The CONtingency: A Diaper Dimension Story (Chapter 19 - Complete)

[CCApril]

Sorry Percy but you need to calm down. You didn't give them anymore then they could have gotten from earths internet. If knowledge of baseball and Halloween was all they needed for an invasion they would have struck long ago. Hug Stripes and feel better!

[LostBBoyBear]

Alright, here we go. As I noted previously, I’m going to be working very hard this week to try and get out as many chapters as I can. Looking ahead, I believe I should still be able finish before my deadline next week, but if anything changes, I will note it before another chapter then.

Also, and I do discuss it a bit here, but Percy freaked out more about all the other stuff he said to the Bigs rather than just about Halloween and the other topics like that. Looking back, I don’t think I made that clear enough then, so I do apologize for that. So, yes, he is freaking out that any information he gives could be considered problematic, but his panic attack stemmed more from the fact that he’s been spouting all this information to the Bigs for months now. As I said, I’ll make it more clear in this chapter, but I just wanted everyone to be on the same page going forward.

Anyways, I hope everyone enjoys this next chapter!

Chapter 13: Contingencies Exist for a Reason

Reality and truth are very sobering to anyone who suddenly finds themselves in the midst of it all after being in an illusion of peace and happiness for so long. This other world and dimension had become like my home and the people here had mostly shown me nothing but patience and compassion. It was almost a paradise of sorts if one fell into the right circumstances, which so far, I mostly had with the Norris family. That all changed though, two weeks ago when DB and Melley practically confirmed my worst fears.

The sudden realization of everything that I had told the Bigs over the past months all came crashing down on me. Before, I thought that maybe the Bigs could know too much about the inner workings of our government, but after that day, I knew that almost anything I said could be used against the human populace if manipulated just right. It was a terrifying prospect, and no matter how many times DB and Melley tried to console me about it, I just couldn’t accept the fact of my part in it. Apparently, that’s being too dramatic, but they aren’t the ones who gave the Bigs exactly what they wanted.

Regardless of my own feelings though, time moved on, and the Fall season quickly arrived in our small community. The leaves began to change in earnest and a chill set upon everything at night. It was my favorite season, but with my little revelation, I found myself adrift away from all the frivolity that surrounded me.

Of course, Samantha was no fool or ignoramus, so she had kept a close eye on me ever since I collapsed in her arms after daycare back in September. Now in the beginning of October, I could tell she wanted to confront me about whatever was going on. I was guessing though that she still felt a sense of guilt for bringing me here in the first place, so for now at least, she let me be.

Time moved on though and trying to lift my spirits in her own way, she decided to take me to a local fall festival today. Perched just beyond a dusty gravel parking lot and right before the mountains surrounding the town nearby, the fall festival was an annual event apparently and was something that most looked forward to all year.

“Try and cheer up, sweetie. I promise you might enjoy yourself if you give this place half a chance,” Samantha tried to coax me out of my blues. I only nodded and not wanting to make a scene, she just pulled me along by the hand and into the festival.

Three go’s down the slides and one ‘spooky’ hayride later, Samantha was purchasing a kettle corn bag while I fed a few of the animals. Now, I was no animal expert by any means, so I guess I should have given myself more of a break, but the Bigs here knew how to make a Little feel just that when it came to anything new around here. For example, what I might call a ‘pig,’ they would call a choiros. Same would go for an aloros, or horse, or gida, or goat. It didn’t help that almost all of them were twice the size that I was used to back home, but I still felt like such an outsider when it came to these things… or a toddler just learning to speak.

Regardless, I was feeding the gidas, when I heard a few Bigs start to speak up from behind me. I of course had been in this position before, as my bulky jeans and jacket today, my diapered rear, small stature, and feeding the gidas would likely only point to me as just another regressed Little here. Bigs always underestimated me like that, which I found annoying at first, but I soon realized I could learn about so many things that I likely shouldn’t.

“How did it go with the councilman on Friday?” the gruff Big asked the small Big next to him.

“Oh… you know, the usual,” the small Big scoffed. “Councilman Chambless approved new housing for the academy if we… greased the wheels a bit. If you get my drift…”

“Oh… that usual business,” the gruff Big noted. “I swear he’s going to be able to make a house from all the extra money bills from kickbacks that he’s been given over the years.”

“True,” the small Big acknowledged, “but we need the space. You heard Grossman. They want to increase our presence on Earth by at least triple what it is now in the next three to four years. I don’t see how those Earthers wouldn’t realize what was happening around them, but I guess there’s a reason I’m not in charge of things like that.”

“Right you are,” the gruff Big said without the slightest hesitation, “but also… you’re forgetting one crucial fact.”

“Oh?” the small Big asked with curiosity. His voice seemed to get closer, so without turning around, I would bet anything that he was leaning in closer to hear his friend’s secret. “What is that?”

“They’re all just a bunch of Littles,” he said in the most straightforward manner ever. “How could a bunch of babies notice anything but the shiny devices or the food right in front of them?” Both got a good chuckle out of that one while I just stood there, completely mortified by the likely truth of my own species.

“Come on,” the gruff Big said after a moment when the laughter had died down. “These animals aren’t going anywhere. Let’s find Tracy. I’m sure even with Troy’s energy, he’ll be done with her going down the slide by now.”

“I don’t know…” the small Big said un-assuredly. “You saw him after the whole cupcake incident. What do you think he’ll be like after two apple cider donuts?”

“Oh geez…” the gruff Big noted with a little fear. “We’d better hurry and save my wife. No telling what that Little could be like after all that!” Both chuckled a bit, but I turned a little and saw them run off.

I shouldn’t have been shocked then. In the two weeks since I had learned of the long-term consequences of my stories and all, I had practically heard the same thing in other categories as well. First, it was the high interest in me giving a lecture to ‘special guests’ next semester. Second, it was the increasing amount of reading material based on Earth, and more specifically, how to care for an Earth Little. Now, with this new information, I just couldn’t shake my bad feelings anymore.

The hayride had helped a lot with the ‘scary’ monsters that tried to frighten everyone on board as they emerged from the woods, and even feeding the gidas moments ago was a relief of some sort. All that now felt brushed aside though with the notion of tripling the presence of Bigs on Earth. Unfortunately, that’s just where Samantha found me as she returned with the kettle corn.  

“Found a new friend?” she asked, clearly eager in her efforts to cheer me up and gesturing toward the goat I was still barely feeding.

“Yeah… the gidas,” I had to remind myself to call them, “they’re great. Smell funny though.”

Samantha smiled. “Well, so do you honey in the mornings, but you don’t see them complaining.” Most of the nearby Bigs clearly heard her comment and found it hilarious and began to chuckle amongst themselves. I didn’t.

“That’s not funny,” I said, pouting and crossing my arms now. I was aware of how childish I looked but her poking fun at my regression since I had gotten here didn’t feel like a laughing matter. Right now, it was only reminding me of how vulnerable Earth was to all this.

“Uh, oh…” a nearby Big woman interjected before Samantha could say anything. “I know that look anywhere. Looks like someone could use a nap, huh?”

“I do not!” I fumed at the stranger. She had no business talking to me like that, but I was temporarily forgetting where I was. I was a Little and the rules were different for me. A Little simply did not talk back to a Big and get away with it.

“Percy!” Samantha yelled at me. I knew from her tone that I was now definitely in trouble. We were in public, and Samantha couldn’t be seen as a neglectful caregiver when it came to her Little. Others had done the same and less than a week later, the Little was removed from their custody. There was always another Big waiting for their very own Little. “You do not talk back like that. Apologize this instant!”

I turned quickly to the smirking Big. I wanted to wipe that smile right off her face, but I knew that would only spell my doom right now. So, instead, I was a good boy. “I’m sorry, miss,” I said, relying on the number of times I had practiced that exact line in front of the mirror back at home. “I was wrong, and you were right.”

The Big seemed unsatisfied for a moment, but then just turned back to Samantha. “He seems well behaved, but I think he definitely needs a nap… or a punishment… As his mommy, its completely up to you.”

I could instantly tell that Samantha did not like being told what to do with her own Little, but I could also see her own practiced form fall into place. “Thank you for the advice. Perhaps we should just be going instead. Probably just too long of a day for this one anyway without some more rest like you said.” Without skipping a beat, she then looked down at me and forcefully jutted out her hand to mine. “Percy, we’re leaving right now.”

I wanted to stay and didn’t feel tired at all, but I knew my place in all this. I had temporarily forgotten it in my despair over the future of what Earth was to be and my part in it, but I took her hand right then without a single comment. When one’s Big said it was time to go home, a Little simply did not argue with them… or at least a Little who cared about being punished that is.  

So, we quickly exited, and I could see the woman Big and several others smiling in their own ways as Samantha marched me right out of there and to the car. I was half expecting her to yell at me or even apologize if it was all a ruse, but even when we were driving back home, she was silent. Even with my worry of the future of Earth, I was now far more worried about what my fate would be back home.

As soon as we got out and into the house, and then the door closed behind Samantha, she looked at me with a fury that made me weak at the knees, but still, her eyes still showed her caring ways. It was comforting, but now, I really wasn’t sure what to expect. “Now, sweetie… I want to be nice to you. I want to at least be your friend here, but your attitude needs to change. So, please, just tell me what’s going on.”

Seeing that she wasn’t angry, I felt I could still just slide away and all this could be forgotten. It had happened once before, and I didn’t want to burden her with all my current troubles. “I’m fine. Really. I guess I just need a nap like that lady suggested.” Yep. I could barely believe the words coming out of my mouth either, but I felt it was a better alternative than the truth right now. I then started walking away to go upstairs. Samantha had other ideas though.

“And just where do you think you’re going, mister?” she asked directly as her foot popped out in front of me, blocking my way upstairs.

“Just drop it,” I tried to say as forcefully as I could without crossing the ever-mysterious line. It didn’t work.

“No, Percy,” Samantha doubled down, getting a little closer to me. “I’m not going to ‘just drop it.’ Tell me what’s going on. This isn’t you. I know you well enough by now to know that much at least.”

I almost broke right then, but my inner voice was still telling me to keep quiet. I had said I was a traitor to Earth back during my little breakdown two weeks ago, but Samantha had never asked any follow-up questions afterwards. For all she could have known, I was just spouting off random things in my emotional state after daycare that day. So, as she doubled down, I did too… a little too well, I guess. “I said, drop it! Please!”

It was the last straw for Samantha. Before I could barely blink, she picked me up with both her hands and nearly catapulted me onto the couch nearby. I almost spoke up, but she held up a single finger in front of her. “Don’t test me, Percy. I’ve been going easy on you, and there’s even several Bigs that have been pushing me to be stricter with you. I’ve ignored them, but perhaps that might just be what you need.”

Her caring eyes were still cast down on me, but I could also see that her patience had finally run out. My chances were up, and I knew something was bound to snap today. I felt at this point with what she was mentioning, it was either going to be my will or my body.

“So, here’s how this is going to go, and it’s not up for debate. You can either tell me now, or I can treat you like a Little, give you a punishment, and then maybe after, we might have to start reviewing some decisions about your future privileges.” She had thrown the gauntlet down, and the ball was now in my court. “So, which is it going to be? Truth or punishment?”

I gulped and I definitely didn’t want to be punished. While I doubted that Samantha’s brand of punishment would ever be as severe as Mrs. Katherine’s, the daycare attendant’s treatment of my backside had been permanently sealed into my mind. So, I felt I really only had one option left. “Okay… I choose the first…”

To my relief, Samantha’s fury quickly dissipated, and she sat down on the couch next to me. “I’m very glad to hear that, Percy. I want us to at least be friends and I don’t know if that could have been possible if you had chosen the second option.”

I nodded in agreement and took a deep breath. “Okay… well, remember when I came home after daycare and basically had a bit of a breakdown?” Samantha nodded. “Well, I said that I was a traitor of Earth, but I never explained, and you never asked about it.”

Samantha nodded. “I wanted to give you your space. I thought that’s what this whole attitude of yours lately could be, so I wanted you to tell me in your own time, but you were pushing the boundaries of being a Little a bit too much in public. There could have been severe consequences from that, so I had to give you a final push today…”

It made sense, and while I wasn’t sure if I was ready to spill everything, I felt I had no choice now before everything went wrong. “I appreciate that, so here’s what’s going on...” I then regaled all my fears and feelings to her about my dirty deeds. She did little but nod and rub my shoulder tenderly occasionally when a sudden surge of emotion overtook me. To be honest, by the end I was feeling a little better. “So, see? I just don’t know anymore. I did all that for my pride, but with all the new students coming… I feel I can’t just stop going to the academy anymore. I feel like a traitor and with Franklin… I feel its only a matter of time if I stay that he’ll uncover something truly damaging. I feel trapped.”

Samantha then let out a huge sigh. “I was worried you were going to say that.” She then got up and went over to a nearby bookshelf. By now, I had read a good chunk of the books from there, but never being able to really even see the titles at the top, it was a row I had yet to read at all. To my surprise though, Samantha reached up and grabbed a single large book, opened it, and then pulled out a series of documents from the hidden compartment inside.

She walked back over to me, handed me the papers, and sat back down. “These are just copies, but I knew this day was coming eventually, so I made them for you to see. They are the official documents from the trial and the plans my family has been discovering about everything we’ve seen that’s going on.”

I quickly read over them in my own eagerness, and Samantha gave me the time, but by the end, I was still a little confused. “So… there’s a planned meeting between the president here and the leaders of Earth, but I saw there isn’t a date for that. If this is a plan, how come there’s not a date?”

Samantha nodded. “Well, we just don’t know yet. A lot of that depends on Earth itself, but your stories have been pushing all this along…” she then looked away and deeply exhaled. “And further, I know you want to quit, but you just can’t, Percy.”

“What?” I fearfully questioned. “What do you mean? Why can’t I quit the academy? I’m not even an official staff member. How can I quit something I’m not even officially a part of?”

“Well…” Samantha’s hesitation quickly unnerved me. “Flip to the back page.” I did and I could quickly see it was the official notarized document from hers and Chelsea’s trial.

I was confused though. “I’ve seen this already, Samantha. Oppy showed me it the day after the trial ended. It was basically just a pardon for what you had done.”

Samantha nodded. “It was, but this came later and breaks down how I got that pardon of sorts.” She then pointed to two embossed lines. “Here. The first is protocol 6 and the second is protocol 9. Read the second one first.”

I looked at the document before me. “Uh… protocol nine brings you back to the university as part of a community service… I already know that one though.”

Samamtha nodded. “Yes, but now read about protocol six above it…”

I looked back at the document. “Protocol six… a Little will be allowed to stay with the academy personnel directly without further consequence to either party if…” I paused and saw what was next and my stomach dropped a little.

“Go on,” Samantha coaxed, already fully knowing what the second part was about.

“Uh… if the Little exchanges relevant information with the academy about their home planet. Otherwise, they can be subject to protocol one.” I looked up at Samantha and I realized that my service to the academy and the coaxing of my stories was no coincidence. In essence, I was serving part of her time as community service toward the academy. “How long have you known?”

Samantha sighed. “About since June… I didn’t know it was part of my conditions for release until Judge Franklin gave me this document and explained fully what was going on. You have to understand… most of the time, protocol six just coincides with an interview… not a full debriefing of information months after the trial is done like that’s been happening to you. Normally, it’s just the interview questions and the protocol has been fulfilled.”

Most everything was clicking into place now. “So, your spats with him…?”

Samantha nodded. “All about you basically… Judge Franklin was on a tear at one point to get all the information out of you in a single weekend. It would have been all over in less than an hour, but you and I would have been free.”

“So why didn’t you agree to that?” I asked. It felt like a no-brainer to go with that option.

Samantha suddenly seemed very sad. “Because the process is tough on the brain. About three times worse than interview 43C questions in fact. You are strong Percy, but after all that… you probably wouldn’t have been, well… you anymore. I just couldn’t risk it.”

It was a revelation that I needed to hear. In essence, Samantha had practically sacrificed her own freedom in exchange for mine. The trial was clearly a front and once they had realized they could get information out of me, a non-regressed Little, everything since then had just been in an effort to do that. It didn’t take much imagination to figure that if at least Franklin had his way, the Norris family would have all been set free, but I would have likely been a shriveled-up husk with abilities and emotions no better than a newborn by now. It was a lot to take in.

“There’s one more thing though…” Samantha sighed. “Franklin has informed me that there is a caveat to all this as well. At some point, and I have no idea when, I need to perform a task for him. No questions asked.” I could see the rage burning behind her eyes. “Otherwise, protocol one will be initiated. It would be the same thing if you quit.”

‘Protocol one… protocol one!’ I had heard that at the trial, but no one had ever explained it to me. I still wasn’t even sure what 249 was, so now, with almost everything coming out in the open, it felt like as good of a time as any to find out the truth. “Samantha… what’s protocol one? And for that matter, what’s 249?”

Samantha seemed hesitant but then just quickly got up to her feet and checked her watch. “Come on. Let me check your diaper, but then we’ll go out on a little field trip.” I raised an eyebrow over what was happening, but Samantha just kept pushing through my clear skepticism of the situation. “Come on. It’s better at this point if I just show you.” I nodded, hoping that my trust wasn’t misplaced, and then after a quick change upstairs and a restocking of the diaper bag, Samantha and I drove away.

We drove for longer than I was used to at this point and beyond the academy into a large, forested area. “Where are we going?” I asked nervously, just picturing that now that I knew things, that Samantha was going to kill or regress me out here in the middle of nowhere. It was times like these where I felt like I might have seen one too many spy and horror movies…

“It’s okay. We’re almost there,” she noted as she turned down an unlit rickety road. “Just stay quiet… and whatever happens, let me do the talking.”

I nodded, and soon we came to a single guard’s station at the front of a gate. Samantha exchanged a few pleasantries, showed her academy personnel badge, and explained who I was. Fortunately, the gate opened, we both waved goodbye to the guard, and Samantha kept driving until we reached a singular concrete bunker-like building. “What is this place? It’s giving me the creeps…” I said as she helped me out of the car, and I stared at the imposing structure.

Samantha nodded. “That was the idea behind the design actually. The academy didn’t want this place on anyone’s radar, but you could kind of call it our punishment building.” She then hesitated and looked back in the car. “Uh, actually… on that note, bring Nurple with you…” I felt a tiny spurt in my diaper at those words. Samantha had never actively suggested bringing my stuffy anywhere, but with this place, she barely had any hesitation. Worrying now more than ever, I quickly grabbed Nurple from beside my diaper bag in the backseat.

With that, Samantha then locked the car, and we went up to the building. She stood still in front of the camera there, scanned her eye at the extended device from the wall, and then punched in a code at the single metallic door at the base of the imposing structure. It beeped and then slowly opened with a loud groan. Undaunted, Samantha went first, and I followed close behind her before the door shut right behind us.

