter will be applied before all this stuff gets submitted. Better not be lying about that, or so help me…” Ashley cracked her knuckles and then shook her head. “Whatever… this assignment is going to be a little strange, but first step… pack up the apartment.” She momentarily tapped one of the nearby cardboard boxes perched on a side table of sorts. “Mr. Swarthout is instituting the usual policy of paying for my lease for three months, but after that… the rest of my stuff will go into storage until I get back.” Her face clouded a little in sadness. “Gosh… I still miss my old place before the assignment I took in Germany that lasted another month longer than I thought it was going to.” She then shook her head and looked right into the mirror. “Regardless, I wanted to specifically include this bit for the future for two reasons. The first… well, is me.” She then waved into the mirror. “Not sure how all these angles work exactly, but hey! My name is Ashley Cutters, and I’m an investigative journalist for the magazine, Times Reporting. We cover a lot of local news, but since the ‘dark times’ ended, the magazine has been branching out more onto the country and now world stage.” Ashley then walked into what best could be described as her dining room, though the cluttered table seemed far from sitting anyone comfortably for a meal anytime soon. “So, just to note as well… I requested this assignment. Basically, I was reading a few articles from escaped Littles in the other dimension, plus the one from our own reporter, and I just knew there was a story there waiting to be told. It just felt like too good an opportunity to pass up, so I volunteered right away when Mr. Swarthout wanted to publish a story of some kind from over there. He wasn’t super specific about what, but it gives me plenty of leeway for any type of story I want. Just needs to be compelling.” She then walked over and sat down in front of a large stack of papers. “Now, I also wanted to do this…” She paused and reached for the large and thick manilla folder she had previously received from Stuart and then shown to Mr. Swarthout. “I want to see inside, and I really need to start memorizing everything in here. I’ve got about three days to do this, and if I’m discreet, I can do the rest of the finer details on the bus ride after the portal facility and travel… I hope.” Popping the folder open, Ashley seemed curious as to what was truly inside for this little operation of hers and moments later began to fish out what looked like a passport, cash, personal items, and several other odds and ends. “Well… I guess it could be worse.” She then pulled the ID card close into her face before showing it off at different angles around the room. “Still not sure how this tech works, but I don’t want to take a chance. Guess I need to reach out to Stuart before I leave about the specifics for all that, but for now…” Her finger then pointed to her name. “Looks like I’m now going to be Ashley… Stevens.” She paused and squinted at the ID card for a moment. “Hmmm… first name is the same. Easier to memorize, but not the best for covers.” Setting the ID down with a sigh, she started to read over a thick packet of information. “And it looks like I’m a personal trainer originally from Seattle, Washington. I guess…” she then glanced down at her body, “I guess I could pass for one. Need to check out a few facts and routines maybe first before I leave, but still…” She then sighed and looked at one of the few photo frames in the room. “Sgt. Gideon… Elias could’ve done better….” She picked up the frame and gently caressed the photo within, clearly showing herself and a taller and muscular man geared in desert camo. “Best military contact I ever had. Never worried about ID’s, background, or keeping my butt safe. He did that and more…” She left her words hanging on the air for a second as she lowered the frame to her lap and looked longingly out her apartment window. Looking back down about a minute later, she shrugged her shoulders. “Oh well… I’m sure he’s off protecting someone else by now. Wish he was coming with me, but… oh! And here are the portal tickets.” Ruffling through the spilled-out contents a little more after setting the frame of her and Sgt. Elias aside, Ashley then produced a large rectangular ticket that shimmered in sections underneath the overhead lights. “Good. Three days from now. Plenty of time to get all this memorized for my purposes. And… interesting.” She then pulled the ticket closer to her face. “Leaving from the portal in Philly but going to their portal facility across the country in Niveis… our Nevada. Curious…” Swishing around the finer details of her mission and some further notes on her background packet of detail to memorize for her undercover identity, Ashley finally stood up and began to pace around the room. Each time she made another lap around her furniture; she would switch to reciting another fact about ‘Ashley Stevens.’ Before long, she stopped and went back to the mirror she had started with. “You are Ashley… Ashley Stevens…” She said it, her voice shaking a little at first, and from her tense facial muscles, it seemed to deeply bother her. ‘Go again, Ash… Try it with more confidence… practice makes perfect, right?’ She then gazed back into the mirror. “You are Ashley Ste… Stevens…” ‘Crud! Again, and get it right this time.’ She sighed and took another huge breath. “You are Ashley Stevens.” This time the words came to her much more easily. “You are… Ashley Stevens!” A smile began to creep over her face. “You are Ashley Stevens! Ashley Stevens! Ashley Stevens!” * * * Day 0.4 – 11:16 P.M. EDT – Earth “Ashley Stevens checking in.” Ashley was now dressed more sporty, complete with tennis shoes and a pair of yoga pants as opposed to her previously more typical rugged clothing, born from years on the road and in foreign countries. Her high-top ponytail just seemed to add to her new persona as she handed over her fake ID to the ticket person at the newly constructed portal depot. Working exclusively in glass and steel almost seemed to be a requirement with the design of this building, looking both futuristic and intimidating but welcoming at the same time. For a moment before entering, Ashley hesitated just to look at the newly added structure to just outside of Philly. It was just another example of how everything was changing at breakneck speeds recently. After a second, bringing her attention back to the present, the ticket person looked back at Ashley and smiled. “Oh, yes. Sorry about the wait. Still upgrading from the original systems here. Those old hunks of junk were slow but steady and never crashed. These new ones from the other dimension, well… let’s just say I do a backup of my computer once an hour now… just in case.” “Oh no!” Ashley seemed to feign her concern over such a simple matter. Ashley had a heart for sure, but it was more calculating sometimes when it came to others. Ashley Stevens, though, was a character and needed a more jovial nature to blend in better and form connections which she could later exploit for her story. Stuart being Stuart had laid all that out in detail in her briefing packet. “Don’t you just hate it when that happens! My studio just got the new system last month, and ugh! Never seen so many crashes in my life.” The ticket person smiled while also rolling their eyes. “Oh, that’s just terrible. I’m so sorry.” The computer then whirred to life and a scanner-like noise could be heard followed by a single beep. Smiling back, the ticket person handed Ashley back her ticket. “Alright, hon. You should be all set to go.” The ticket person’s eyes then dropped to their screen. “Huh… portal station to the east of Carson City and north of Prata… strange… Why don’t they just call it Las Vegas like we do? I mean, they call their Philadelphia, Philadelphia as well, you know? Silly Bigs, right?” Ash nodded but she knew the answer and just didn’t seem to be able to hold back. “It’s already Greek. Their dimension pulls a lot from the Greek and Latin. The attendant stared back blankly for a moment, and from a quick widening of her eyes, it was evident that Ashley knew she had pushed her knowledge too far. Sure, a personal trainer could know that stuff, but it might have been more unusual for them to point it out. “At least… that’s what I read in Times Reporting last month!” The ticket person quickly smiled once again. “Oh! That must be it. They do have the most fascinating articles on all that silly stuff.” Ashley clenched her fist temporarily but made sure to maintain her smile above the ticket counter. “Now then…” The ticket person’s finger then pointed to a wide-set hallway with several numbers above it. “Follow pathway 6 and you should be all set to go for your 12:30 departure time to portal station, Niveis 1!” Grabbing the ticket, Ashley smiled broadly back at them, clearly relieved that she had mustered her way out of that slip-up in character. “Perfect! You have yourself a wonderful day!” Waving goodbye like she had once seen in an old movie, the ticket person waved back without incident. ‘Whew! Definitely going to have to get used to this chipper personality that Stuart set me up with…’ In truth, Ashley could have changed it, but by now, she knew that for the moment, she could get more with a more empathetic and bubblier persona than her own. She almost always reverted to her usual self, but she made no more mention of it and proceeded calmly through the newly designed and built portal terminal building. * * * Day 0.4 – 12:26 P.M. EDT – Earth “Next, please!” a stubby and smiling man said, gesturing to the line Ashley was in while scanning everyone’s tickets before sending them off and down the ramp to the large metallic circle at the far end of the room. “Have your tickets out and ready to scan!” Ashley was more than ready by now and eagerly tapped the extended handle of her suitcase. She had shown up early and had spent the past hour getting some coffee and a small pastry. She wanted to eat more, but one of the top suggestions for portal travel was ‘don’t eat or at least eat light’ beforehand. As she scanned her ticket and saw the portal, her face seemed both relieved and content. ‘At least it’s Philly and not one of the ones out in the middle of nowhere. I think they still use the tech that fries your DNA or something and you have to go into medical hibernation for a week… or was it a month?’ She shook her head and kept moving toward the portal entrance… still lying dormant. “Attention!” the seemingly head scientist announced, clad in his pristine lab coat near the top of a platform next to the portal. Everyone below waiting in line immediately turned to him. “Now, I know this will be new for some of you, so just hold on and I promise! Everything you are about to see, hear, and witness is completely normal. Once activated, we will proceed one at a time. But first, please take the pill you are being handed now.” A smaller scientist, dressed in more hospital-like scrubs, came along and handed everyone a pill. Looking down at her palm after being handed one, the blackish green pill didn’t seem to sit well at all with Ashley. ‘Oh boy! Just gotta do this and get it over with. Can’t be worse than the scorpion shot down in Mexico last year, right?’ Wincing a little, Ashley immediately popped the pill into her mouth and visibly swallowed. “And now,” the head scientist continued, “we shall proceed! Activate the portal!” Almost like a performance of sorts, portal travel still fascinated most. For Ashley, the vibrations that started when the switch was thrown unnerved her just a little bit. ‘What the hell is that?’ Everyone had heard what portal travel was like, but seemingly like the universe was getting pierced into two, the whole room shook with tremendous fury. An audible whine and groan of a sound echoed off the walls, and soon, everything just turned to an unsettling hum. ‘God! I can feel it in my stomach!’ Several others groaned, but like the popping of ears after a flight, everything suddenly went still. Briefly everything became fuzzy within view, complete with static on the fringes of the frame by the date and time stamp, but when it snapped back, the portal quickly erupted with a viscous blue fluid. Shimmering and almost magical, it was entrancing to most. Ashley could only stare back in wonder at what was unfolding before her. Then, like a pool of water settling after being disturbed by a rock being thrown in, the liquid-like substance stopped and only briefly rippled within the metal circle device above everyone. “Wow…” Several of the crowd nodded in agreement with Ashley’s short but quite accurate reaction to what they had all just witnessed. “This way! This way!” the head scientist squawked again, looking at his watch quickly as if he had a pressing schedule to keep. The entire room hummed with life and the blue energy coiled through the wiring leading to the perimeter of the metal circle that now contained the liquid-seeming center. It was all quite mesmerizing and… “Feeling nervous, honey?” Ashley turned around to see a slightly taller woman smiling kindly down at her. Ashley wasn’t short by any means, but this woman easily eclipsed her by a good foot at least. Ashley quickly shook her head. ‘Crud! Is she an Amazon? Crud! I mean… Big!’ Everyone knew by now that physical compression between the portals was common. Most Littles over there shrank at least an inch, but coming over here, the same applied to Bigs… just not as well. Most towered over the rest of the population and were pretty obvious once pointed out. “N… no!” she blurted out, a little more defiant and defensively than she had anticipated. “I mean… no. Just… hungry.” It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t exactly the whole truth either. The taller woman smiled. “No worries, dear. There’s nothing to any of this anymore. Once the pill enters your stomach, you might feel a little woozy on the other side, but nothing a nice nap can’t fix. Just breathe easy and you’ll be right as rain.” “Thank you…” Ashley blushed a little, feeling a little overwhelmed by her presence alone, but at the same time… there was almost something alluring to her voice and overall demeanor. Something inviting… something… ‘No, no, Ash! Not that crud. Stay strong and stay focused. Just keep walking… just keep walking…’ “Ticket please,” one of the scientists requested as soon as Ashley was second in line to the portal. Nodding, she handed the ticket over, which was then scanned, and a small hole was punched into the bar code. “Walk forward and don’t forget to just keep breathing.” Their voice was almost mechanical… definitely without any shred of emotion or sympathy, but Ashley could only sigh and step forward. ‘Maybe complacency just means they do this all the time? More portal travel; less problems, right?’ The unease on her face didn’t seem to mix with her inner confidence, but she just breathed slowly as instructed and closed her eyes for a second, gripped her suitcase tight, and stepped through the… * * * Day 1 – 9:33 A.M. PDT – Earth 2 “Talk about a rough landing, huh?” another one from Ashley’s tour group asked her as he hobbled forward with everyone else toward the sign marked ‘Busses.’ “Yeah… you could say that…” Ashley brushed off the feeling of exhaustion blanketing over her already but just seemed glad to be here now. ‘At least I didn’t stumble… would’ve made a terrible first impression with the Bigs… Lost an inch or two though I think…’ “Come on, everyone!” one of the Bigs directed as they stood erect against the wall along the hallway leading out. “Don’t stop. Plenty more coming behind.” Ashley might have looked to check if the Big was lying or not, but the sheer size and sternness etched deep into the Big’s face made her snap her head back facing forward. ‘Don’t question… don’t poke… at least not yet.’ Getting outside, the sun blinded nearly everyone, and Ashley had to shield her eyes away from its intense glare. Everything felt bigger… more tactile, more dangerous here already… and that included the sun. ‘Man… please don’t burn already. I packed my sunscreen down deep. I thought I wasn’t going to need it until later… Stupid brain! You should have remembered to always be prepared with that kind of stuff after Iran last year!’ “Alright everyone!” another Big announced, stepping up in front of the group. “Per your tickets, you all are here for the Hermes Travel Company, correct? First stop, Alati Lake City?” Almost everyone nodded with the exception of two who then checked their ticket and ran off to the signs listing ‘Prata’ and ‘Carson City.’ A few giggled at their expense. Smirking as well, the Big continued. “Excellent! All good now, I’m sure. Welcome! I’m Miss Ripert, your tour guide.” A few clapped, but most seemed more or less out of it already. “Now, I’m sure you’re all pretty exhausted, so just let me check you in and then hop on board. While you wait, let our driver, Stephen, take your bags. I promise… they will be safe.” Ashley didn’t like to let go of all her belongings here to a complete stranger, but she relented as the portly man ambled up and asked to take her suitcase with a smile. “Ashley Stevens,” she said boldly when asked by Miss Ripert her name and for her portal ticket and confirmation number. ‘Please don’t be an issue… I don’t think I can defy someone this tall on my first day… at least not feeling this tired…’ “Let’s see… Ashley… Ashley… Ash… ah! Here we go.” Scanning the ticket and verifying her number, the little tablet in her large hands beeped. “Perfect. You’re all set.” Ashley nodded. “Thank you.” Climbing on board next, she eventually found her seat. Moments after Stephen popped the bus on and it roared to life, Ashley couldn’t fight it anymore and sleep soon overtook her, blacking out the feed once more. * * * Day 1 – 2:50 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 The bus hit a bump, and everything popped back on suddenly. “Wha…?” Ashley sleepily stirred to life and instantly stretched. Looking at her watch, it showed that she had been asleep for over five hours. “Gessh… guess I really was tired.” ‘At least I memorized more of my backstory before I left instead of relying on the bus ride…’ The bus then started to turn and Ashley shifted toward the window from the force of the pull. It wasn’t major, but it was just enough that it slightly shifted her gaze to the left… which just happened to be the perfect timing to see a large glimmering city just out her window. “Wow… I guess that’s Alati Lake City…” “Yep,” another passenger on the tour bus confirmed. “Miss Ripert just announced that a few minutes ago. Should be arriving in the next hour or so depending on traffic getting into the city.” “Thanks…” Ashley smiled back at her fellow tourer and then looked immediately back at the city. A mirror counterpart of Salt Lake City, the surroundings seemed near identical, but here, due to the advanced technology, the city now almost seemed to shine like silver and gold against the bright sun overhead. The pale blue and expansive Alati Lake could just be made out to the west of the city against the backdrop of the near mountains. ‘I wasn’t so sure about this location… especially in comparison against all the rest… but I don’t think I’ll be disappointed here as a first stop… even if it is for almost a week.’ Minutes later, as if to confirm and elevate her excitement even more, Miss Ripert stood up in front of the bus. “We should be arriving within the city soon, and then it will be about another 15 to 20 to get to our hotel, depending on traffic. For now, though,” she smiled playfully and gestured outside of the lefthand of the bus, “this is Alati Lake City. One of the most populous cities in the state as well as being the capital of Utem. I’m sure in the next few days, all if you will get to explore the wonderful outdoor recreation and hub of religious culture that the city is known for.” Miss Ripert then cleared her throat. “That being said, though, I just wanted to give out a few warnings. Us Bigs are good people, but a few may be more inclined to certain… impulses. To avoid these, there are a few simple steps you can follow. Trust me, you’ll want to pay attention to these. They could just mean the difference of you all leaving back through the portal… or something more… permanent.” A few of the Littles murmured in fear, but most stayed silent and listened closely. “Now, first up, never talk…” * * * Day 1 – 4:55 P.M. MDT – Earth 2 Busses hissed to a halt outside the large and opulent sandstone and blue building that was their hotel. It wasn’t the tallest around, but the buildings on either side from this angle shrank close to the ground. As Ashley stared up at the tall building, she couldn’t help but hold her mouth agape in awe. ‘Wow… technology and art fused around here so seamlessly… and it’s only day one.’ “Okay,” Miss Ripert began to shout over the more populated streets, “we’ve all checked in and offloaded your luggage into your rooms for the night. With this tour, we will spend about six days here and in the surrounding mountains, exploring several sites and visiting several companies I think you might find most… illuminating.” Moving away from the hotel, Miss Ripert began to explain all about the city and its founding. “Founded almost two centuries ago now, a breakaway sect from the mainstream religion at the time settled here to practice as they wished. As a result, laws here became more flexible, and desires flared to make a city that would not only last the test of time but also break free of the shackles of many cities to the east that derived their city planning from Europa’s cities at the time.” Looking around as they walked, Ashley could see the validity of Miss Ripert’s words. While there was almost a neo-classical feeling to some of the buildings and statues around, there was also a clear push for styles corresponding to more retro-futuristic in some parts and touches of Brutalism in others. It seemed an odd combination, but it also gave the city a variety that was missing from most cities back on Earth lately. With many destroyed or in need of heavy repairs, most began to look eerily similar as they were rebuilt. Here though, the uniqueness along with clear city planning and a dash of color everywhere, stood out strongly in contrast. “Now, of course, subsequent renovations to them have closed this gap in recent years, but Alati Lake City stands as a testament to…” “Ophelia! Get back here!” a woman screamed from nearby. The group looked over and saw, with the reaction of many gasps of horror, a Little was running through the streets and away from a Big. “No, sweetie! Not into traffic!” Clearly panicking, she seemed to wilt in seeing the Little dodge cars whose hoods she barely stood over. “Someone! Anyone! Stop her!” Most of the group seemed stunned, but Miss Ripert acted quickly and used herself as a shield to block our movement any closer to the Little now blocking traffic. “Stay back everyone. They need to solve this on their own. Trust me… you don’t want to get involved.” As if right on cue, the crowd began to depart. That, and plus the stopped cars, formed some semblance of a circle around the Little, supposedly called Ophelia. From her expression, some doubt definitely seemed to be present in Ashley’s mind if that was even her name though when she first heard it. “Come on, honey. There’s no way out. Come back to Mama.” The woman Big seemed genuinely concerned about ‘her’ Little, but the whole scene still felt very much out of place and even illegal at times if looked at from the right angles… especially regarding the relationship between Big and Little here. Ashley edged forward, but Miss Ripert blocked her path to get a better look. Ashley’s frown showed she didn’t appreciate that, but not pushing it further, anyone could see that she was trying to listen in, despite her distance away from the scene. “Never! I would rather die than go back to be your baby slave!” The Little wasn’t calm, but was clearly level-headed enough to speak without any signs of mental or physical impairment. ‘I don’t know what would be worse to see… a Little that was mentally affected, or a Little that was so physically affected, that their mentality didn’t mean much anymore. Ugh… best not think about it, Ash…’ Regardless, the scene unfolding was aligning with what about Ashley had read about and then been briefed on before coming here. It was a terrible one, but it was realization of the truth that yes, there was a story here somewhere. Ophelia practically growled in response. “Heck no! You stay back, lady! I can’t even curse anymore because of you!” Ashley looked puzzled for a moment. ‘I wonder what the heck that means?’ She paused but then quickly turned her attention back to the unfolding scene between Ophelia and the Big. “You even forced me into…” An odd sort of look came over Ophelia’s face and her eyes squinted in pure hatred toward the Big. “You know what? I don’t need to wear these anymore.” She stomped her foot and then reached right under her dress… and pulled off her diaper, clearly being a cheap alternative that would even allow for that sort of thing. Most from Earth by now already had heard at least the rumors about ‘unremovable’ diapers, but from the reports, Ashley knew they were much more than just rumors. Still, despite the oddity of a Little even being able to tear off their diaper, it was still a clear act of defiance here and many gasped in the crowd around Ashley. “Take that, lady!” Ophelia hissed back at the Big with more confidence than someone who had just been wearing a diaper ought to have. The Big temporarily scowled. “Mommy! It’s ‘Mommy,’ Ophelia. Remember that?” Ashley seemed perplexed for a moment regarding the Big’s demeanor. ‘Which was she more upset about? The diaper or the lack of term to address her?’ “No!” Ophelia screamed again, this time stomping her foot on the ground and then over top of her diaper. “You’re not my mommy! My mommy is back home and…” Right as she said it though, it was clear to anyone watching that she hadn’t meant to say that… or at least not come across so childish when referring to her true parent back on Earth. Before anyone else could react though, a series of high-pitched whistles rang out through the streets and two police officers ran to the scene. “Ma’am? Is this one your Little?” The Big nodded her head. “I’m very sorry, officer. I promise you that she’s normally not like this. I…” “Ma’am… if she is under your care, then I’m afraid you are both going to need to come to court.” The officer didn’t mince his words at all, now only pointing back to where they had come from, which one could just see beyond the crowds was their police car. “Or… that’s at least what will happen if you can’t resolve this situation in the next minute, understand?” The Big now genuinely seemed fearful, but seconds later, resolved as well. Looking back at Ophelia, she smiled, but now also seemed burdened by the alternative if she failed now. Ashley leaned closer, knowing something was about to happen between them. “I’m sorry, Ophelia…” “Sorry?” Ophelia questioned. “Sorry for wh…?” Before she could speak another syllable though, the Big had rushed up to her, wrangled her into her arms, and then popped a large bulbous white pacifier in Ophelia’s mouth before hitting the front button at least three times. Needless to say, Ophelia seemed outraged and more worryingly, in pain now. ‘Wow… I hope I’m capturing all angles of this… this could be a great story… Poor Ophelias though…’ Ashley seemed sympathetic to a fellow Little, but the journalist in her wasn’t just going to stop and looking at this story from all the angles. Abuse. Being held against one’s will. Infantilization to the highest degree. A corrupt system. The normality of the treatment. Ashley could see all the titles of her next article so perfectly, but as she looked around, her smile of a possible story began to fade. ‘No one’s even batting an eye over this. If they’re not reacting harshly to this, then it’s already at least mostly normalized… which means there’s another story that no one wants to talk about… or even can for that matter. No… this isn’t my story.’ “Good work, ma’am. Just try to keep a closer eye on her. I might even suggest some… modifications, or some equipment maybe,” one of the officers noted swiftly once Ophelia had been pacified and was now being held firmly in place, not going anywhere… even as she struggled heavily… even more so after he mentioned ‘modifications’ and ‘equipment’ being used. “Now… being a parent myself to a Little, I might suggest you rediaper her. Never can be too careful, right?” The Big smiled and bounced Ophelia gently, despite her continued protests. “Oh no. Definitely not. Fortunately, we live right up the street. Absolutely not going to let her ruin the new carpet I just had put in.” A few of the Bigs laughed nearby but Ashley didn’t seem to know how to react. ‘If I laugh, I’m a terrible person without empathy towards a fellow Little. If I don’t laugh… I could seem suspicious. Ugh… well, maybe just roll the dice and see what happens.’ So, instead, Ashley just opted for silence instead of compliance. She seemed to catch the suspicious and maybe even evil glance shot her way by one of the locals, but otherwise, most didn’t comment. “And also… rest assured officer,” the woman Big continued, bouncing Ophelia in her arms, “little Ophelia here won’t be practicing anymore escape attempts under my watch. I can assure you of that.” She patted her Little on the butt a few times as Ophelia let out a small whimper of defeat and most definitely fear. The officer only tipped his hat, smiled, and left. As for the reactions from the rest of the tour group… they were less inclined to say anything. It only took a second though, to realize that most now seemed too petrified over what just happened in front of them. Most grimaced even further when the Big got Ophelia to wave her hand back at everyone and babyishly say ‘goodbye’ for her to the crowd there. It was an unsettling sight to say the least. Still, the scene now over, Miss Ripert glanced back at the group. “Now then… no worries, my darlings. Just a small escapee of a Little. These attempts happen all the time here now, but you have to give their tiny failures a little sympathy at least… and nothing more.” Ashley knitted her hands together, clearly trying to distance herself from all that was happening. It was all terrible to see, but the complacency of every Big now that Ophelia had been taken away was disconcerting. This wasn’t her story, but as Ashley listened on to excuse after excuse by Miss Ripert over what just happened, it felt more like a conspiracy embedded into the very fabric of the society here than anything else… and certainly not the fault of a small and clearly traumatized Little. Ashley didn’t have a story yet, but seeing it was only Day 1 and this had happened literally right in front of her when she wasn’t even looking, her overall confidence seemed to bloom that yes, she would find a story. ‘I vow to myself now… I’m not leaving here until I get the story I’m looking for. ‘Ashley Cutter’ will soon be a name on everyone’s lips back home. The Little that figured out the truth of this terrible place!’ It might have been a simplistic platitude, but it provided the tiniest of smiles. Even in a place like this, it was good to have hope that everything would be okay. So, for Ashley, that absolutely meant that by the end here, she would have her story.