Inside, to my surprise, there were only two doors and a single elevator. “Come on,” Samantha said with a serious face. “No matter what you see or hear, always stick by my side. Don’t wander for a single second.” She then paused and seemed to think of something for a moment before she thrust her hand back out. “In fact, take my hand… the one not holding Nurple…” I quickly obeyed as she then pressed the elevator button and led me inside when the doors finally opened.

After Samantha pushed a single button near the bottom of the panel, the elevator plummeted downward. I could feel my throat beginning to rise to my mouth and I was worried that I was going to splat against the roof of the small metal box we were now encased in. Right before I cried out in fear though, the elevator came to an abrupt stop and we both got out.

Immediately I heard screaming and moaning all around me. I hugged Nurple tightly and got as close as I could to Samantha.

She reached down and pulled me in closer as well. “It’s okay, baby. They can’t hurt you. Just stick close to me and we’ll get through all this together.” She then checked her watch. “Good. Almost time… come on.”

I wondered what she was referring to with the time, but we just started to walk toward the end of the hallway. As we did, I noticed several rooms, most of which had patient numbers and their information posted to the front or side of the door. It all seemed pretty standard down here, apart from being in an underground bunker, but then right below each of the bits of information, I saw the word ‘Punishment.’ It didn’t take long for me to see the numbers there as well… particularly those listing ‘Protocol 2.’

“Is this where Chelsea went to get… uh… regressed?” I asked tentatively, right after I heard another scream from nearby.

“Yes…” Samantha confirmed after a minute of the lights flickering. “Protocols one and two occur here, but there’s another wing that house any academy personnel awaiting trial…”

A horrible realization then came over me. “Wait… so you were here… as a prisoner?”

Samantha nodded. “I was. It’s a little nicer over there, but it’s still very secure and structured. A person can live for years under those conditions, but these…” she gestured to the doors we were passing, “well, you’ve seen Chelsea…”

I nodded, but my curiosity was also getting the better of me. “Right… but what do they actually do to them? Chelsea wasn’t even gone for very long and when she came back…” I couldn’t finish the thought as the lights flickered again and a pained scream echoed throughout the hallways. I almost feared popping Nurple’s head off I was squeezing him so much at that point.

“It’s best not to ask some of those questions, sweetie,” Samantha answered somberly. “I know a few things about the process, but they have methods here… well, to give you an idea of the severity… they induce memory loss in the guilty party whenever they leave… without exception.”

“Oh…” I still felt perturbed a bit by Chelsea’s selfish actions, but since Peace Day at the pool where I saw the lack of her abilities on full display before everyone, I had started to feel a sadness I had never expected towards her. She was guilty for sure, but times like this… it was hard not to feel a little bad for her.

Samantha and I walked a little further until we came to a single door at the end of the hallway. It bore a simple sign that denoted ‘Protocol One Observation.’ “Ready?” Samantha asked, looking down at me. I slowly nodded, still not sure what I was going to see.

Even when we walked into the room though, there was basically only a few chairs and a large window that was clearly covered by a curtain on the other side of the glass. “We’re still a little early before it starts, but you asked a few questions back at home.” I nodded. “Well, to answer your first question, you, honey, are Little 249.” Right then, the curtains opened and beyond the glass window in front of us was a large room filled with several pieces of equipment and cables.

A Big dressed in a lab coat was strutting around a few others and was seemingly checking a few of the gauges and dials before him. As soon as he saw us though, he grabbed a nearby microphone. “Hello up there. So good of someone to join us tonight. As per protocol, the two people you see before you are about to be subjected to academy protocol one precisely at 6 o’clock.”

Samantha nodded and turned to me. “Baby… I want you to watch this. It’s going to be a little scary, but I want you to know what will happen if you stop at the academy.”

I nodded and then strangely saw both a Big and Little strapped down to tables down there with a series of cables running from them and leading to several of the large machines I had first seen earlier. If I had no idea what was going on, I would have directly compared it to Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory, instead my whirled with what protocol one actually was. Still, my attention was drawn to the two struggling figures below. “Who are they?”

Samantha sighed. “I don’t know them personally, but all the academy staff got a notification of the outcome of the trial last week. See, Juliet down there was a hunter and began an illicit and illegal relationship with a human while on Earth. All was consensual, but she claimed him and then didn’t even tell anyone. In trying to cover it up though, several other academy personnel were injured. Once they were captured on this side, she was judged guilty, and through association, he was as well.”

I looked towards both struggling figures displayed out on the tables. They seemed to only be wearing childish-themed hospital gowns and unmistakable large bulky diapers. From the little I knew; it all wasn’t a good sign of what was to come for them. “So, this is protocol one?” I asked hesitantly.

Samantha nodded. She seemed about to speak, but the doctor below spoke up once again. “Okay, almost 6. Begin the sequence countdown.” Both figures on the tables seemed to try and struggle more and scream out, but both had thick rubber gags in their mouths. If I was being honest with myself, they looked like they were a cross between one of the gags they used to use with electroshock therapy and a pacifier. It was all terrifying to watch, yet I couldn’t take my eyes off any of it.

“In three! Two! One! Initiate!” Suddenly, all the lights began to flicker, and the whirring machines came to life even more while large bursts of blue and green arcs traveled along the wires and directly into the muffled-screaming victims below. Some cables went to their chest and limbs, while the others went directly to their heads. They were all but silent, but I could see the fear in their eyes and the pain they must have felt based on the twitching and convulsing of their limbs. Horrifyingly further, considering the Big was a woman and the Little was a man form Earth, it was hard not to see the similarities between them and us up here.

A painful two and a half minutes later, the electricity coursing into their bodies soon ceased. The doctor smiled as he saw that both of their diapers had been heavily used and now both appeared very dazed. While the woman seemed to snap somewhat out of it, I could tell that there was likely little left of the Little’s own mind now. The doctor then looked back up to us. “Thank you for attending. This concludes our session for tonight.” Like a theater show, the curtains then closed.

There was a moment of silence, and I could see that Samantha was just silently looking at a response from me. It took a second for me to even form words, but I had questions that needed answering. “What happened to them? Are they going to be okay?”

Samantha smiled. “It’s so heartwarming to hear you care about them, but it’s a little hard to answer that question.” Her face quickly darkened with uncertainty. “Physically? They’ll be monitored for signs of issues, but they should be okay in a few days, but mentally, however? That’s a different story…” She braced the wall but turned back to me. “See, the Little was cognitively regressed to a newborn… the process shredded most of their neurons responsible for higher brain function, but the Big… they’re leaving her with the capabilities of about a toddler. It’s one of the academy’s harshest punishments…”

“That doesn’t seem fair…” I pointed out. I now knew that both Samantha and I would be subject to protocol one technically, but it seemed the Little was basically being erased when they hadn’t even knowingly committed a crime… almost like me in this case with my association with Samantha. Further, I realized that while Samantha hadn’t committed a major crime, the severity of this punishment was in place to ensure our compliance with what people like judges Franklin and Grossman wanted.

“Maybe…” Samantha finally acknowledged, “but they are free.” I then raised an eyebrow to question what she was even referring to. From my perspective, neither had looked free. “Well… the Little lost who they are, but they don’t have to suffer through everything. A tickle could be the highlight of their day, but for the Big… most who end up like that either go mad from the constant helplessness of it all or just simply from watching all their mistakes unfold before their eyes and yet can do nothing about it… Essentially, for both, it’s a permanent sentence.”

I quickly realized that Samantha was essentially referring to locked-in syndrome. From there, it didn’t take a genius to make the connection with protocol two or to Chelesa. “Do you think Chelsea is locked-in like that?”

Samantha sighed. “I honestly don’t know, baby. I know when she starts to come out of it, from past Bigs sentenced to it, I know there’s a bit of an adjustment and growing period, but before then, it’s hard to say… most don’t remember anything but a few sensations. They could be aware, but they can’t remember it after or articulate it during.”

With that, I then looked back at the red curtains now before us, knowing full-well of the fate of the two just beyond and below them now. It seemed horrible and both seemed to be in agony throughout the whole procedure until the very end. I suppose the human body could only take so much before becoming numb to it or losing consciousness. Regardless, it was a fate I wanted to avoid almost at all costs. “So, I can’t back out of the academy…”

Samantha sadly shook her head. “Not really… I mean, you can… but if you do, this will be both of our fates…”

It was a lot to take in over the course of one evening. While my path forward seemed terribly forced, I was at least glad of the heart-to-heart that I had with Samantha. We were both trapped in our own ways now, but at least we were on the same side as well. I wondered what else Judge Franklin had in mind for Samantha, but for now, I just wanted one thing. “Can I get a hug?”

The trepidation and nervousness on Samantha’s face soon vanished. “Of course, honey.” She crouched down and we both then embraced and held each other about as tightly as we could. In a sense, we were both doomed, but unless there was some way out, we were at least both doomed together. In this world, it didn’t take long to learn that a small happiness like that should never be taken for granted. One just never knew what was going to happen next.

[Kat5]

9 hours ago, LostBBoyBear said:

you, honey, are Little 249.

And it was at exactly this moment that I knew precisely how doomed he was.

[Guilend]

43 minutes ago, Kat5 said:

And it was at exactly this moment that I knew precisely how doomed he was.

Yeah, I had a feeling that number was him. I think I even mentioned it. I guess Samantha is lucky that they're not making her wear pull ups or diapers during this time or wasn't turned into a bedwetter, all of which is supposed to help remind her that it could be worse if she didn't abide by the rules. I'm guessing there's a daycare for the Bigs and maybe a group of Bigs that are on like a list that they call to become the caregivers of these Bigs that are now big babies or toddlers that don't have family to take them in or are willing to take them in. At least Chelsea won't remember most of or any of her baby time, but she'll still have plenty of memories of being in diapers and the humiliation of it from her transition to getting adult status back. I guess Samantha should be grateful she was able to sit comfortably during the following days after the trail lol. If I was one of the judges I'd have at least had her spanked on her bare bottom with a paddle before being let go, probably by her mother. Samantha and Percy has to toe the line. The judges aren't going to be happy till he finally gives up earth's government. Understanding earth's political history and how it works, both from country to country, but also internationally would give the Bigs a great advantage on how to manipulate everything. I have a feeling if Percy keeps resisting telling that judge about the politics of earth that they'll do something to Samantha to get Percy to talk. Maybe a small regression, loss of some or all of her potty training or forced to spend a few days as an unregressed big baby or toddler with the threat of putting her in that machine. Or they'll punish Samantha in some way because ultimately they'll think it's her fault that Percy isn't giving them what they want so they "motivate" her to push Percy into talking. So much can happen after this.

[LostBBoyBear]

Hey everyone! I was originally going to write a Halloween story for this one, being set at the end of October and all, but then I realized that it’s not until later with my own canon in these stories that Halloween is even introduced to this dimension. I was going to have an alternate holiday that was celebrated with the Bigs before Halloween, but the story felt too convoluted explaining everything, and in the end, I felt it just didn’t make sense narratively.

I feel that the ‘day-in-the-life’ bit I have going on in this chapter works out just fine and is even a bit of a breather after the past few chapters and before the next few chapters coming up before the end. Things of course still occur, but spoiler, no one, not even the villains, is going to be suddenly killed in this chapter. Sorry to disappoint…

Regardless though, I still hope everyone enjoys this next chapter!

Chapter 14: The Past Clings Tightly

The revelation and sharing with Samantha about all the dirty secrets of the academy had marked a true change in our relationship. While before, I considered us close, I now felt like not even Oppy could match the bond that we now possessed. We were each other’s lifelines and solace at the end of our days. Samantha would pick me up after a long day dealing with conservative students not caring about the well-being of humans on Earth and the constant nagging of Judge Franklin when she wasn’t lecturing in class. For me, I would be taken home after a long day of drudgery in the classroom where I had to continue my advisement of these Bigs on how to infiltrate Earth, or I would be picked from daycare where I slowly watched most of those around me slip slowly into their second babyhoods. It was a difficult time for us both, but we had each other.

Speaking of daycare though, like every Wednesday, I found myself there again today. Due to my knowledge of what my advisement of Earth would lead to, Samantha and I had revised my schedule, so I was now only guest lecturing twice a week. It made me feel much better and there were less opportunities for me to share possibly critical information about Earth, but it also meant I had to spend more time in an increasingly babyish daycare.

“Snack time! Snack time!” Miss Melissa called out. Immediately, she was swarmed with several bouncing and eager Littles. A few whined, a few seemed near crying, but all were waiting for their helping of Tabers milk and carrots for their mid-morning snack.

“At least that’s not us,” I said to DB right next to me, but when I looked, he was gone. “Where…?” I started to ask, but my eyes and instincts were faster than my brain and I turned to look at the awaiting crowd for their snack, and there, right at the rear of the group, was DB. “Oh no…”

I had seen the effects of Tabers milk on everyone here, but I was hoping that my Earther friends here might have been somewhat immune to the substance having lasted so much longer than the rest. It was now clear to me that DB wasn’t, and when I turned back to look at Melley, I could see she wanted to go as well. “You can go if you want to,” I said resignedly to her.

Melley squirmed a bit, but to my pleasant surprise, eventually turned away from looking at the awaiting snack time crowd. “No… I mean, I really do, but that stuff… I really shouldn’t…”

“Hmmm…” I eyed my famous friend up and down. “I thought you and DB were immune to the stuff, but now… I guess I can’t say the same for DB…”

Melley sadly shook her head. “No, but I can’t blame him. I think all Littles are susceptible to it, but I think DB and I might just be slightly above the cuff with our immunities. That being said, I think he’s feeling the effects more than me from when he was regressed. I think they made him more vulnerable to certain things.”

I nodded and looked back at the eager Little now reaching his hands up to receive his Tabers milk. “Makes sense… I guess we can only hope for a recall of the stuff before it’s too late…”

Melley hugged her black dog stuffy. “Yeah…” She then kind of trailed off for a minute until DB rejoined us. “Enjoying the milk?” she questioned her old friend.

DB just nodded and continued sucking down his sippy cup, almost looking completely blissed out. Melley looked like she wanted to snatch it away from him, but I couldn’t tell if she just wanted her friend back or if she wanted the milk for herself. In the end though, she only distracted herself from the whole scene by focusing on her black dog stuffy and then again on the milo juice and carrots that I got as well. By now, there wasn’t a snack time that went by where I didn’t silently thank Samantha for intervening for us to have something other than just the Tabers milk.

The day went slowly after that as the attendants cleaned up after everyone. The Tabers milk had its usual effect, and it wasn’t long before most Littles in the daycare were quickly relaxed or even dozing off. Anticipating this, instead of the previously usual puzzle or game time, the attendants decided a few weeks ago that it should become story time instead.

It was during this time of day that I began to notice another change in Melley. She was still very much herself, but she had originally protested story time adamantly. She eventually lost her argument and would always sit down in a huff to prevent being punished, but now, after a few doses in the begging of the Tabers milk, she just listened intently while snuggling up with her stuffy.

For my part, while the ‘Three Littles and the King’ wasn’t exactly as thrilling as the spy novel I had been chewing on here beforehand, it was still a nice moment during the day to just unwind. As I listened to the three brothers each receiving their gifts from the king of the land, I also heard the tell-tale hissing and soft grunting from nearly every Little around me. Fortunately, my nose had grown a little numb to all the smells, but I knew what was happening. So, it was no surprise that after another story, the attendants then set off in changing each of the Littles that needed it… including me.

Being only wet, I held a certain pride and even prestige for those who even cared about that sort of thing around here anymore. DB just happened to be one of them. While many went to be changed in haste, the next event planned for the day was free time. Every Little could choose what they wanted to do, so I elected to get back to my book reading in my little nook away from everyone else.

I used to hang out with Melley and DB, and Jimmy in an offhand way, during that time, but now, things had most consistently changed during this time. Melley had gotten sucked into playing princess today, something I don’t think she would have even considered in the slightest when I first met her. Jimmy, no longer being looked after by DB or Melley, was just content to bat around a soft block with the other severely regressed Littles, and DB…

“Come on, Percy. Please play with me!” DB begged me.

I had only gotten about a page into my book while DB had been getting a change himself, and while he smelled fresh, which was a good thing, I still wanted to read more of my book. “Not now, man… maybe later.”

“Oh, come on…” he whined. He then started to pout and once again, I felt that he was almost becoming my little brother around here with how he was acting toward me. The Tabers milk had a strong lasting effect on him and while he could be better after lunch, right now, he only had one thing on his mind. “Come on. I need someone to play a cop while I rob a bank. It’s no fun if I just do it alone.”

I sighed and set my book down temporarily. “How about this?” I offered. “Let me read now and I promise that we can play all you want when we go outside today. Does that sound okay?” I could then see DB think hard on my proposal. Sensing his hesitancy, I added one more bit that I noticed tended to work more on him lately. “I can pinky swear on it if you want?” I then held up my pinky to my mentally dwindling friend.

He immediately smiled and clasped my pinky with his own. “Deal!” Now satisfied, he toddled away and seemed to take a new fascination with building with some of the interlocking plastic blocks.

I smiled at his fascination with something so simple, and while they weren’t rated for anyone like Chelsea or Jimmy, they still marked his mental state as still somewhat declining. When I first met DB, he always used this time to figure out a new way to escape. Now, though, he seemed like he never wanted to leave this place ever. I guess in a way, it might have saved him from an even stricter punishment than he had received previously if he was caught again, but I also couldn’t help but fear for him with just how far this new slow regression would go.

The day continued though, and after a brief lunch, the daycare was split into our usual two groups. The first group went off to get changed and then put down for their afternoon nap. The rest of us in the second group were changed or allowed to go potty, an ever-smaller amount, and then taken outside for recess. There were storm clouds on the horizon, but the bitter cold of late fall still hadn’t hit in the ending weeks of October.

“I can go higher!” Melley shouted from the top of the playset out back. “We pilots push boundaries!”

“Melley! This is your last warning before I come up there and get you,” Miss Tina shouted back at the Little perched high up on the playset as she had usually done and where she had taken me out here when we first met.

Melley soared the plane in her hands and extended her arms for a moment before climbing back down. She gave a little disappointed huff, but then just continued playing after. When I first got here, she had the freedom to practically do whatever she wanted, but now, her imagination and mentality out here seemed to fluctuate back and forth. As such, the daycare attendants kept a close eye on her. Littles that loved flying were rarely trusted to be on their own on the playground equipment in case they tried to fly themselves from the highest point. After Dale nearly ended up in the hospital back in May, they didn’t take any chances anymore.

For our part though, DB and I were on the ground, and while I could tell that he wasn’t as regressed anymore, having only had water during lunch, he was still a little loopy and more mentally regressed than when I first met him. “All the money in the world and it’s all for me! There’s no one that can stop me now! Ha ha ha!”

Playing my part to the best of my ability, I swaggered up and pointed a nearby stick that I had found at my friend. “Hold it right there, mister! You’re not going anywhere! Hands up! Don’t make me use this,” I commandingly said as I patted the stick on the top.

“Officer Nolan! Oh no! Not again!” DB said in shock as he stuck his hands up from underneath the playground equipment. “Wait, is that a gun?”

I nodded with delight. “Yes, Million Manny… that’s why I told you to put those hands up.” The nickname had been DB’s idea from about a month ago now. I felt it was too ridiculous but being there for my regressed friend and even getting into the role of cop myself, I actually found it all a bit amusing now. “Now, outta that bank with your hands reaching toward the sky still. No wrong moves, ya’ hear?”

‘Million Manny’ slowly stepped out from underneath the playground equipment with his hands still raised. “I swear I’m innocent. I was framed!”

“Right…” I said unconvinced in my little role as a cop now, “a likely story. Now, up against the wall. No funny business now.” Before we could continue our scene though, some nearby yelling caught our attention and stopped us cold. Even Melley up above stopped the zooming noises she was making with her airplane. In fact, from what I could see, everyone outside stopped and stared at the scene unfolding by the hopscotch area.

“You do not hit, Timmy!” Mrs. Katherine scolded the Little now clutched in her arms. “I don’t care if Sally did call you a ‘poopy pants.’ From what I can tell, she’s not even lying.”

“But she was makin’ fun of me,” Timmy tried to protest back. I can see off to the side that Sally and her friends were all giggling. Unfortunately, it was a scene that had played out more often around here these days. Unregressed Littles get along with each other for the most part, but I was finding that as Littles enter their terrible twos, emotions would become more mixed as abilities begin to decline overall. It’s nothing terrible, but if one is like Timmy with a few anger issues still, it’s an explosion just waiting to happen. Today, I guess, it finally did.

“No butts!” Mrs. Katherine yelled back, but Timmy wasn’t having it. Then, he did the thing that all Littles knew not to do, particularly with Mrs. Katherine. In shock or leftover resentment from it all and being called out like this in front of the daycare out here, Timmy swung and smacked Mrs. Katherine. It was just on the arm holding onto him, but everyone watching could only gasp at the simple but massive mistake he had just made.

Mrs. Katherine tightened her grip visibly on Timmy’s arm and yanked him upward, rage boiling out of her eyes now. “That was your last strike… I guess I was too lenient with you last week. I won’t make the same mistake again. I can promise you that, and neither will you.”

With that, she then hoisted the sputtering and clearly terrified Timmy over her shoulder. He was doomed and we all knew it, but right then, just as Mrs. Katherine was walking away, she looked right at the three of us. We scattered and hid as best we could, but her icy and determined look still sent a sliver of fear down our backs.

The doors slammed shut and most everyone on the playground went back to what they were doing, but I just couldn’t get my breathing under control. That woman scared me more than anything else here. With what I knew, she was yet another Big who was now on my list of those whom I actively tried to avoid at all costs. Melley and DB helped me learn the rules, listed or even the unspoken ones, and I had yet to revisit her punishment room, but I still felt it was only a matter of time in this place.

“You okay, Percy?” DB asked after a moment, now noticing my nearly paralyzed form beside him.

“No, he’s not, ya’ dumb-dumb,” Melley chastised her friend as she hopped down from above, the small plane attached around her black dog stuffy still clutched in her hand. I found it cute that she had even gotten the dog a pilot’s outfit to wear when in the plane, but I still just couldn’t get Mrs. Katherine out of my head.

“It’s okay, Percy,” she continued. Clearly, the more mature Melley was back again. “Just keep breathing. Mrs. Katherine gets to everyone here, but we all just learn to live with it. Follow the rules, and things won’t get worse.”

“Worse?” I questioned in shock. “I was spanked and then trapped in a dark room with my nose in a corner for like an hour! How could it be worse?”

Both DB and Melley sighed as if they knew something more. “Percy… she went easy on you…”

“Yeah,” DB agreed, now looking and acting more like his old self again. “She’s batty but she’s the lead punisher around here. Makes the others look much better and Littles will reach out to them on instinct when they need comfort. It’s all part of the plan around here, but Mrs. Katherine is the one who does the regressing as well around here. Timmy… well, he might as well have just signed his own forced regression papers.”

I thought then occurred to me. Both my friends in front of me now were punished, and Mrs. Katherine noted she had been around here since the beginning. “You mean…?”

Melley sadly nodded. “Yep, we both got zapped by her back in the day. She’s practically a sadist and your caregiver even has to sign a form before she goes to work on you. Also, technically, we’re not really citizens here, being from Earth and all, so she almost has free reign of what she does here. Tricky Bigs even snuck her services into the contract that all caregivers signed when getting you in here. Most never even know about it… or at least not until it’s too late.”

“Geez…” it was another trap this world had to offer to the Littles here. I felt like I was a rat running in a maze I had no idea about and that somewhere I would fall into said trap that they had laid out for me, and others like me. “Aren’t they worried about long term effects with anyone returning to Earth?”

To my horror, Melley shook her head and DB seemed to do the same. “No one ever leaves here Percy. Most have their reasons, but I’ve never heard of one going back home. Once you’re here, you’re basically stuck. You’re an Earther still and always will be, but you’re more a part of this place than you will ever be to Earth again.”

It was a moment of realization that I knew I should have had a long time ago, but it hit me square in the face today. I knew I had to ask Oppy about her deal with getting me home, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt that it was either just a ploy to get me to comply with helping during the trial, or that she had already tried and had failed to get me home. Considering it was Oppy and the stipulation of the trial’s verdict with Samantha and myself, I felt the latter was much more likely.

I think Melley could sense my hesitation with everything going on. Being an Earther herself, I already knew about all her stories on how hard it was to adjust around here, especially back when she first came to this dimension and was practically the only non-regressed Little. “You know… we could always help you more out with the rules to survive this place again…”

“Yeah!” DB added excitedly. I could already see that he was slipping again back into his younger mindset. Those periods of the old DB were becoming shorter and shorter with each helping of Tabers milk. “It would be just like the old days. I could instruct you on how to… uh, eat? Talk? Uh…” He then seemed to struggle and trail off for a bit with what he could actually help me out with anymore. Before, he would help me out with not getting caught if I was ever being naughty. It was an extremely useful skill I found out for so many other things beyond that, but skills like those just seemed beyond his reach now.  

Melley chuckled, but it seemed more of a way to mask her own sadness about her friend. “I’m sure Percy would love all that, DB, but maybe as far as Mrs. Katherine and blending into this world goes, I‘ll help him out with the unspoken stuff again. There’s lots of those kinds of things still to know about.”

I didn’t want more instruction on how to be a good Little around here. It always felt like a slippery slope to further regression, and now with Melley and DB how they were post-Tabers milk… I just wasn’t sure. At the same time though, Mrs. Katherine raining down spanks on my poor bottom was a much more terrifying concept. “Yeah… definitely… absolutely need to start doing that again.” Melley giggled a little bit, but then it seemed as if she had an idea but then thought better of it. Fearing the punishment room again, I pressed. “What? Is there something else? Please tell me, Melley.”

“Well…” she hesitated while DB just started messing around with the mulch at our feet. He was clearly slipping back into his more regressed persona now. “It’s only a suggestion, but you come here… three days a week now?” I nodded. “Uh, well that leaves…” She oddly seemed to struggle for a moment, and I really started to worry about my friend. “Four! Ugh! Stupid brain… But anyways, that’s four days you aren’t with us. Maybe… and its just a suggestion, but you could get Samantha to help you out… apply some of those rules at home maybe?”

It was honestly a good suggestion, but I had been using Samantha’s and I’s home as a sanctuary in all this. Sure, I had a highchair, a changing table, and things like that, but it still felt safe. No traps or punishments I didn’t deserve. No sadists. No Franklin, Grossman, Reddington, or Mrs. Katherine. I mean, there were still rules and the whole revoking pudding privileges for a week thing back in September wasn’t great, but to implement the rules of the outside world in my apparently safe home? I just wasn’t sure.

Then, as if the heavens were matching my mood, the clouds clashed, and large rain drops began to fall all around us. Most Littles screamed in terror whenever lightning struck and fled in a panic back inside. It took a moment for everyone to get back in, but throughout it all, I just clung to the happy thought that I wasn’t panicking over a simple thunderstorm. Not even DB or Melley could boast about that.

Still though, especially after I worried about the lights suddenly going off and being in the dark, I felt I needed to feel mature once more and not just a Little forever stuck in this world. As such, I decided to go back to my book nook and the bookshelf there while DB, Melley, and the other Littles focused on another story having to do with when clouds bumped noses, or something like that.

Finally, after searching for a good five minutes, I saw the book I was looking for. I had seen it once before, but now, I was more determined than ever to read through it. So, standing on some makeshift stilts at first, then climbing a little as carefully as possible, and then reaching out as far as I could, I finally got the book from the fourth shelf up.

It was an odd dusty thing and since the day I fist saw it, it made me curious why it was even here to begin with, but its contents surely interested me. So, with the rain clouds growing ever darker outside and lightning crashing all around, I curled up in my book nook and opened the book to the title page. “Understanding Portal Travel and It’s Origins.”

Though old and weathered, the book was part pages as usual, but also part video. It was an odd mix, but I felt it was also done to keep the book small whenever a longer explanation was required for certain sections. Whenever it came on, I was nearly transfixed to the screen, as there, Dr. Beatrice Beakerman would explain several aspects about the discovery of portal travel.

“…while our society flourished, our explorers wanted to discover the mysteries of our planet. One, the so-called Bermuda Triangle, had stumped explorers for centuries,” Dr. Beakerman explained. “Originally thought to be the epicenter of the impact crater that destroyed Atlantis and what is now modern Catalon, we discovered was in fact a soft spot in dimensional travel. When we studied and prodded the areas around it, we made two startling discoveries.” I quickly flipped to the next page.

“We discovered a long-abandoned merchant ship from another universe and an island of Littles, who claimed to be ‘averaged sized’ and descended from the sailors of the ship. Upon further investigation, we quickly knew they were from another dimension… similar but different to our own, and not just native Littles who just washed ashore as some had originally believed.” I temporarily set the book down and marveled at the discovery. I had heard of soft spots before, but now, I felt they might have been the explanation for half of the unusual phenomena that Earth had ever experienced. If my friends here or the merchant ship were any indication, I knew this had been going on for a long time. I flipped to the next page, eager to learn more.

“This is now where I come in. In our exploration of the soft spots, I discovered and manipulated them to actually go through. After some experimentation and extreme amounts of caution, we made it to the other side. I was in the fifth group to go then, and to my surprise, we discovered an entire planet of Littles. Being a veteran of the Height War, I felt that at long last, we had found our solution to the major losses inflicted on our own Littles. Finally, each Big could potentially have their own Little.” I couldn’t believe what I was reading. The idea of Earth being used as essentially a Little’s farm stretched back a few decades now. I knew that Oppy had come over to Earth at least in the 1970’s, but this felt like even before all that.

“When we returned, we wanted to know more, but our funding got cut before we could go back. Determined not to let budget cuts get in the way of innovation and discovery, the lot of us on the project then all got together and founded a place of learning where these ‘portals’ and soft spots could be exploited further.”

‘Wait…’ I had to set the book down for a moment. ‘Beakerman… oh woah!’ I then remembered the courtyard right outside the first building apparently created at the academy. It was a frankly old and ugly bronze statue, but it had clearly said ‘Beakerman’ at the bottom. The place she and the others founded was the academy! I had to know more now, and I dove back into the book.

“It was hard work, and while I know what we did was critical, I believe that we are still at least 60 years away from creating a more permanent solution for portal travel. It will be risky and expensive, but I believe that the benefits are too valuable to simply ignore.” The book went on for a few more chapters after that, but what I had read or watched so far gave me the chills. I almost wanted to take the book home with me to show Oppy and the others, but Mrs. Katherine soon exited the back door, without Timmy, so I quickly changed my mind.

Regardless, naptime was soon over, and the daycare became noisy once more. My reading time was over, but looking around the room, I finally saw Derek once more. He still came to daycare, but as expected after Chelsea’s decision to keep Ditzy instead of him, he had finally been taken by another Big. While I had only seen his self-appointed ‘Daddy,’ I knew Derek also had a ‘mommy’ as well.

“Aren’t your worried about calling them those names?” I finally asked him after catching up briefly.

“Nuh-uh…” he dreamily said, as he drank down his recently given post-nap bottle. I didn’t need to see any further evidence to know that it was choc-full of Tabers milk. Shockingly, though, he removed the bottle for a moment. “Dat’s juss dere names…” Then, to the surprise of no one however, he popped the bottle back in his mouth.

I was really starting to despise that milk here at daycare. It was affecting nearly every single one of my friends now and the effects of the milk only seemed to be getting worse. Finally, though, the bottle was emptied, and Derek just sat there and stared at me with nearly blissed-out eyes and a half-smile towards me. This was my friend and one of the few connections I had back to Earth. He had even gotten better, but his mommy apparently didn’t care about the effects of the milk and just liked her new Little’s carefree attitude afterward. I had never met her, but I already didn’t like her.

He was still my friend though, and since I hadn’t seen him in a while, I let him choose what we should do together. It took a minute, but he finally landed on playing with a few trains that were lying nearby. They were clunky, plastic, and all had faces on the front, but Derek at least seemed happy with them, so I played along.

“All aboard!” I commanded as I pushed the blue train forward.

“Iss nah wike dat!” Derek quickly corrected me. “Eash issa wike a persun! Dey talk to eash udder…”

“Oh…” I felt like I remembered something like this from when I was younger from Earth, but I couldn’t quite place it. “Like this then?” I pushed along the car and picked it up to gesture while I did the voice of the car. “Hello, mister… uh, what’s his name? Derek? Oh…”

Derek was currently otherwise occupied while puffing out his cheeks and seemingly straining for a moment. I knew what he was doing, but I also knew it would pass in a moment. It did… “Uh… mines name iss Ralphy… I think…” Derek seemed confused over the name for a moment, but it was good enough for me.

We played like that for a while, but eventually, each of our caregivers began to pick us up at the end of the day. “Come on you little rascal,” Miss Tina playfully scolded Derek as he tried to scooch away. Her nose quickly began to sniff around. “Uh oh! Did someone make a messy?” Horrifyingly, she turned to me first. “Is it you, Percy?”

Nearly stunned, it took a second for me to respond back. “No! No! I’m a big boy! I don’t do that!” I cringed afterward with how juvenile I sounded, but my answer seemed satisfactory enough to her, so she turned her attention to the Little I had even seen do the dirty deed.

“Oh! It must be you, mister Dere-Dere!” Derek blushed a bit, but only smiled after and even giggled. “Yep! I think I know who’s got some stinky pants!” Without warning, she scooped him up and patted his rear before smelling it. “Oh yeah! Definitely found my stinker here!” Derek could do nothing but laugh as he was tickled and then hauled off for a quick change.

The daycare prided themselves in keeping everyone and everything clean around here and Miss Tina knew that his Daddy, his usual pick-up I noticed, would understand. At the same time though, even as I watched my messy friend being taken away, I could scarcely believe it was the same person I had met and got along with at the con. He was so confident and assured of himself, but now… I had never seen him happier as Miss Tina cooed down at him while she began his direly needed change.

I always wondered, particularly with the new introduction of Tabers milk, if he even remembered any of that stuff from back then. I had asked him one day about the con, and he honestly seemed confused for a moment. He eventually got it, but that was over a month ago now. Seeing him mess around so freely while being half-naked to the world as Miss Tina wiped him down, I had my doubts.

I also wondered where Ditzy had gone off to, but I was just told by everyone last week that she was ‘perfectly safe and fine.’ I questioned the whole thing, but I was a Little here, and as such, I just had to accept their answer. As Melley and DB had even reminded me today, I was more a part of this world than even Earth now, and as a seasoned Little, there were just some things one had to accept in this world. For now, to me, I felt that was my dwindling chance of going back to Earth as my hopes of ever seeing home again began to dim with each passing week. That, along with the introduction of Tabers milk and the looming threat of Franklin and others on the horizon, I felt my world draw ever closer in and became that much more dangerous.  

[LostBBoyBear]

Hey everyone! Moving right along with these chapters, I still feel pretty confident in being able to finish this story before my next little trip at the end of the month. It’s a bit tight still, but considering where I’m going (if you know, you know), I couldn’t be happier.

Still, with the quick turn around time, I’m also thinking of the ending to all this and what comes next. Originally, I was going to post a few ideas that I had for my next story here and was then going to then post them in my last chapter. Thinking about it now, I feel I should post those next ideas for you all to choose sooner rather than in the end. My last chapter usually discusses what story is next, but if I do it the original way I had intended, no one would know until I started posting again. So, if anyone has any thoughts on this, please just let me know.

Anyways, I hope everyone enjoys this next chapter!

Chapter 15: Spiraling and Acceptance

With the weeks of Fall quickly turning colder, I realized I hadn’t seen Ditzy for some time in daycare now. I really started to notice it when Derek was there and she wasn’t, and while I was told that she was ‘safe,’ I feel I could be pardoned for not outright believing any Big outside of the family.

Still, I had accepted it, but when my worry grew over the course of the next few weeks, I just couldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer anymore. I had asked the entire daycare and its staff, but I either got the same ‘she’s safe’ answer, a few ‘I don’t know,’ or even just plain drool from those who had been hitting the Tabers milk pretty hard lately. It was a big problem but worrying about Ditzy had to be my first worry.

Finally, though, we got a call from Oppy’s informing us that Ditzy had actually come home and was now staying with them. So, intrigued by what all this meant, Samantha and I went over to their house today to see what was happening. To our surprise, first, Harriet wasn’t there, as was seemingly becoming a habit of hers, but second, Chelsea actually seemed more coherent now. Not adult or even childlike by any definition, but still more there.

“We got her tested at the academy,” Oppy explained as she gestured to her daughter on the ground and currently playing with Ditzy. “She tested well from her behavior since her punishment and was allowed a little of her maturity back. They said that after what occurred to her to get her to regress, it’s going to be a long road to recovery though.”

It wasn’t the news any of us were hoping to hear, but Samantha actually seemed relieved. “Well, at least she’s being allowed to grow up. I saw that place firsthand from both sides… it’s a miracle anyone can ‘grow-up’ after that place.”

Oppy nodded. “Very true, dear. I remember when they first built that place… major controversy to put people through all that…”

The tension and sadness in the room was soon broken by a fit of giggles coming from both Chelsea and Ditzy on the floor. By now, everyone had just accepted that Ditzy would likely never recover, consciously wanting not to or just mentally unable wasn’t certain, but we all just accepted her coos and babbles as that of any happy Little. Considering both seemed happy, it was just best to accept it all as it was.

After some time just observing the two, I just had to ask my own personal question that had been bugging me since I saw protocol one being enacted. “Is Chelsea… uh, aware now?”

Oppy looked at her regressed daughter still playing with dolls and Ditzy on the floor and sighed. “I’m really not sure, honey. She might get there with some time and a little work on everyone’s part, but I think she’s still too buried in herself.”

“Are you sure, mom?” Samantha quickly questioned; her petting of Luna’s head briefly paused. “She kind of looks embarrassed sometimes… I don’t know, but maybe she is a bit?”

Oppy nodded. “It’s possible she’s in there and can actually think for herself, but for now, I don’t think she can express herself.” I guess sensing that no one wanted to take that assumption on faith or trust alone, Oppy turned over to her regressed daughter, and rubbed her back to get her to stare back.

“Okay, Chelsea… let’s try this again for our guests…” Chelsea only grinned back at the rest of us. For the first time in months, I could see some recognition in her eyes of who we were. I wasn’t sure what it was, but before, she would just smile at us in the same way, but more like she would at any funny or comforting object in her life. Now, for whatever reason, I felt there was now some memory attached to each of us. “Do you know who I am?” Oppy asked her daughter in earnest.

I’m sure the question was devastating from what I could imagine coming from a mother to her daughter in this manner. I could see the hope chiseled across the matriarch’s face, but I could also see the fear and sadness hiding right behind all that as well.

For her part, though, Chelsea smiled and then pointed right back at Oppy. “Ma!” she squealed. It wasn’t much, and for all we knew, ‘ma’ could have meant apple, but it was something when before we had nothing. So, of course, everyone began showering her with praise.

“Oh, what a good smart little girl I have!” Oppy cooed down at her daughter, now clearly relieved herself that there was something inside her daughter still. I could just picture this same scene happening 30 years ago if the proportions and actual ages were only a little different.

This went on for a while and by the end of it all, we could see the borders of Chelsea’s cognition pretty clearly. Each of our names was only one syllable and she could identify a few objects around her, but that was about it. As we kept telling ourselves though, it was progress.

“So, I had to take Ditzy out of the permanent nursery eventually,” Oppy started to explain. “Chelse had chosen her, and Ditzy only wasn’t allowed back here when Chelsea was fully regressed herself. Probably some responsibility thing and part of her punishment I guess, but since Chelse was allowed to grow back up a little, I petitioned to get Ditzy back.”

“But why wasn’t she in daycare the past few weeks?” I questioned; my mindset still worried about some subplot within the academy to hurt this family.

Oppy nodded. “Right… that.” She sighed. “Well, because of the relationship between these two as it was versus how it is now, the doctors suggested that the two needed to get reacquainted. I’m sure you can tell, but the two are basically sisters right now rather than Big and Little. That’s only after everything we did to help them out.”

“I was kind of noticing that mom,” Samantha admitted. “Is it ever going to go away? Are they just sisters forever now?”

Oppy shook her head. “It will go away eventually, but it just takes time. You should have seen them when they first saw each other again.”

“It was kind of funny,” Luna piped up. They were definitely quieter and more resigned lately, but I could tell they were definitely happy in their new life as the family’s Middle Neko. Their subtle purring and flickering ears could have told me at least that much as well. “Chelsea tried to be the mommy to Ditzy and Ditzy wanted it, but Chelse just kept falling over and then pooping herself. It was messy but kind of funny, well at least…”

“At least until Ditzy stopped accepting her as a grown-up though…” Oppy interjected. “Littles like Ditzy often only see things in black and white. One is a Little or a Big. There are some exceptions, but at Chelsea’s current level, Ditzy wasn’t giving her any alternatives back.”

“So, what did you do?” I asked quickly, clearly noticing the two were practically best friends now as Samantha had observed before me.

“We hired a sitter,” Oppy said plainly, but she obviously saw the confused expressions on our faces with that simple explanation, so she continued. “Georgette… she’s basically a miracle worker.”

“But who is she, mom?” Samantha questioned. I could practically taste the paranoia laced within her voice about someone new to the family. From all that happened and that I knew was happening within the academy, I couldn’t blame her.

“She was actually highly recommended to me by an old friend,” Oppy explained. “She’s currently in a master’s degree program and even already graduated from the academy. She’s a smart one and even has degrees in Psychology and Littles studies. She was just perfect!”

“Even taught us a new cookie recipe!” Luna added in.

We all chuckled from that but seemed satisfied as well. Oppy then leaned over to her daughter. “I’ll even get you her card, dear. She’s an excellent babysitter.” Oppy quickly looked to me and hastily added, “For emergencies only of course…”

I wasn’t a fan of that type of action or even the implication I would need a babysitter, with so many other options available, but I was a Little, and as usual, that had to come with a few concessions in this world. I just hoped that wouldn’t be a bridge we would have to cross for a long time yet.

The day then continued pretty much like that with questions back and forth. Everyone was catching up with each other since we hadn’t seen Oppy or Luna in some time, but then everyone broke to go get some food. It was a little awkward, but I quickly rushed up to Oppy when she was mostly alone and just keeping an eye on Chelsea and Ditzy.

“Oppy,” I tried to say as confidently as I could, “Can we talk?”

“Of course, sweetie,” she replied in her usual kind manner. “You know I’m always here if you need me.”

“Uh, thank you.” I knew I shouldn’t have been, but I was a little thrown off by her kindness towards me. It made my demand harder to make, but I just had to know at this point. “But Oppy… I want to talk about our deal.”

Oppy’s usual near permanently etched-in smile quickly faded. “Oh…” She then looked back at Chelsea and Ditzy, and then over to the kitchen. “Hon, I want to show Percy some clothes I got that might fit him. Just be a sec, but can you keep an eye on the girls?” she called out toward the kitchen.

“Sure thing, mom!” Samantha called back. Oppy then gestured me away and into Chelsea’s nursery. Despite her growing back up, it still had not changed. After the hesitation by everyone and then their praise over her still limited vocabulary, I wondered if it ever would.

While in there, I could see the serious and morose look on Oppy’s face. It didn’t seem like the news was going to be good. “Please just tell me the truth…”

Oppy nodded and sighed. “I was telling you the truth, Percy. I really was when I made you that offer. I had a contact within the academy that worked the portal device and another in files. We could have gotten you out and it would have been completely legal too. Judge Hawthorne owes me a few favors and you would have been free forever from the reaches of the academy.”

She then paused and I felt the truly bad news coming. “But?”

“But the trial changed everything,” she explained. “Samantha told me she explained everything to you, so, once they found out your mental abilities and the fact that you actually knew a lot about modern Earth, they found what they had been looking for. As a result, they locked you and Samantha into a contract with such severe consequences for you both if you ever backed out. Even with my contacts and the appeal I made to the courts after, I was blocked at every turn. I’m so sorry…”

It was all what I had suspected after Samantha had informed me of protocol one, but I just needed to confirm it in person. “I didn’t know you did that for me with the courts and all… thank you for trying at least. It means more to me than you know.”

Oppy smiled. “Of course, sweetie. I know all this has been a royal mess and I can’t apologize enough to you, but you are family, and as I’m sure you’ve seen so far, I’ll do most anything for my family.”

It was a nice touching moment, and I even went in for a hug that was instantly reciprocated. For me, it wasn’t just her fantastic oatmeal cookies or that she let me stay up for another hour, if I could, if I was ever over here at night. I had to hug her because Oppy had gone above her duties as just another family member to me. To be blunt, even if I wasn’t told about her relations, in all aspects of the title by now, I just viewed her as my amazing and loving grandmother.

A little more time passed afterward, and just as the sun had started to dip below the very tops of the tallest trees in the backyard, Samantha got a phone call. Everything was going so well, and we were all laughing, but as soon as she answered, her eyes went wide with fear and worry. “I understand. We’ll be right over.” She then hung up the phone and got up.

“Come on, Percy,” she commanded. “We need to go. Now.”

“What’s going on, dear? Is everything okay?” Oppy asked in a panic. I couldn’t blame her and wanted to know the same.

Samantha shook her head. “No, mom. It’s Harriet. There’s a problem and we need to go right now.” The family needed no further prompting to go help one of their own after that and let us be on our way. I’m sure that any other time, Luna and Oppy would be right alongside us, but Ditzy and Chelsea presented a problem… especially if Harriet was having a crisis. Having a regressed Big and Little there would likely only complicate matters. So, after  wave and some hugs goodbye, we were off once more.

The ride was silent the whole way to the academy dorms. She didn’t say it, but I clearly saw the panic and worry in Samantha’s face. Harriet was her mentee after all, and I knew had been calling Samantha in crisis mode ever since her botched hunter mission. The scars had all healed up pretty nicely with their technology here, but her mental scars seemed far from fixed.

After parking and heading over to her dorm, I saw the Beakerman statue once more. It was still an ugly thing in my opinion, but I also couldn’t help but wonder about her and her efforts here. ‘Was she the start of everything? Should I blame her about everything happening in my life lately, or was she only coming from a place of ingenuity and caring for her society after a massive war?’ I wasn’t sure, but as soon as Samantha and I entered the top floor where Harriet lived, we started to hear a dreadful singing and my mind quickly snapped back to the present.

“Oh, thank you for coming so soon, Professor Norris!” a Big woman cried out as soon as she saw Samantha. I found it curious there were so few people out here with all the loud singing going on, but I was honestly more distracted by this new woman’s footie pajamas with teddy bears yawning and waving back at me. If a Little was caught wearing that, I felt like any Big would have been claimed on the spot, but I guess those rules just didn’t apply to the rest of this society. ‘Stupid unwritten rules…’

“Tell me what’s going on, Rebecca,” Samantha asked the frightened girl, clearly knowing her as well already.

“Well, I’m not sure what triggered it all, but most everyone on the floor went away for the weekend. They won’t be back until tomorrow night, but I stayed to get a little extra work done. Save me time with finals coming up and all, you know?”

Samantha nodded. “Sounds sensible, but Harriet… has she done anything… problematic? Or permanent?”

Rebecca strained her looks back at her professor in clear confusion, but her eyes widened as I guessed she finally understood what Samantha was really asking. I’m glad she did, because I sure didn’t. Though, in retrospect, I guess I was more distracted by the pained and sloppy drunken singing coming from down the hall. “No, ma’am. Nothing like that… yet. She started drinking earlier in the day… not that it’s uncommon for her lately, but I don’t judge. Then, about an hour ago though, she started singing and stumbling around. She almost broke a window, but I stooped her before she did that.”

Samantha quickly seemed relieved. “That’s good… thank you, Rebecca. You were right to call me.”

Rebecca looked relieved herself, but then stared down at me. “Oh? Is this the little cutie I’ve heard so much about that does those lectures in your class?” Samantha quickly nodded. “You know… I almost took your introductory class again just to hear this little guy speak.”

“Uh… thanks?” I said, really unsure of what I should say to her. I felt like she just wanted to hug me, check my diaper, and then give me a bottle. I was getting used to those looks, but right then, Samantha luckily intervened.

“I’ll be sure to post a few of his lectures for everyone to see soon. Even when they’re just about some of the traditions they have on Earth, they’re still pretty interesting.” Samantha then started to walk away, and I followed her. Rebecca stopped us cold though with a tiny squeak.

“Professor Norris! Wait!” Samantha turned back to her old student, waiting impatiently for why she stopped us. Knowing where we were going, I had my guesses. “I… uh, I could watch over Percy here, if you want. Could be messy in there…” ‘I hated being right…’

Samantha looked at me and I widened my eyes in terror about as much as I could. I did not want to separate from Samantha here. It was one thing to lecture by myself, but it was something else entirely to be watched over. Fortunately, Samantha saw, and turned back to her student. “No, thank you though, Rebecca. I think Percy could actually help a little with Harriet. They’ve become pretty close since he got here.”

“Okay…” Rebecca replied with a little reluctance. I could tell she was disappointed, but another round of singing quickly stole my attention away from her as Samantha and I got closer to Harriet’s dorm room.

“I had a little drink about…” Hiccup! “ago, and iss gone righ’ to my head! Oh! Wherever I may…” Hiccup!

Samantha and I looked at each with a tremendously worried look and approached the open door that we knew led to Harriet’s room. We were unsure of what we would find in there, but we knew we had to stop her before something bad happened.

“On land or see or… oh hey you guys!” As we entered the room, a clearly inebriated Harriet cheered us with a large dark glass bottle of some kind in her hands. Just entering the room, I could then see the clutter and the smashed items strewn all about in front of her. I also saw a small box in the corner of the room, but the pungent smell of alcohol quickly filled my nostrils and took my attention away from it. The smell of the booze seemed hard and cheap, and quickly explained the mess we were seeing of Harriet before us now.

“Hey… Harriet.” Samantha tried to step into the room, but her foot really couldn’t go anywhere, so she just stepped down on an empty pizza box. “What’re you doing?”

Harriet drunkenly grinned and cheered her former mentor. “Itsa party, teach! Can’t you tell?”

Samantha was swayed away from her task and just moved closer. “Harriet… I’m worried about you… a lot of people are. What’s going on?”

Harriet scoffed, but Samantha’s unrelenting stare wouldn’t budge an inch. “Fine, fine! I’ve just felt lost after I quit the hunter’s program, okay? Can’t figure out what to do with my life anymore. Itsa… well, it’s all been a big stupid waste!” She then giggled. “Waste… waste… that’sa funny word…” She giggled again.

‘Oh boy…’ I had seen this happen before with some of my friends in college and had even experienced it myself before. It was burnout and just being directionless in life afterward. She needed something more, but I wasn’t sure what she could need at this point. Being a Little though, I also felt my opinion might not have counted as much, so I just stuck by Samantha’s side as best I could.

“Probably going to fail this semester… gotta do-over because of wha’… wha’ happened to my…” she paused and looked over to the box for a moment, before shaking her head. “Of what happened to my friends, you know?” Hiccup! She then giggled again. “Shit! Gotta love this stuff, huh?” She held up the bottle again in my direction and, unsure of what else to do, I just nodded.

Samantha wasn’t having it though. “This isn’t you, Harriet. Come on. Put the bottle down and let’s get you sobered up.” Samantha then tried helping her up to her feet from the bed, but Harriet wasn’t having it either.

“No!” Harriet backed away from her mentor and looked at her with venom in her eyes. “This place… all you taught me… Just one big, fat lie! You and everyone else here is a liar!” She chugged more from her bottle. “I’m gonna drop out tomorrow, because what the heck is the point of all…” she then gestured to the room and the academy outside, “all this? It’s pointless… a fricken waste!”

“We help people, Harriet,” Samantha quickly tried to defend. “We help Littles find out what they want. We can give them a better life…”

“Bull!” Harriet shot back. She then pointed directly toward me. “Percy here is a direct contradiction to that! Your own Little, Sam… and he was fine. I read the report. Lonely and isolated from others, but he had a life! And you and your sister juss… ripped that right out away from him!” She then took a final swig of the bottle and tossed it aside. “This whole stupid academy is just one big lie.”

Samantha seemed stunned for a moment, but the gifted professor I had seen so much of in class was not about to just give up on her mentee and friend. “Things are changing though, Harriet. I’ve seen it firsthand. And, yes, I might have been wrong in taking Percy away, but now he lectures in my class. That’s progress. A Little lecturing here would have never happened a few years ago.”

Harriet nodded slowly. “Maybe, but that’s one thing,” she emphasized with extending her index finger out to Samantha. “There’s so many other things out there now. Most things are juss gettin’ worse. I mean, you saw the milk. What is up with that? Tabers? They’re not even trying to hide it. Rearrange the letters and its plain as day! Porr Littles don’t even stand a chance!”

I tried rearranging the letters in my head, but Harriet’s yelling and frantic pacing around the room now was making it very difficult.

“You know,” she continued, pointing back at Samantha, “I did my homework like a good little student. Your case and the fact that you and your sister exceeded your orders… its actually very common. And it’s been happening for decades! There’s almost a thousand Littles here now!”

‘A thousand?’ My mind whirled with the number she just spat out. Sure, she was drunk, but Harriet’s facts and research always seemed to be reliable before. At the same time though, the daycare barely had more than 50 Littles if everyone actually showed up on the same day. I think at that moment, Harriet then caught my confusion.

“Oh yeah, Percy. About a thousand by now. They’re not just here at the academy…” she then gestured all around her again. “They’re everywhere now. A lack of Littles is a global problem thanks to that stupid Height War.” She then turned back to Samantha. “So, yeah… been screwing Earth over for decades now! How’s that for progress for us?”

Surprisingly, this time, Samantha had no response back.

“No?” Harriet stumbled over to the corner of her room. “Well, let me tell you this further… we Bigs aren’t even any better off. We regress all the Littles down to brain dead shells and call it a good day at the cost of our own souls, or…” she then grabbed the box she had looked at before and I had questioned from her floor. “Or they just get reduced down after to one stupid… measly… little box…”

Samantha and I stepped forward and crouched down. From my vantage and for the first time tonight, I didn’t see anger or sloppiness on Harriet’s face. Now, I only saw sadness… grief. In fact, a single tear rolled down her cheek as she stroked the box in her lap.

Samantha edged closer. “Harriet… what’s in the box?”

“You wanna know? Here!” She then drunkenly shoved it across the floor and right to my feet. It was a little heavy, but I managed to pick it up with both my hands and kind of balance it on my chest to get the lid open. Inside, were photos, stickers, buttons, a ribbon, and a few other bits and bobs.

I looked back questioningly at my distraught friend. Tears were coming faster down her cheeks now, but I needed to know what all this was. “What is it, Harriet?” I asked gently.

“It’s all that’s left… or all that I have left of my squad…” She then squeezed her eyes shut about as much as she could. Everything suddenly clicked into place about what was going on with her and why it happened today.

A few sniffles and wipes of her eyes on her sleeves later, Harriet continued to explain. “The funeral was last weekend… and I went… their parents went… but that was it. Not even Reddington!” She wiped her nose on her sleeve. “Then today, their parents stopped by here and gave me this box. They had gone through all their kids’, my squad’s, stuff and thought I should keep this as a memento of them… it’s all I have of them now…”

“But isn’t that a good thing? To have it I mean?” I asked. “Now you get to remember them as they were. Your friendship and the bond you all shared… you have a memento now.”

“I know that, but… but…” Harriet didn’t seem to be able to make out the words.

“But what, Harriet?” Samantha finally asked.

“But I’m still here!” The dam finally broke once more, and we were getting to the heat of her problems. I so badly wanted to hug her right then, but I just held back and let her feeling pour out in front of us. “I was their leader. I led them into that trap and got them all killed. I should have died too!” I could see she was trying to fight back her surge of emotions as best she could, but it was a battle she was quickly losing. “They should have lived, and I should have died on that sand instead. I would give anything… anything! Just to change that.”

I was in a state of shock over this. On the one hand, I shouldn’t have been surprised. My buddy Mike from back in college was in the army and lost a friend because they switched places in their vehicle one trip. A bomb exploded and killed his friend, but not him because of one small decision. So, I at least knew, if not directly, about what was happening to her, but this was also Harriet. She was always at the top of her class, steel against any problem she encountered, and even considered the best hunter since Reddington. But now…

Samantha decided to take that time to try and help out her friend. “It’s not your fault, Harriet. Sometimes, these things happen, but you just have to pick yourself off the ground and move on. For them… you need to put one foot in front of the other and find what’s next.”

For some, that might have been helpful, but I don’t think it was what Harriet needed right then. Her near Dr. Jekyll facial change confirmed my worry.

“You don’t think I know that?” she spat back, her anger temporarily overriding her sadness. “Life sucks sometimes and we all have to move on. I know that! I don’t need another lecture on it by the great Professor Norris.” Samantha stepped back, but I could also see her mind ticking away over how to solve the problem still. “This whole place is just a big crock of lies! We don’t want to help Earth; we just want to get there faster and take one Little at a time for our own desires. We don’t spread out greatness to other worlds and dimensions! We only spread death, pain, and especially loss everywhere we go! And what do we have to show for it? Nothing but the entirety of our relationship with our friends reduced down to one silly stupid little box.”

I could see Samantha was still at a loss of words for what to say next as Harriet once again slumped down on the floor. I felt I had a way forward, but I wasn’t sure if it would work. It wasn’t a cure… that wasn’t in my, or anyone else’s, power for a single night. That being said, maybe I could help my friend out just a little. I felt I just had to try at least.

Now, normally, being a Little, I would have asked permission first while a Big, even Samantha, was in the room, but I felt that Harriet was the priority over any protocol tonight. After all, Samantha had already tried to help, but we just ended up right back where we were before. So, I figured the worst I could do was about the same. “Harriet?”

“Stop, Percy,” Samantha said forcefully to me as I stepped forward toward the tear-soaked Big in front of me.

I quickly tuned around. “Please, Sam… let me just try. Please?” Samantha seemed more hesitant than ever, but she just silently nodded.

I turned back to Harriet and sat down next to her where she could still see me. With a deep breath out, I began. “I’m really sorry, Harriet. I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now, but I just want to say that I’m sorry.”

Tear-soaked and even with snot dripping from her nose and smelling like a brewery, Harriet still woefully turned to me. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I should be apologizing to you…”

“You really don’t have to… I mean, if you want and you think it might help, I won’t stop you, but I’m okay.” I then looked over to Samantha, who also gave me a little prodding to continue, obviously seeing that my approach might just be working a little better than the one she had. “This family… you all have been so wonderful to me… this world needs more Bigs like you all… please, Harriet. Don’t quit and let all the others win. Speaking for all the other Littles, we need more people like you out there.”

A lightbulb seemed to go off right above Harriet’s head. “You’re right… geez, you’re actually right,” but the look didn’t last. “But wait… hold up… what am I supposed to do here now? I can’t go back to being a hunter… not after…” she trailed off and looked at the box that Samantha had set down beside her on the bed.

“Okay… fair enough. Hmmm…” I then thought hard about all the positions. Honestly, recruiter suited her pretty well, but then I thought of one other position that just might work for her. “What about recruiter?”

Harriet’s face suddenly contorted as if she had just smelled a fart. “You mean like the rest of the family? Me? A recruiter? I don’t know Percy… I just… well, I don’t see it…”

“But why not?” I quickly asked back. “You seem to want to help other people find happiness. I see that as a recruiter’s job.”

“That’s a Littles way of thinking, Percy. Recruiters are there to benefit this society,” she said, her curiosity and seeming joy over my initial suggestion quickly fading.

“That’s how other do it though,” I shot back. I felt I was on a role, so I just pushed ahead. “You see a broken system, but I know Earth. Take it from me when I say that there are people in pain over there… people who would give almost anything at a shot at a better life… even this one as someone’s Little.”

I could see the gears start to click in Harriet’s head and the smile start to form on Samantha’s face. I knew I was striking at something here, so I continued quickly before Harriet had a chance to find something wrong with my on-the-spot logic. “You’re right that there are recruiters who just take any Littles because we’re all the same to them. But think about your experience. You’ve seen firsthand the Littles who actually benefit from this life. I think the best recruiters find the needy and desperate on Earth, and then bring them back here with a shot at a better life. That could be you…”

I could see her mind working overtime to process all this new information. I wasn’t sure how people chose their positions around here, but I knew I had to slam this idea into her as best I could. “I think you would be a great recruiter, Harriet, I really do. You said you wanted to see a change in this system? Well, be the change and help two societies out. The pained in mine and the longing in yours.”

Samantha then stepped up. “He’s right, Harriet. You were my mentee, and while I always respected your decision to become a hunter, I saw the makings of a great recruiter in you. Reddington is a great hunter, and you are too, but you have compassion where that man just has grit. You judge and see the true value of others and help them out when you can. This past year has only further showed that to everyone around you.”

“But I’m about to graduate…” Harriet said, suddenly panicking. I felt she was truly starting to see herself as a recruiter but could see the fringes of where it all could suddenly fall apart.

“Hmmm…” Samantha mused. “that’s true, but you are a good student. There’s still time in this semester to get your grades up. If you’re willing to do the work, I think I can pull some strings in the academy and make this happen if you want.”

Harriet seemed to ponder the notion while Samantha and I waited on the big with bated breath. Finally, I think Samantha just wanted an answer but also wanted her mentee to succeed in whatever she did next. “This is completely up to you… no one will force you to do anything, but you have an opportunity here.” She then got up and handed the box back to Harriet. Harriet took it with trembling fingers. “What happened was a tragedy, but I think from all the stories you told me about your team, none of them ever saw you as not willing to try something, right?” Harriet slowly nodded her head. “Good. So now, all I’m asking you is to try this one other thing. As Percy said, you see a problem here, then be that change. So, what do you think?”

Harriet paused for a moment longer, but after a good long look at the box in her hands of the only remnant of her team and friendship that she had, she looked back up. “I’ll do it.”

It was a moment of happiness followed by the utter panic of everything that now had to happen to make this new future of hers a possibility. It was a long night sobering her up and cleaning her destructive path before we came, but we finally got it done and got her to sleep. Immediately the next morning, Samantha made the calls she needed and had Harriet appear before the dean right after lunch. Since we had a free period today, we came up to support her.

After a few intense moments of waiting outside the dean’s office, I clutched Samantha’s hand in anticipation of what was to happen next. “You think she got in?”

Samantha nodded. “I do, but all this going to be on her… we can always be there to help her though.” I nodded and smiled back, satisfied that we had done something good together, but it seemed that Samantha wanted to say something more. She finally did. “I was wrong…”

“What?” Her sentiment came out of nowhere and I was very confused to what she was referring to.

“Before… you said she needed a friend the night after the bad mission… I was wrong when I said she needed to be alone,” Samantha said with a little shame.

“Uh… I could have been wrong,” I said truthfully. “You had the experience…”

“But you had the idea of what she really needed after something like that. I shouldn’t have dismissed your idea,” she admitted. “Even last night… I should have trusted you more. Harriet has a long road ahead and we’re going to get her some counseling as well with all this, but you gave her a path forward. That’s not nothing… you should be proud of yourself.”

I was about to speak, but the doors to our left soon opened and the secretary led us both back into the dean’s office. There, to our clear relief, Harriet was all smiles. “I got in!”

“Yes,” the dean noted with a smile but still stern tone, “but it will require a lot of work on your part. You have a rigorous time before you, but I truly hope you do succeed.”

With that, Harriet then signed on the dotted line with the official transfer document. Once the ink dried, Harriet would officially be part of the recruiting section of the academy. Everyone waiting back at Oppy’s house with a surprise party for were going to be so thrilled.

As everyone shook hands and hugged above me, I knew that Samantha was right. I should be proud of myself. I felt it in my bones, and I had helped out a friend in need. Unlike the pride I had felt in telling my stories to the Bigs though, I felt this was a better pride. It was one that helped someone out rather than a pride that only served my own well-being. It was a good feeling, and I just hoped it would last. As I saw Judge Franklin peek in briefly with the other judges to congratulate Harriet on her new path here, I wasn’t sure how much hope I could muster though.   

[Guilend]

I knew Harriet would have a lot of survivor's guilt. I'm happy they got to her abd through to her when they did. No telling what would have happened if she continued. Chances are she'd have done something illegal or so destructive that she would have been deemed a threat to herself and/or others and I'm sure everyone knows what would have happened then.

I know Samantha said she experienced that bunker from both sides, but is she referring strictly to her being held there or was it how she was treated, or clothed while there? The way she said she doesn't know how anyone can fully come back from that after just spending some time there makes me curious to how she was treated. Was she treated like a normal prisoner here would have been treated or even a but better? Or was she dressed and treated younger? Like wear childish clothes, maybe even pull ups or maybe diapers because they don't have a toilet to use and did they sleep in a nursery of sorts? I mean, from what u can tell, they usually don't have people staying there long term, waiting on a trail and sentencing so everyone that's brought in are there long enough to be regressed to whatever level and probably stay in a nursery and dressed as babies their entire time there. So did they even have accommodations for them to stay in that's more like separate holding cells that are for adults? Or where they forced to stay in the same accommodations as the other's already sentenced? 

I'm happy to see Chelsea past her test and is able to start growing up. I imagine her embarrassment will grow as she starts being herself again. Once she's mostly back, except some of her behavior and mother skills, she might start lashing out from the humiliation of still being a baby, especially in public. I hope she can hold it together and doesn't get herself regressed back permanently. Her trips to the academy to show her off as a warning to others will be a lot worse for her once she gets more of herself back. I imagine she might not be out of diapers completely and will at least be in diapers at night and maybe pull ups during the day. She might also end up with a problem sucking her thumb or needing a paci at night to sleep. However I don't think Ditzy will ever see her as a mommy figure again. On that same line of thought, anyone who has seen or interacted with her during this time will never see her as an adult or equal, at least the majority of them. Even once she gets her adult status back. And I'm not convinced she'll ever get it back. Heck, she might not even want it back, either because she likes not having that responsibility or because she still has accidents or other babyish tendencies, like needing a paci and so she doesn't think she deserves to be considered an adult. 

Percy and Samantha needs to be careful. I feel that eventually those against their family are already plotting to find a way to get Percy for themselves and getting Samantha out of the way. Harriet should also be careful because of her connection with the family and what has happened to her and her recent destructive behavior and changing careers has made her vulnerable and an easy target to get to Samantha and Percy. I think these people might decide Samantha having Percy is taking too long to get the information they want from him and might decide to have him removed from Samantha's custody and put in the care of someone they trust to extract that information with any means necessary. 

Also, have a good time. I'm a bit jealous of everyone going this year, but I plan to go one day. 

[LostBBoyBear]

Hey everyone! As I had mentioned before, this year was going to be the year of sequels, but I figured since you all read these, I might as well give you a vote on what’s next as well. Each of the following story ideas is something that I already want to write about, so don’t worry about my feelings or drive with any of the ones I present here. If no one makes a choice for whatever reason, I will just go on the path I was originally going to, but I thought this might be a nice change of pace as I hit year two posting all my stories. If this proves popular and sustainable, I’ll likely continue this with my other stories this year as well. For now though, here are the ideas:

Age Regression Story

For a yet to be named story, follow Peter as he deals with a world and a life that has been infected with the age regression virus. Coming off the heels of a terrorist attack, grapple with Peter as he tries to cope with his descending age and the realities that come along with it. Only time will tell if he bounces above or below the age where one begins to lose themselves truly to the whims of their new younger body.

Dash’s Redemption

Tentatively titled, Redemption: A Stuffy’s Tale in the Diaper Dimension, this sequel to my first story and stuffy’s tale is all about the former nemesis of Hop, Dash. Broken after their fight and his run-in with a real and vicious dog, follow this newly damaged stuffy as he tries to piece himself and his life back together now that he is no longer the shiny technological toy that he once was. Embark on his journey of self-discovery and redemption as he uncovers what it means to be a true and maybe even loving stuffy in this dimension.

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.

Back to this story…

Moving on, I am hoping to be able to continue to post every day as I have been this week. That being said, I might have something pressing all day on Saturday, so the final chapter might not be posted until Monday (instead of Sunday) if I can’t get a bit ahead before then. Regardless, I will keep you all updated on this when I post my penultimate chapter.

Anyways, I hope everyone enjoys this next chapter!

Chapter 16: Festivities of Frivolity and Doom

The winter weeks soon arrived at our doorstep, and I couldn’t help but feel the persistent chill in the air and the foreboding sense of what was to come. For the past few weeks now, as the days grew darker, my outlook on this life did the same. I was very happy with certain aspects, but almost being the new year, I wasn’t sure what I even had to look forward to. If anything, I felt like I only had fear or punishment awaiting for me in my future now.

While the family and the majority of the rest of this world prepared for the annual weeklong celebration of Saturnalia, a prospect that made me miss Christmas and home even more now, I was filled with trepidation over a decision I hadn’t made lightly.

The past semester, particularly after my revelation of my inadvertent exposing of Earth vulnerabilities to the Bigs here, I had started retelling some of the same stories I had told the previous semesters. As I basically only lectured or advised at an introductory class and then a single more advanced class, I rarely saw the same people, so I felt like there was nothing wrong with that strategy.

That being said, I felt like I was tempting fate every time I stepped into the classroom to share something more, and now, more students were wanting to take the class and the academy was thinking of adding another class entirely for me to lecture with. The foreboding presence of Judge Franklin in the classroom about half of the time lately also did little to help my nerves, so finally, Samantha had put her foot down about a week ago. “I can’t take seeing you like this anymore, Percy. Everyday you come home a complete wreck from lecturing. I want you to have your independence and that drive that so many other Littles here lack, but I’m very worried about you.”

I sighed and nodded. “I know… but the contract… protocol one… I think I would have honestly left the academy months ago now if I could, but I don’t want to end up like some drooling infant! Don’t you understand that? We’re basically trapped!”

“I know that honey, and I don’t want to end up like a helpless toddler until my mind snaps either, but this is just torture,” she admitted freely. “Oppy and the rest of the family even agrees with me. We just can’t see you like this anymore… we care about you too much.”

Their sentiment was touching, but I wanted to hear plan first before I bailed out and risked everything. “So, what are we going to do?” I asked. “Is there a way out, or are we just fooling ourselves and will be eventually punished anyways?”

“I’ve been talking to Oppy about it. She knows all the tricks of the academy, and I think she might have found a way out. I really think that she feels guilty about her deal falling through with you.” I stared back at Samantha in shock. I didn’t know she knew about that. “Yes, honey. I know about the deal you all had, but it’s okay. I would have taken it myself, but still, I think she feels guilty about not coming through on her end for you, so she’s been brainstorming ever since you all talked about it last. From what we’ve talked about, there might just be a way out.”

“Really?” I felt like Samantha had practically just revealed the existence of Santa Claus and that he was coming to meet me tonight with the amount that I was so overjoyed at even the possibility of an out for me with the academy. I felt so childish that I didn’t even care about how I looked with my giddiness while sitting here in December by a fireplace in a thick diaper and footy pajamas. “What are you all planning on doing?” I finally asked after I calmed down a little.

Samantha sighed. “I’m not sure what Oppy has up her sleeves, but I’m also going to see if there might be a way out of protocol six, and by extension, protocol one. Just hang in there for now, honey, and with any luck, you can just spend your days at daycare after we’ve figured something out.”

Spending all my time at daycare was something I hadn’t even considered, and her words struck me right in the chest and haunted me for the rest of the day. Only Nurple and Stripe that night seemed to abate my fears of ending up like the rest of the daycare. I felt that my avoidance of the Tabers milk altogether would have been my shield, but doubts had begun to creep into my mind after even those who avoided the milk now seemed to start succumbing to the regression felt by so many of my friends.  

Regardless, like back home, to my relief and pleasant distraction, December was a time of celebration. While there was no Santa Claus or even Christmas tree, garland still hung around nearly wherever I looked. Instead of red and green though, it was usually just green and gold most often in the shapes of crescent moons, suns, and stars. Candles, fake or otherwise, usually lit up the room, and a litany of golden pinecones, nuts, or acorns were strewn about on nearly every garland and table placement. It wasn’t Earth, but it still felt homey.

“Stay still,” Samantha chastised me as she tried to wrestle me into my clothing for the night. Being totally unfamiliar with Saturnalia and everything that went into it, I was pleasantly surprised about many of the activities tonight. The first was the role-reversal.

“Couldn’t you have gotten one with less… buttons?” I asked, slightly annoyed as Samantha did up my vest.

“You could just wear your yellow and green sweater and corduroys to the party instead,” she teased. “I’m sure you would look absolutely adorable in them.”

“No, no. Just a lot is all…” I groaned. Samantha only smiled back. While the original purpose back in antiquity was to treat and dress slaves or commoners as the more elite, now, Littles were the low ones on the proverbial totem pole in this society. As such, every Little was to be dressed as an ‘adult,’ or at least as much of an adult as one could with a diaper scrunching up between their legs. For my outfit, with my approval, Samantha had found a navy-blue three-piece suit. It fit me pretty well actually and even covered up my diaper bulge from most angles. Looking back in the mirror even, I couldn’t help but feel like my old Earth self again, but I also saw what Samantha was wearing. “Isn’t this all a bit weird for you?” I asked as I gestured to her outfit.

“No, silly,” she said while stifling a small giggle. She even gave me a twirl in her very pink and glittery princess dress. Apparently, some Big years ago had the bright idea of their kind participating as well, which meant that they would all be dressing younger tonight. “Don’t you like it?”

“I do… it’s just…” Samantha raised an eyebrow over my hesitation. “Well, you look like you’re dressing in something that Ditzy or Chelsea would likely kill to wear themselves on any other night.”

Samantha laughed. “Oh, honey, that’s the point. You’ll see it tonight. I mean, unless you’re a stick in the mud, everyone dresses up like how the holiday dictates.” She then checked her watch. “Oh shoot! We gotta go! Grab your coat and I’ll get your bag and my tiara!” Even when dressing up as an adult, my ever-present diaper bag came along as well. Nurple was coming as well, but he would stay in the car… unless there was some emergency and I needed him. The stupid interview 43C still hung about in the back of my mind and while it had gotten better, there were a few relapses still.

Still, not long after, just as Samantha assured me, as soon as we got out of our car at the academy function tonight at the start of the celebration, I saw Bigs dressed like they were primed for preschool at best. I recognized most of the faculty almost immediately, and it was pretty hilarious I assure you to see professors of physics, psychology, and many other disciplines being taught here run up to the party in outfits like footed pajamas, overalls, and puffed glittery dresses. It was clear that none were wearing diapers underneath like I felt they should have for a real role reversal, but apparently that was a bit taboo for this part of the country. Going into the larger cities… from what oppy had implied last week at least, I guess was a different matter.

Inside, blasts of green and gold quickly greeted me, and I was glad to see the halls of the academy so adorned and cheerful now. I had started looking at them like the doomed corridors they seemed deadest on being, but now, I felt a new life surge around them. Instead of despair, I found only frivolity.

Soon, both Samantha and I were neck-deep into talking to other members of the faculty. We eventually found our family and settled in at the table that had been assigned to us. Oppy was wearing cartoon-themed pajamas with large, pink bunny slippers and Harriet sported a purple party dress while her hair was done up in pigtails. Luna had apparently opted to just be themselves, but with all the switching going around for the Bigs and Littles, it almost felt that with their still-present pull-up, being just a Middle tonight worked just right.

On the other hand, I couldn’t help but stare at Chelsea’s and Ditzy’s outfits. Ditzy was sporting what essentially looked like a prom dress, even complete with a corsage on her wrist. Chelsea though, I wasn’t sure if her outfit was to denote what she hoped to become again one day, or if was just more part of her punishment. Regardless though, I guess I had to factor in that while she was still a Big technically, her mental faculties were still only slowly improving. As such, she was wearing an academy uniform… neither too adult nor too childish.

“So, how are classes going?” Samantha asked Harriet with some concern and yet a discernable amount of hope.

“Actually, they’re going pretty well,” Harriet cheerfully noted to the slightly growing crowd around us. Her botched mission was already news around the academy, but her subsequent breakdown had gotten out somehow, and I just knew these vultures were looking for any signs of her slipping up once more… particularly Reddington. “Pretty stressful, but I’ve never felt better honestly. My counselor has even gone so far as to call my new path forward as my true ‘raison d'etre.’”

Samantha almost seemed to sigh with relief, but then rubbed her mentee’s shoulder. “I’m so happy to hear that, Harriet. I only want you to succeed and you seem well on your way to doing that.” The two smiled longingly at each other over the path that Harriet was now taking. All seemed good with her, and I couldn’t help but be relieved as well. Even Reddington’s grumbling and storming off afterward couldn’t bring the mood down.

Still, I shuffled it off and soon sat down to talk more amongst the family, while our table waited to be called up for the feast that I could already smell from my seat. It was a little boring, but at least everyone ordering a round of something called ‘mulsum’ seemed to break up the lull in the party. “Trust me… you’ll like it,” Harriet tried to convince me after seeing my peculiar face after the server left. I did trust her, so I just played with my fork while everyone started to wait yet again.

“Norris table,” an announcer finally said via the overhead intercom. “Norris table may go up now.” Our table needed no further prompting, and everyone, Big, Middle, and Little alike, practically sprang out of their chairs. I, however, still wanted to feel like my adult self in my suit for the night at least. I could feel I was already damp, but no one besides me knew that right now. Considering all that had happened and that could still happen, I still wanted to maintain what maturity I had somehow captured for the festival tonight.

I saw a few Bigs laughing over my attempts to maintain what dignity I could in my navy-blue suit, but I felt I managed it pretty well. Even when I saw the buffet style food in front of me and my eyes widened as big as saucers, I kept my overall actions under control.

“Here, sweetie. Let me help,” Samantha offered as she grabbed a plate for me as well as one for herself. I eagerly accepted and had no shame about it. I mean, the plates were already heavy, and if she was handling it, it meant that there was less chance that I could spill something on my precious suit and I could potentially pack more food onto the plate. From what I could see, there was both Little and Big food, so I quickly sighed with relief.

Granted, it was essentially the same, but Bigs tended to spice up their food. Once, when I was in a particularly foul mood, I begged and begged Samantha for a bite of her delicious chicken that she had prepared throughout the whole day. She had done the same with a much smaller chicken for me, but hers was an array of smells and colored rubs on the outside that I just couldn’t pass up. I wish I did, though, as not seven seconds later, I nearly dunked my head in the sink to just cool my inflamed tongue off.  

Regardless, Samantha served me only the portions for the Littles, but getting my input and making a few suggestions, we soon came back to our seats. I got situated in my highchair, a small concession I believed in exchange for such wonderful food, and then looked at my plate.

Samantha had loaded it up with the special mac n’ cheese for Littles, two pigs in a blanket, and three chicken nuggets, but it also contained the festival food as well. Sausages, fried vegetables, fruit, and nuts all lined my plate, but it was the pig I was most looking forward to. Apparently a tradition, the academy had hauled in an at least ten-foot-long pig that they had roasted themselves over a spit in the back field apparently. It even had an apple in its mouth still like it was out of some cartoon, but oh boy, did it smell good.

Now, gratefully, I was one of the few Littles here tonight that didn’t need a bib. Due to the Tabers milk, many of my friends were starting to become uncoordinated messes. I could see Derek across the way nearly dump the mac n’ cheese into his lap and Ditzy actually did drop some of her cut-up vegetables on herself. I couldn’t see Melley or DB tonight, but if they were here, I felt pretty confident that they sadly wouldn’t fare much better.

After some time, I started to get thirsty. I eyed the water I had been drinking so far, but I also saw the mulsum as well. Chelesea and Ditzy hadn’t drank theirs yet, but everyone else seemed to be enjoying their own. So, I rocked the glass back and took in the taste. Its flavors were like a mix of mead and wine mixed in with some other spices, but my head started to quickly swim. “Oh wow…”

“Something wrong, honey?” Samantha asked, turning to me in concern.

“Never better, but this drink is amazing,” I said blissfully. “No idea what you all put into it, but I haven’t tasted something like this in a long time. A long time…”

Everyone stopped their eating and drinking and quickly looked at me. For her part, Samantha seemed both confused and horrified for a moment. “Uh, dear?” Oppy asked nervously to Samantha. “Is it…?”

Samantha nodded and quickly snatched the glass away from my hands. “Hey! That was really good!”

Samantha seemingly ignored my protests for a moment and drank a bit herself. Her eyes widened as well. “Yeah… that’s not the Littles version.”

The table started giggling while Samantha tried getting our server back. “What?” I asked confusedly while still trying to get my drink back from Samantha. She easily held it just out of my arm’s reach before swatting my hand away.

“Sweetie…” Oppy began while she smiled down on me. “The server was supposed to get all you Littles your own mulsum. I think he gave you the Big version instead… the alcoholic one.”

Everything then sadly clicked in my head. “Oh… rats.” It was another one of those unwritten rules that Melley had helped me out with, and so I learned that alcohol and Littles never went together. It didn’t matter if they were a prince, unregressed, or the president’s own… Littles just did not consume alcohol. “Stupid fake role reversal…” I muttered to myself just as the waiter took away my old drink and replaced it with my Littles version.

Samantha then leaned down to me. “I heard that…” I think I yelped a little in shock that she did. She only chuckled back. “Don’t worry, baby, you’re not in trouble, but for future reference, the role reversal only deals with so many things. Practices and items stay Little-bound, like your diapers, no alcohol, and for the tempting Littles… punishment…”

“I… I…”’ I tried to spit out an apology, but it really only came out. “Sorry, sorry for… uh, sorry, sorry, sorry!”

Samantha smiled once more and stroked me on the cheek yet again to let me know that she wasn’t mad, and everything was okay. “It’s okay… just keep all that in mind tonight. Have fun, but try and remember the usual rules as well.” I nodded and we both bent up a little while she resumed her normal volume. “No need in getting tuckered out from an adult drink,” she covered. “We wouldn’t want you to miss your… present!”

Like dogs to a high-pitched whistle or a squirrel, every Little within earshot suddenly and miraculously no longer seemed to care about their food, not even the special and creamy deliciousness of their mac n’ cheese. Instead, the soft subtle crinkling of at least a dozen or so diapers began to echo around me as each Little began to squirm in their highchairs in anticipation of what they would receive tonight.

Samantha got a few dirty stares from other Bigs, but our table just laughed. “Oh, perfect, Samantha,” Harriet jested. “I just got Ditzy to calm down for long enough to take a bite of her food and not drop it at least twice before getting it in her mouth.” The table laughed again at the poor Little’s expense. With her state of regression though, Ditzy just cooed and giggled back.

Samantha mouthed ‘sorry’ in all the chaos, but then bumped me lightly on my arm so I would pay attention to what she was saying in all the noise around us. “I just can’t wait to see what I got you.”

I quickly panicked, having not known about the gift myself until just now. “Oh… Samantha… I didn’t get you anything! I’m so sorry…” I tried to scramble and think of anything I could get her or even promise her for the future, but being right on the spot, my mind was nearly blank.

Samantha only giggled though at my comment. “No, silly. The gifts happen between us Bigs only later in the week, but tonight, it’s just for you Littles. You all really don’t have to get us anything. In fact, if you did, you would probably be the only one here tonight… heck, probably the only one within a thousand miles of here.”

I felt immediate relief, but it was just another thing to show my status in this society. It was nice not having to pay for bills or for groceries anymore, but the act of gift giving was something I truly enjoyed in my previous life. So, tomorrow, I resolved myself to at least make her a card from the construction paper and crayons that were in the playroom that Samantha had set up for me, when at least Melley, DB, or anyone else came over. I was just happy my art skills, unlike my bladder or fear of the dark, hadn’t taken a beaten since I had come here.  

Soon, everyone began dispersing to the central area where I now just noticed several gifts had all been laid out and neatly stacked. It was a beautiful cornucopia, but from seeing every other Littles around me, I highly doubted anyone else cared about the aesthetics in front of them. Still, it was a pretty scene, and there was admittedly a part of me that was very curious, though also very nervous, to see what Samantha had gifted me.

Unfortunately, right as Little’s names started being called off, I noticed that Samantha had left our group. I panicked but saw her quickly coming back to us moments later. Instead of the smiles on everyone else’s face though, hers seemed nervous… maybe even frightened. “I… I’m sorry everyone… I need to go,” she finally said when she got to the small circle the family had formed in a corner to open the gift in relative peace.

“But Sam,” Oppy tried to call back to her daughter as she left. “Your gift…”

Samantha turned immediately back, and I was happy that she did, but instead, she only just bent down to Oppy. “Please watch after Percy for me, mom… please?”

Oppy seemed stunned and almost as if she was somehow disappointed in her daughter, and I think Samantha saw that. Moments later, she lunged in and whispered something I couldn’t quite make out in Oppy’s ear. Oppy then slowly backed away and looked at her daughter in a more serious and even concerning way. “I understand. I’ll get Luna to take some pictures. Just go and do what you need to.” She nodded back to where Samantha had been going, and after a small nod back, Samantha disappeared behind the crowd.

I was stunned. I wasn’t sad or exactly devastated, but I was definitely concerned. Samantha had even seemed to want to give this gift to me. Now though, and Oppy was a wonderful substitute, but my own caregiver was seemingly absent from all that was happening. The very person giving me the gift as part of this grand festival and whom I had grown closer to was now missing without even a single goodbye to me. I promised myself I wouldn’t fuss or even cry, but before I could even register another emotion beyond confusion, I felt myself quickly getting wrapped up into something soft behind me.

“Hey, honey,” Oppy said, giving me a little hug from behind as we sat on the floor, me now practically cradled in between her legs as if I was just earning to sit up. “Sam will be back soon, but for now…” her expression suddenly turned very playful, “you got me! And watch out! I get a little kissy around this festival. So… here I come!” Without warning, Oppy then bombarded me with about a dozen kisses per second right then. Some even tickled and I tried to get her to stop.

“Oppy! Stop! Stop! That tickles!” I cried from laughter under her loving torment.

“Oh? Do I have a struggle bunny under my hands tonight?” she playfully questioned. “I don’t think my big old granny ears quite heard you. No magic word even… tsk, tsk… I guess mister kissy attack is gonna have to come back!”

“Oh no, Percy,” Harriet joked with me. “Mister kissy attack is brutal. I’d listen to her if I were you.”

Oppy dove in and I couldn’t last another round without squealing and losing that mature edge I had been trying to maintain all night. “Okay, okay!” I cried. “I surrender. Please! Just have mercy on me!”

Oppy chuckled, gave me a huge hug and another kiss on my tilted back forehead. “I accept your surrender, sweetie. Now, you’re mine for the rest of the night and my one command is that you must have a good time.”

I nodded at her laughable yet sweet demand and just rested back in her arms. I knew what she was doing, and to be frank, it kind of worked in distracting me from whatever was happening with Samantha. It wasn’t completely effective, but it was enough where I started to enjoy myself again as I watched others open their gifts.

Ditzy was up first and to no one’s surprise, she plucked out a brand-new pacifier, as pink as I think I had ever seen before in my life and finished with a single cheery unicorn on the front button in the middle of the shield. Luna was with her tonight and even cuddled up with her as they plucked out the fingers Ditzy had been sucking on for the past five minutes at least and then popped the pacifier in. Luna was our glorified extra handy free babysitter by now, but if their tail was any indication, I don’t think they really minded. So soon, that corner of our family was just filled with the gentle tones of passive and content sucking, and the unmistakable little purring noises we had come to suspect from our own Middle of the family.

Chelsea was next. Her package felt unfairly large, but her less regressed eyes now shone brightly, and I knew that had to merit special consideration. Her uncoordinated attempts took a second to rip off all the paper, reminding us again of how far she still had to go, but there was a look in her eyes that I just couldn’t shake when she unveiled her gift to be a large and colorful walker. ‘Was it shame? Excitement, maybe behind her eyes?’ I couldn’t tell, but I knew there was something there that hadn’t been at all before. Chelsea was progressing back, and she seemed as if she only wanted to emphasize that right then. “Tank ‘ou, mommy!”

Oppy grinned widely back at her daughter as Harriet began to help her out by untangling the security cords holding her walker in place. Chelsea had just managed to start crawling around two weeks ago, so the walker was actually a good gift. As such, after all that and the other gifts I had seen tonight, as the large green paper and yellow ribbon package was soon scooted in front of me, I couldn’t help but wonder at what was inside.

“Go on,” Oppy coaxed as she even pushed me forward slightly to better access the gift from Samantha.

I started slowly, but my efforts quickly all seemed in vain as my emotions got the better of me. Soon, I almost looked like any other eager Little as I tore off the paper as fast as I could. Now, only the box stood in my way, but a small snip of the child safety scissors I was given, and the lid practically popped open. Inside and practically already coming out was a single object.

It was large and fluffy, and for a moment, I thought it might have just been the packing. As I pulled it out though, I realized it was the gift itself. Suddenly, many Bigs awed, cooed, or even gasped. “What? What is it?” I asked in confusion, though my paranoia was going as far as to even think it was some trick and would soon poison everyone here.

Oppy clearly heard the concern in my voice and guided her hands toward mine to fully stretch the object out. “Look, sweetie. It’s only a blanket. Nothing harmful there.”

“Oh.” I really wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but to me right then, it just felt like a baby blanket to further cement my dwindling status in this messed up society. First, no bladder control, next daycare all the time, and soon… a life wrapped in this blanket between naps, breastfeeding, and diaper changes. “Uh… it’s… soft…” I managed to make out. I was always taught to be grateful with gifts, but right then, that was proving very difficult.

Oppy giggled from behind me. “It’s okay to be a little hesitant with this, Percy. I get that it might just look like a blanket… a baby blanket at that.” I nodded and Oppy chuckled. “Well, I guess in a way it is, but this is also so much more. It’s known as a ‘Smell and Comfort’ blanket. Go ahead… give it a whiff.”

I felt very self-conscious sniffing this velvety soft blue blanket now intwined in my fingers, but it was Oppy. I still trusted her, so I leaned in and sniffed.

I guess I was expecting manufactured and fake strawberries or even cotton candy or ocean breeze… something like that of a general scent one could buy anywhere. To my surprise though, and while I couldn’t quite place it, it smelled both familiar and even… safe. I was confused and yet suddenly relaxed. “It smells…”

“Like Samantha?” Oppy questioned out of the blue with a little gleam and wonder in her voice.

I sniffed again. Lavender, baked cookies, fresh linen… and about six others I just wasn’t sure about… but the more I sniffed, the more I couldn’t deny it. “It’s her… it’s really her! H… how?”

Oppy laughed. “That’s right. See, it’s a complicated piece of technology but with the weight and heating sensors inside along with the smell, it can almost act as a substitute for your caregiver or any person of your choice.” Suddenly, without warning, Oppy quickly snatched the blanket and before I could protest at all, she had wrapped me snugly up inside the blanket. “There. Just take a breath and feel it all…”

The blanket was constricting, but the heaters soon turned on and the smells entered my nose in seconds. I wasn’t warm or suffocating, but my body soon relaxed nearly completely. If I even closed my eyes, I could almost feel Samantha hugging me tight right then. I was peaceful and I just laid back against Oppy as everyone enjoyed their gifts, but the blanket also made me question one thing. ‘Why do I need a replacement for someone that is already in my life?’

As if to answer my question, not long after, Samantha returned from a back room just off the main space where the festival currently was being held. Her clothes seemed a little disheveled and even her princess tiara was slightly crooked now. She soon saw us and me wrapped up in the blanket though and hurried over and then hugged me tightly.

There was nothing quite like her touch to me, but the blanket I had to admit was a pretty good substitute. Still, as her arms were wrapped around me, I got a peek at Judge Franklin exiting the same way that Samantha had. My mind suddenly fired on all cylinders and tried to piece together what had happened to my caregiver. I feared it was something terrible, and I had to know, but I couldn’t just ask in front of the family.

Soon though, the festival began to switch to the games portion of the night and most of the family dispersed to the other room they were housed in. Now was my time, but Samantha spoke first. “So, you like your gift?” she asked wearily while also trying to maintain the level of happiness that I guess she thought was expected of her.

I nodded my head and wrestled out of the blanket for a moment before turning back to her. “I absolutely love it. I mean, I’m a bit confused why I’m getting it, and don’t mistake me for being ungrateful or hasty here, but I need t know… what happened to you? Where did you go? Are you okay?”

Samantha looked away and quickly seemed pained. I feared the worst, but listened in when she looked back at me. “Percy… Judge Franklin and I talked… he…” she sighed and seemed to be holding back tears by now. “We came to an agreement tonight. We argued, but in the end… well, there’s no easy way of saying this. Percy… I have to go away for a few weeks…”

It was not what I was expecting her to say at all, but I nodded for her sake, but I could also see there was more she needed to say. “Go on…”

“I…” Samantha looked away as if she was fighting within herself. “I want to tell you more, Percy. I really do, but I think that would only put you in danger at this point.”

Right then, if she meant to or not, her words sent me into full-on panic mode. With everything I knew, between this and the blanket as a substitute for my primary anchor of sanity in this world, I felt I was going to lose her during whatever this sudden trip she had to go on now. At this point from what I knew, I had no compunctions over the notion that Franklin and his conspirators would do almost anything to bring down the Norris family. With it all pressing down on me, I began to hyperventilate.

“Woah, woah. Easy there, baby.” Samantha quickly wrapped me into the tightest hug imaginable as she stroked my hair and back in her effort to calm me down. It felt amazing but my feelings still remained. “Just take a breath. It will only be for three weeks… tops.” She then stopped her hug, took my head in her hands and looked deep into my eyes. “I promise you that. Now, say it all back to me.”

I was having a hard time repeating what she had said over my rapid breathing, tears, and snot-filed nose, but I gave it my best shot. “Three weeks top. You promise.”

“Good, very good, Percy. Keep reminding yourself that.” She then slowly breathed and got me to follow her deep and steady pace. I was still on edge, but her recent self-required training in calming events like these down was paying off. Soon, I was starting to regain my composure, but right then, someone called out to both of us.

Hey, Sam! Percy!” the dean called out while running beside us in her own princess party dress. “Come on! We’ve got the animal noise roulette wheel all set up. I remember how lucky you were last year, Sam. Come on! We need your luck now more than ever!” ‘Isn’t that the truth… just get in line, dean…’ I chuckled to myself as quietly as I could over what I was seeing. “You know it’s not a Saturnalia festival without a little gambling and then we’ve just gotta crown our king too! Come on!”

Samantha calmly nodded back at the dean, her now slightly crooked tiara still glimmering in the lights though. “We’ll be there in a sec. Just need to talk to Percy real quick here.”

“Right!” she said, snapping and pointing both fingers at us before running back off. “Don’t be long, girly!” Something told me she had been hitting the mulsum a little hard tonight.

Samantha broke my shock as she turned back to me and stood up after she dabbed another tear away from my cheek. ‘Okay, my brave man. I promise things will be okay. For now, though, let’s go do some gambling and just try to enjoy the night. Does that sound okay to you?”

It honestly didn’t. I felt that the Bigs here, particularly the ones we could be playing against, gambled with Littles lives enough already, but I knew we had to blend in and join the festival once more before someone started asking questions. Plus, Samantha was going to leave in two weeks for wherever she was tasked to go. Until then, I wanted to spend as much time with her as I could. So, I took her hand, and she led me off.

Samantha deposited my wonderful blanket with the rest of the family’s gifts and then entered the hall of games. It was a brilliant affair filled with wonder and excitement, but I couldn’t take my mind off my still-present fears. I felt that Samantha, trying to protect my feelings, wouldn’t tell me, but I suspected more than anything that this sudden long trip had something to do with my desire to leave the academy the following semester. Now, she would likely be endangering her life possibly because of my own fears of betraying a place I hadn’t seen now in almost a year.

Further, I wanted to believe Samantha so badly that things would be okay. I usually trusted her these days with anything she said. I might have even believed her if she told me that the sky was suddenly all bright pink, but today, when she told me things would be okay, I still felt a twinge of doubt in my gut. Even then, as I looked over at the animal noise roulette wheel, I saw Judge Franklin already there and staring intently back at us. Maybe it was his presence there or just my luck in this dimension, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was coming for us in the new year.

[Guilend]

2 hours ago, LostBBoyBear said:

Ditzy though, I wasn’t sure if her outfit was to denote what she hoped to become again one day, or if was just more part of her punishment.

I'm guessing you meant this to be Chelsea, instead of Ditzy.

I love role reversal day. Too bad non of the Bigs decided to wear thicker underwear, though I bet a few are wearing pull ups or cotton training pant. 

I'm very curious as to why Samantha's clothed seemed like she was wrestling someone after her talk with Franklin. I'm guessing as part of whatever agreement they made, Samantha got a spanking. I wish I knew what was happening to Samantha. Is she spending some time regressed or at least being treated as regressed? Is she being punished for something? My other thought is, when did this agreement actually happen? The blanket suggests that Samantha has known about her leaving and whatever her talk was with Franklin was something else or a continuation of the discussion of it. I'm worried about Samantha and Percy.

I'm glad Harriet is doing better, but now I'm worried about her. In that world, the academy specifically, is ruthless. Any weakness shown and it's only a matter of time someone pounces. Though, I'm not sure the person that pounces on her new preceived weakness will be to get at Samantha and Percy, or Oppy, or a rival in class or someone higher up that doesn't think someone as weak as Harriet should be at the academy. Unless Harriet can do something to show that she has teeth and no longer has a weakness, she's in danger of an attack and will probably be in a fight just to be allowed to continue her schooling.

As for the next story vote. My vote is Dash's Redemption. It was a close call with Bethany, but I decided on Dash's Redemption because it would be an interesting story, but I also hope to be to see some characters from the first story. Maybe, if I'm lucky, to be able to see Ms (I think B or M? I can't remember lol) and at least see how the family is doing. 

[Kat5]

Three weeks is a VERY long time for a little at a university that happens to have people in it that want to sit him in a high chair and not let him out until he gives up the microfilm err tells them everything they want to know.

I'm eagerly awaiting the next chapter, and I hope that you have a great day in the meantime!

[LostBBoyBear]

11 hours ago, Guilend said:

I'm guessing you meant this to be Chelsea, instead of Ditzy.

I love role reversal day. Too bad non of the Bigs decided to wear thicker underwear, though I bet a few are wearing pull ups or cotton training pant. 

I'm very curious as to why Samantha's clothed seemed like she was wrestling someone after her talk with Franklin. I'm guessing as part of whatever agreement they made, Samantha got a spanking. I wish I knew what was happening to Samantha. Is she spending some time regressed or at least being treated as regressed? Is she being punished for something? My other thought is, when did this agreement actually happen? The blanket suggests that Samantha has known about her leaving and whatever her talk was with Franklin was something else or a continuation of the discussion of it. I'm worried about Samantha and Percy.

I'm glad Harriet is doing better, but now I'm worried about her. In that world, the academy specifically, is ruthless. Any weakness shown and it's only a matter of time someone pounces. Though, I'm not sure the person that pounces on her new preceived weakness will be to get at Samantha and Percy, or Oppy, or a rival in class or someone higher up that doesn't think someone as weak as Harriet should be at the academy. Unless Harriet can do something to show that she has teeth and no longer has a weakness, she's in danger of an attack and will probably be in a fight just to be allowed to continue her schooling.

As for the next story vote. My vote is Dash's Redemption. It was a close call with Bethany, but I decided on Dash's Redemption because it would be an interesting story, but I also hope to be to see some characters from the first story. Maybe, if I'm lucky, to be able to see Ms (I think B or M? I can't remember lol) and at least see how the family is doing. 

Oh nuts! Thanks for catching that!

And thanks for your input! 

[LostBBoyBear]

Hey everyone! Sorry for the lateness of this. I was trying to get it out earlier, but then a work thing got pushed out and shot my schedule up a bit. Apologies for that, but I also wanted to stop here rather than my previous chapter if I don’t get to writing tomorrow.

On that note and as a reminder, I will likely not be able to post a chapter tomorrow, but I should still be on schedule if everything goes even half right before my trip. So, unless tomorrow goes horribly wrong or wonderfully right in two very different ways, just expect the next chapter up on Sunday at some point.

Also, if anyone still wants to comment on what my next story should be, feel free to post that as well. I will be reading the comments, private or otherwise until the day I post my last chapter when I make the announcement of what it will be.

Now, I’m sure you all can take three guesses that this chapter may not be the happiest, but I do have a reason for it eventually. As such though, this is just my usual warning that I don’t condone what happens, but I do think these things makes stories like these a little more intense, especially since there are only two more chapters left in this story.

Regardless, I still hope everyone enjoys this next chapter!

Chapter 17: Being Untouched Here Happens When You’re Dead

I once heard a veteran of a particular fierce battle in a documentary once say that the only peaceful ones are those who have already died. Given that particular battle, I couldn’t blame the guy for thinking such things, but not being a military man myself, I never thought I would even come close to that sentiment. Yet here I was in a dimension that seemed hell-bent on regressing me. In some odd way, I almost felt those who were regressed were at peace, and those who still weren’t, were the ones who struggled. I never wanted to be regressed, but I definitely didn't want to struggle anymore.

Daycare was now worse than ever, and I found myself drifting into hiding away in my reading nook more and more as my friends began to mentally wither. I wasn’t necessarily immune either, I think more so as a coping mechanism to deal with a bunch of babies begging me to play with them, but I remained above it. It was now the first days of January, which meant that I had been here for almost 10 months now under the care of Bigs the whole time. Still, even if I didn’t know it then, they were all family. As Samantha was leaving, I knew this wouldn’t be the case anymore and I worried that my regression afterward wouldn’t be too far behind.

“You’re just over worrying, Percy,” Samantha tried to reassure me as she rolled her bags to the front door. “Everything will be fine.”

“You keep saying that,” I shot back, “but how can you just say that? You’re leaving and you won’t even tell me where you’re going! How can I possibly be not worried about any of this?”

Samantha sighed and while I could see that this was a burden on her as well, I couldn’t help but think of only myself right then. After all, I was essentially placing the trust for my well-being and even my life as I knew it in the hands of a total stranger I had never met. We were supposed to before New Years Eve, but plans got mixed up and so I never did.

“She came highly recommended by everyone I’ve talked to, honey. I mean, even Oppy signed off on her,” she reminded me.

I had forgotten about that from back in November, but she was still a Big and a stranger. Beyond my essentially adopted family here, every Big I had met so far was either bordering on being ambivalent or strictly neutral when it came to Littles, or just downright cruel and domineering to the point of near sadism. Just based on that first-hand experience of myself alone, I think my fears about this new Big were valid. As Samantha had reminded me for at least the tenth time today though, “It will only be three weeks. Promise.”

“But why can’t it be someone in the family? We have enough of us at this point, right?” I questioned. I had already heard the answer, but I wanted to be sure this time. I wasn’t taking any chances that something might have miraculously changed since I had last asked.

Samantha sighed and I knew that sigh anywhere. I sadly knew that nothing had changed. “We’ve been over this before, Percy. Oppy and Luna are busy with Ditzy, while they’re bringing Chelsea to that special facility upstate in dealing with Big regressions like her to see how much she can grow back up again. They’ll be back, but they’ll be very busy with hers and Ditzy’s care.” She sighed and checked her watch for a moment. “And you know Harriet… she’s running herself ragged to be able to graduate by February. She can’t possibly watch you and do all that work as well. We already helped her back from the brink and adding you into her mix… well, I don’t think either of us want to see all she’s worked for go up in flames now, right?”

“No… I don’t want that…” As I depressingly guessed, the situation had not changed. I was stuck with this new babysitter. It was actually apparently very common with Littles of the academy faculty, but that didn’t mean I had to like it.

Right then even, more than anything else, I didn’t want Samantha to go, but right as I was about to protest further or even play on her emotions for me, the front doorbell rang. “Oh, that must be her,” Samantha then looked down at her watch. “And right on time to!” she then looked at me though and must have still seen my sadness and frustration. “It will be okay, sweetie. Just give her a chance and I’ll be back before you know it.”

I wanted to argue further, but Samantha was already reaching for the doorknob and besides, what could I even do at this point? I was a Little in this warped society and I even had doubts about my own independence now. I was practically helpless for most things, and to make matters worse and definitely beyond what I could protest, her trip was clearly academy business. I didn’t know what she was doing, but after her noted deal with Judge Franklin, I couldn’t deny that connection. So, like everyone else beyond the family seemed to want me to be by now, I was effectively powerless and helpless.

The door soon opened, and there, stood a tall dark-haired Big. She seemed oddly familiar, but I just couldn’t quite place her face from where I had seen her before. She seemed intelligent and kind, but like other Bigs I had seen, I thought I saw something lingering just behind her eyes. I could have just played it off as part of my paranoia around Bigs now, but I just couldn’t quite shake the feeling.

“Hello, Miss Norris. Am I too early?” she asked innocently, walking in the front door with a small suitcase rolling behind her.

“Oh, not at all,” Samantha replied. “You’re right on time actually. Very punctual. I guess all those wonderful rumors I’ve heard about you are true.”

“Oh? I hope all good then.” Samantha nodded and the woman, my new babysitter, looked back over to me. “And you must be Percy, right?” I then nodded myself as well. “Excellent! I’m sorry we didn’t get to meet up sooner, but my psychology professor pulled me away at the last minute to assist them.”

“That’s perfectly okay,” Samantha spoke up first. I wanted to say that it wasn’t, and I was uncomfortable with her, but Samantha’s flight was in less than two hours now. At this point, it was either this woman to watch over me or I would be by myself and then Samantha would be arrested for child endangerment, according to this society’s laws at least.

“I hope we can be friends at least during our time together,” she continued. I hesitated but after a little encouragement from behind where she was standing by Samantha, I nodded in agreement as well. I was still too cautious to really mean it, but everyone seemed happy enough.

And that’s how everything got left. I said my goodbyes to Samantha, and she was soon out the door and out of my life for the time being. ‘Three weeks top. Promise…’ The words kept echoing in my head afterward.

Even when my babysitter, Georgette, or even Georgie as she told me to call her, stayed with me that night, it was all I kept thinking about. By then, no matter what, I knew that Samantha wasn’t even in the same zip code as me anymore. She was truly gone, and I wasn’t even sure if I ran outside and screamed for someone to help me that anyone even would. I was a Little and that story was probably shouted from every rooftop all over the world. I was stuck, so I just tried to get through life as fast as I could.

So, the next few days passed, and Georgie and I even got to know each other a little. Due to my time in daycare, and just wanting to avoid her in general, and then her time in college to finish up her master’s degree, we didn’t see each other much, but I didn’t mind that. We would play a few games together, she would perform the routines that Oppy had once created for me before bed, and we would watch a little TV as well, but that was about it. It wasn’t exactly the highlight of my day, but for a moment, I could see a generally happy Big in my babysitter. It wasn’t much, but it was something. ‘Three weeks top. Promise…’

On the third day back from daycare though, something changed. I had just finished up a nice refreshing glass of milk from the refrigerator and noticed how good it tasted. It was so sweet and creamy, I almost thought that I somehow had just drunk a milkshake accidentally, but then I felt it. It was a warm sensation cascading throughout my body, but then almost a buzzing in my head. Now, I had felt like this with the mulsum a smidge, but there was only one other culprit that made me feel this way…

I turned to Georgie in panic, but I only saw a look of odd worry and then immediate satisfaction on her face. “Oh wow,” she noted calmly, “I didn’t expect the new formula to hit you that quickly. You Earthers must be more susceptible to the milk.” She scribbled something on the notepad I noticed in her lap and then smiled back up at me.

“Wha…” I tried to mumble out, but my shock was registering too much in my mind. So, when words or thoughts failed me, I decided to try and bolt. Big mistake.

My legs were strong still and not even asleep, but no matter what, they now also felt like dead weight. “Whad you do…?” I slurred partially. ‘Geez! I just hate being right sometimes about these Bigs…’

“Oh… I wouldn’t worry about that now. You see, I’m in my master’s program but I still have many connections to the academy, and they have many connections outside of this small town.” She then got up and walked over to me before crouching down to my terrified and at least attempting to wiggle away body. “You see… there’s probably a lot you don’t know about, but the judges… well, I’m doing this for multiple reasons, but first is to enhance our knowledge of you Earthers first, and second, I need to prove to my father that I can take over his experimental product’s company as a leader. First step though, is to have a test subject; in this case… you.”

I wanted to scream out, bang pots and pans and smash out windows… just anything, but the now obvious Tabers milk was working fast… too fast. I felt like just a lump before her in moments and I even felt a little drool on the corners of my mouth.

“Hmmm… much too hard and fast for this batch. Oh well!” She then scribbled down more notes. “My father says more people are complaining about the Tabers and some even want to launch an investigation into it. We have about a hundred designs but not enough Littles to test on. With the academy’s permission, I can just use you while your mommy is away.” I angrily cooed back at her; my tongue too heavy to form any coherent curses back though. “Oh right. Sorry… caregiver.” She scribbled more notes down.

“Hmmm…” She then began studying me in all kinds of positions and from all sorts of angles. “Yeah… batch 11ad is a no go. Got tons of this stuff with me though. No need to waste anything! Maybe just water it down a bit…? Uh, when you can talk, your feedback would be appreciated…”

I felt the words, and despite my near paralysis, my tongue seemed to work again. “S… screw you!” I managed to blurt out finally.

“Oh? How interesting…” Georgie seemed genuinely curious over my reaction. “But I can’t have you doing any of that now, can I? Can’t alert the neighbors!” I was still stuck like a fly on insect paper as she went over to her little bag and came back with what I thought was just a pacifier. It took me only seconds to realize that it also had a strap around it though.

“Open wide!” I refused, but she just plugged my nose until I had to take a breath. “Gotcha!” Less than a minute later, I had effectively been muted. Satisfied, Georgie walked back over to her notepad. “Hmmm… like flash paper. Stunning instant effects but far too quick. Maybe lower the dose but different delivery? Gonna have to think on that one…”

As she pondered the question, I felt another little stream enter my diaper. I normally felt maybe just a twinge beforehand, but this… I hadn’t felt the need at all. I might as well have just been an open tube straight from my bladder. It didn’t bode well for my future with her. ‘Three weeks top. Promise…’

As much as I want to say that someone noticed something, another few days went on like that and it was just her and I. She would introduce some new toy or product and I would test it out. If I did well, I got a treat of some sort… even if most of the times that involved watching cartoons on TV. Oddly enough though, by the third day, I almost started to look forward to my reward. They were simple, yes, but captivating and at least a relief from everything else.

It was right about then that to my astonishment and to my ever-loving hope, I heard the doorbell ring. Georgie was clearly panicked and ran to the door after sliding me in my onesie and walker over and out of the way of any sightlines of the door. “Now, you hush,” she commanded me. “I know that gag won’t allow you to say anything coherent, but any screaming, even muffled, will be punished later tonight. Don’t tempt me.” With that I nodded, and she opened the door.

“Oh! You must be Harriet!” she exclaimed. Being away from the sightlines of the doorway, I really could only take her word for who was actually out there, but soon, it was confirmed.

“You must be Georgette,” Harriet replied. “Good to meet you. I was going to just wait to meet you until I saw you with Percy on campus; I figured you might walk around before you cover her classes when everyone gets back in a few weeks after break, but I didn’t see you.”

Georgie nodded. “I was going to go to see if anything was different, but that place really never changes... especially for what I’ll be covering for. I think from the parking lot it’s still three rights and a left.”

“I see…” There was an awkward pause between the two at the door, but it was clear that Harriet had a reason for coming here other than first introductions. ‘You know… I actually stopped by to check and see where Percy was. I normally see him on the playground after my fifth period, but he wasn’t there again today, so it just made me wonder and even worry a little bit. Is everything okay? Do you all maybe need any help or…?”

Georgie shook her head. “No. That’s very kind of you, but I’ve got it covered. You see… Percy actually got the T5 retrovirus. No idea where the little rascal got it from, but it’s pretty nasty,” she lied convincingly. She must have been thinking about this eventuality since the beginning now.

“Oh no…” Harriet gasped. “Isn’t that the one that can affect birth rates in us Big women and can sometimes even mimic regression symptoms in Littles?” Georgie nodded, clearly laying out her reason why I would be different when everyone saw me again. “Uh, so, with those first system with us Big women, why aren’t you affected then?” I could hear the skepticism as clear as day. ‘Come on, Harriet. Keep pushing…’

“My father and I traveled around a lot following my grandmother on all her studies for a while there. Got exposed to a lot of things but also got some experimental vaccination treatments. Left me sick for about a week, but I’ve got total immunity now to lots of things… including the T5 retrovirus.” She paused for a moment and even stepped back a little out of the way of the doorway. “You can come in and see him, but it’s pretty intense and it’s your risk and your body…”

Harriet was a brave woman. Even after all I had seen after the botched mission, I knew she had the courage to come in and find me, however, I also knew she wanted kids after one of our little talks, so I was disappointed, but I also wasn’t surprised with her answer back. “Uh, no… I saw that virus before with a few of my friends on their way back from Gaule. Nasty stuff…”

Georgie nodded and then gestured down. “You know… he’s feeling really bad today, but I can tell him you stopped by. Probably brighten his day even.”

“Oh, would you?” Harriet asked in her own naïve way. I was feeling the need to risk whatever Georgie had threatened me with. With all I knew about the family, I knew Harriet was likely my only savior in all this. It was now or never just as Georgie nodded her head.

“Mmm! Mmm!” I tried to scream out in desperation, but between the strong breeze outside today and the pacifier gag still in my mouth, my cries for help came off as more of just low and maybe even distant moaning. To add to my problems, Georgie had also just dosed me with some Tabers milk, so moving wasn’t even close to an option to get Harriet’s attention. In an instant, I knew my shot to draw her attention had closed.  

“Oh dear…” Georgie said sullenly. “That must be him now. Poor dear… been puking all morning…”

Harriet gasped. “Gosh! I’m going to send over a gift basket this afternoon for him. The stuff inside should really help all that.”

“Oh, you’re so kind! I’m sure he’ll just love that.” I don’t think Harriet saw it, but I saw the mounting tension growing in Georgie, so I was terrified when the two then said their goodbyes and she came thundering back for me.

“That wasn’t smart, mister,” she told me coldly. “We need to get back to testing, but you’ll regret that…”

‘Three weeks top. Promise…’

Later that afternoon, as Harriet had promised, a ring from the front doorbell announced my care package had arrived. Georgie hurriedly rushed the basket inside and tore it open in a panic. “No bugs it seems, but oh! Lookie here! Your family must really like you. Look at all this stuff!”

I did and saw scores of chocolates, heating and cooling pads, anti-vomiting medicine, cans of soup, tissues, and even some packets for soothing teas. It was a get-well soon type of package and my heart ached when I saw it. If only my new family could have just barged in here with the same dedication, I knew I would be safe from Georgie forever afterwards, but for now, the package was at least a nice reminder in my life that I wasn’t as truly alone as I felt.

That being said, Georgie really only set it aside and ate a piece of chocolate herself. “Sorry, Percy. With my new mixture of the Tabers, I can’t risk a new factor into the equation. It could throw off the entire experiment.” She then leaned back in her seat and turned on the TV. For a split second, I thought I even saw some sympathy. It wasn’t much, but I decided to play it up a smidge.  

Unfortunately, the TV drowned out the whimpering I had started up, but it seemed like it was working eventually when not even Georgie seemed immune to it after a bit. I even thought I saw more of an oddly pained look on her face for a moment as if she didn’t want to be doing all this, but I was just so ravenous for the chocolate that I completely just refocused on it… until a special bulletin interrupted the Littles program that Georgie had running on in the background for me.

“We interrupt your local programming to bring you this special announcement… viewer discretion may be advised.” A man with salt and pepper hair suddenly came on the screen, adjusted his glasses, and then began to speak directly toward the camera. “Hello… this is Walter P. Cunnings bringing you this special report. Liberal Parliament member, Sedgewick Abernathy, champion of the Little’s Rights bill currently up for debate, died this afternoon. His death has been ruled natural, but sources close to the investigation note that they haven’t ruled out foul play. More updates will follow tonight. Thank you.”

The broadcast turned off and Georgie just shook her head. “Geez… too bad for you lot in Albion, huh?”

I could only nod and worry about where the heck Samantha was. I didn’t worry too long though, because I suddenly felt a need to ‘go poo,’ as Melley had noted I should say it with her ‘unwritten rules.’ I fortunately got the attention of Georgie in time, but I was worried about the suddenness of it all. From my friends in daycare, I always thought there was a link with Tabers and the sudden drop in everyone’s potty control, but now? I worried about what was to come next for me with it. I still had over two weeks with Georgie still left to go. ‘Three weeks top. Promise…’

A few days later, I was getting desperate. Georgie had barred me now from even leaving the house in the backyard and had our food delivered here only. Hers was normal… mine though was essentially baby food, and it was just one of many factors now that I felt was contributing to my weakened bowel control. I hadn’t had an accident yet, but yesterday, as Georgie guided me to my still-present potty, I let out a fart. It wasn’t bad but the second fart over the potty, which felt exactly the same to me, ended up evacuating my bowels completely. It was another bad sign.

Plus, I was feeling more confused and lethargic than ever. I had even started dozing off in the afternoon and had begun to crawl around the room instead of getting up to walk because it was just too much effort sometimes. It was all freaking me out, so, I decided to fake drinking my dose of Tabers milk and try to make a break for it. If I stayed here for too much longer, I felt utterly doomed.

At first, it took me forever to find an opportunity to dump the Tabers milk, but eventually, Georgie turned her back and I squeezed it all out in one of Samantha’s plants. I would apologize to her later if her plant was eventually ruined from who knows what was in that milk truly. Desperate times called for unique thinking.

Finally, Georgie then left me alone while I appeared dazed from the milk. I knew it was now or never.

I got up and ran as fast as I could to the front door. It was only about thirty yards away from where I was, so I felt it was a breeze. Unfortunately, it took me a second to get going, but I eventually reached the front door and only seconds away from freedom or someone calling the cops hopefully. I then looked up. “Crap!”

I jiggled the doorknob to confirm my suspicions and just found that it was locked as I had feared. I had seen Samantha open the door dozens of times, but with my height, only the tips of my fingers could reach the lock above the handle higher up. Right as I reached for it though, Georgie called out to me from the other room. “Percy? Where’d you go? Are you hiding…?” Right then though, she caught me fiddling with the door lock. “Percy! Stop right where you are! You are a very bad boy!” Her steps then resounded throughout the house as she made her way over to me, charging my tiny and desperate body like a rhino towards a frightened mouse.

In a second, before I even had time to run, she picked me up and held my body in front of her with venom in her eyes. “I turn my back for one second, and you try to escape? No siree! Not on my watch!” She then tucked me under her arm like some captured football and marched me upstairs and into my room.

Now, after several nights of me being afraid of the dark and my panic attacks over everything going on mixed in with a few nightmares, Samantha had gotten tired of just standing in my room or perching on the edge of my bed, so she bought a rocking chair where we could cuddle at night, but now, it was the one spot that Georgie was charging over to. Without any seeming care, she tossed me into the seat.

“Now, you just stay there, mister,” she thundered from above me as her pointed finger practically bopped me on the nose. “You move one inch, and you’ll think that protocol one is practically a godsend.” Needless to say, once she stormed back out of the room, I stayed put.  

Moments later, she brought back a black leather case, set it on my changing table temporarily and opened it. She then glanced back at me with oddly weary eyes. “You know… I just need to prove to my father… family even, that I can do this job. I know I can, and I have the degrees to back that up, but if you had escaped…” Her once sad eyes quickly darkened and instead, she looked menacingly back at me with an odd and creepy desperate smile. “I didn’t want to use this bag… it was a risk I was even willing to take with my father… but I guess we can have a different kind of relationship if you want it that way.” She then pulled a ring out of the bag. “This for example!”

She stepped over to me and presented me with a black ring about the size of my neck… almost exactly the size of my neck. “Now, don’t move. I don’t want to nick you or anything…” Without a second’s hesitation, she then attached what I then realized was a collar around my neck.

I immediately started thumbing around with it. “What did you do to me? What is this?” I panickily asked, now unable to fumble with the latch she had just snapped shut.

Georgie giggled back. “Oh! No messing with the collar, Percy, but let me just…” She then produced a tablet of sorts and entered a few buttons. “Okay. Actually… try and remove it again.” Her smile instantly made me feel this was a trap of some kind.

I didn’t like it at all, but I felt she had all the power, so I complied and put a few fingers back to where she had fixed it around my neck. Then, all I felt was pain. It was a surging pain everywhere. In my skin, my mind, even my soul. It was as if I had touched a live wire and was suddenly being executed in an instant.

The pain only stopped when Georgie pushed another button on her tablet. “There… now you see. That was setting five. Try escape again from this property without me… you get an eight. Ten… well, you don’t want to make it a ten.” I quickly shook my head; still tense from the pain I had endured.

“Good. Now, first thing.” She then waltzed over to me and got me out of the chair and led me to the bathroom. “Let’s go potty, shall we?”

I was very confused. I didn’t need to go… or at least I didn’t think I did, but Georgie never led me to the potty first. I almost always was bursting to go poo, or I just used my diaper to pee in helplessly as had become the norm. ‘What was she up to?’

We then entered the bathroom upstairs and she directed me to my small little potty sitting there where it always was. “Sit,” she instructed while still messing around with her tablet.

I only nodded but I approached the potty with a considerable amount of hesitation and then checked all around for any signs of tampering or traps that could be lying in wait. Finally, when I didn’t see anything, I turned back to Georgie. “Now, sit. I mean it, but no need to take your diaper off. I just want to see something…”

I was now more paranoid than ever. I could feel my diaper already squishing a bit, but the angry flames behind Georgie’s mind made me rethink questioning her at all with anything. So, without a word, I sat down.

Mere inches away from contact though, my whole body was racked with the same shocking sensation that I had received before when I tried to remove the collar. I immediately got off the potty from my crouched position and grimaced in pain for about another second before the shocks stopped.

“Perfect!” Georgie noted before yanking my arm, and thus myself as well, back to my room.

At first, I was confused, but as I saw the potty drift into the distance, I realized that this collar was not coming off, and now, my one spot where I could go poo, would now trigger the collar. There was no doubt now… Georgie wanted me to use my diapers for everything now! She had even made sure that even if I could just hover over the potty, the collar would activate. Plus, with my seemingly dwindling level of control over my bowels recently, I wasn’t confident I could prevent an accident from happening whether I wanted it or not if I was suddenly shocked. My brain whirled and I panicked, but I had little time to think of these things.

Georgie soon led me back toward the rocking chair before adjusting something in the back. In an instant, it stood still, and she turned back to me. “Okay… now, you were very bad today, Percy, and you’ll learn about the boundaries of the collar, but you need to learn to never try and escape from me again. As such,” she then walked back over to her bag and pulled something out, “I think it’s time you meet ‘Crimson.’”

I looked over the enormous paddle she was now holding. It was accurately named for its long red exterior, and I couldn’t help but notice the holes periodically placed in the large surface area on its head. I quickly gulped.

“I designed this myself with our latest technology,” she said as she marveled at the object in her hands. “You could spank an elephant with this thing, and it wouldn’t break. Plus, the holes… well, it’s a speedy little devil for sure.” Consciously or not, I began backing away, but the wall soon stopped me. Georgie noticed and only chuckled.

“Escaping that way isn’t going to help you much.” She then held up a small remote. “I’ve programmed this to trigger your collar remotely, so I control you now.” She then sighed. “You see, I tried to be nice and test you through rewarding behavior. I now think that might have been a mistake, so at this point, we’re going to try something a bit different. So, I’m going to sit and you’re going to lay on my lap. There is no second option.” She then sat down on the rocking chair and waited for me to obey her.

The collar’s light but noticeable frame was a reminder of the few, if any, options I had at this point. I could run again and likely fail, break a window… maybe call for help but also likely fail, or I could just submit. All my options sucked, but as I walked over to her now, I just hoped that my compliance might just be rewarded.

Her lap was surprisingly comfortable, but as soon as the spanks began to rain down on my butt, I became a near instant blubbery mess. My still-present pacifier gag prevented me from screaming and agonizing over my pain too much, but my tears flowed just as freely with or without it on. I think I lost count over 25, and while Mrs. Katherine’s spanks were worse, there was something so much more terrible about the ones I had just endured. I wasn’t sure why, but I felt about as broken as I could get… at least until my stomach grumbled while still laying out in that vulnerable position.

I tried to warn Georgie, but she only paused when a small fart inadvertently popped out mere moments after her spanking ceased. “Oh? Did someone’s punishment loosen him up a little?” I mumbled in pain and tried to gesture to the potty, but a small shock through my collar quickly stopped that.

“Naughty, naughty… I thought one so smart would have learned by now.” Georgie then sighed as she began to massage by butt and lower back, pressing my stomach further into her knees. “I suppose all you Littles eventually do though… just takes a little…” I farted again. It wasn’t small. She giggled. “…time. I guess you’re all out of that, aren’t you, honey?”

I whimpered again… begging… pleading to use the potty, but my muffled pleas and soon moans fell on deaf ears. So, right there, on my tormentor’s lap, I grunted and then filled my diaper up about as much as I thought was possible. I shut my eyes in complete shame.

Never had I experienced such humiliation so consciously. Additionally, as if to make matters worse, the time from my stomach grumbling to me filling up my diaper helplessly was less than three minutes. Only a minute and a half if one just counted when I actually felt the pressure in my lower gut. I was already doubting my ability hold in my poo, but today… my confidence felt shattered.

“Oh my!” Georgie exclaimed as she witnessed my total humiliation right there on her lap. “Such a good Little. Such a good baby.” I shut my eyes tighter as tears leaked from the edges. She had proved her point in one swift blow and even furthered it as she patted the bulge that had now formed in testament to my helplessness. “I guess someone needs a fresh diapy, huh?” I made no response. “Aww. Is someone shy? Can widdle Percy at least nod his head that he needs a fresh diapy?” I didn’t want to comply, but I wanted out of this diaper even more. So, to my further shame already, I nodded my head like she asked.

“Good baby…” She then picked me up and bounced me up and down for a moment. I cringed in shame, but then, to my utter shock, she removed my pacifier gag. Days of near constant use though had messed with my tongue and I was still in too much pain to do much more than whimper. Georgie then went back over to her black leather bag and pulled out what almost looked like a balloon before smiling at it.

“Hand,” she then requested calmly after a moment. Broken and defeated, I only complied meekly. “Good boy…” She then pulled the balloon device over my thumb and without a second thought, she plunged the digit right into my mouth.

I wanted to spit it out the second it touched my lips, but Georgie’s hand kept my own in place for a moment. “Now, I’m going to hold this for a good second here, but when I let go, you won’t remove it either or you’ll get a shock.” I quickly nodded and complied when she removed her hand. “Good. Now, the ‘thumb suck balloon’ is coated with a substance about six times greater than nicotine. Have fun with that, but don’t take it out.” I nodded, still hoping for a reprieve somewhere.

Instead, for my troubles and compliance, I only got more babytalk, more smushing of my diaper, and more humiliation over what I had humiliatingly done. Before today, I was a Little. I had admitted that much at least for months now. But after today, I felt I no longer could claim that I was an unregressed Little. ‘Three weeks top. Promise…’

As the second week progressed, the thought of not being a regressed Little became even more prevalent. The collar did its work well and I soon became as compliant as I ever could be to Georgie. No foul language, no potty for anything, no escape attempts, and compliance with anything and everything she put in front of me just became normal.

Curiously though, I felt I had started to see something growing in Georgie. It was there after every time my collar went off and even when she was experimenting on me. There was some perverse glee there, but also almost something akin to regret. Heck, even a few times she was feeding me or putting me to bed, I thought she almost looked as if she even wanted to care for me. ‘Maybe this was the Big everyone was talking about… but why was I so different?’

Finally, though, we were only days away from Samantha returning, and being milk drunk after a particular hard dose of Tabers milk, I wanted to know the truth. Something else felt like it was going on here, and after her third glass of wine with dinner, I felt I was never going to have a better opportunity to ask, so, I did. “Why you doin’ this?” I slurred up to Georgie as she finished snapping the last button of my onesie, a now trusted and constant garment of my wardrobe to help prevent leaks, but also provide her ample space to test out her projects on my skin.

“As I said… for science and for the academy,” she said confidently, but I could still see something behind her eyes. If I was being honest with myself, it kind of felt like sadness or regret. I should have dropped it, and I should have feared getting shocked, but the Tabers tonight seemed to almost override those types of inhibitions.

“You’re lyin’…” I said sloppily. I then pointed to her eyes. ‘Iss there. I can see… there sumfin’ else…”

Georgie sighed as she put me into my crib for the night, something that she had pulled out of Samantha’s storage room to keep me in at night rather than to attempt to escape. Honestly though, it was just starting to make me feel safer. If it was even possible, I felt even more afraid of the dark.

“Fine,” Georgie relented to my shock. “My name is Georgette Beakerman.”

My world seemed to freeze. “Wait… Beakerman… da Dr. Beakerman from da university an’ dat book vi… vid-e-o?” Words were starting to become much harder to say fully.

Georgie actually laughed. “Wow! You actually saw that old thing?” I just nodded. “Impressive. I thought they threw all those away…”

“Why dey do dat?” I questioned sincerely. “She’s gotta statue even.” Once again, I just hoped that my slurred speech would go away by morning yet again.

Georgie nodded sadly though. “Yeah, and the statue looks terrible. See, my grandmother was thrown out… and all this… it’s my payment towards repairing her legacy. She wanted Littles to be equal, which is ridiculous, but I don’t agree with the university either. At least not with Judge Franklin…” she trailed off for a moment, but then looked at me about as serious as anyone could look at another person.

“I don’t know what you did to piss that guy off… but I would fix it if I were you,” she warned. “He wants you broken… utterly compliant for something. He gave me funding and promised my grandmother’s reputation would be restored if I did all this to you. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse. And… I don’t know if this means anything, but I really am sorry. I got carried away a few times I can admit, but I also had orders and had to show a few of the judges of proof I had done what I had claimed. That all finished tonight, which is why I’m even telling you all this before I go back to the academy, but I really hope one day you can forgive me.”

I highly doubted that day would ever come, but while a part of me wanted to believe she was just the bad guy in all this the past few weeks, there was another more blamable culprit I knew now. Once again, Judge Franklin was trying to hurt this family and me, now on a much deeper and more personal level than before. I don’t think I could have ever hated another person more right then.

Georgie wished me a goodnight, but unlike other nights then gave me something that I had been longing for a while now. While I still had Stripe and Nurple with me, there was one thing missing; Samantha’s gift to me; her ‘Smell and Comfort’ blanket.

As I snuggled into the blanket that smelled so much like her, it made my heart hurt from missing her so much still. I then thought I heard whispering around me as the lights turned off, but I just tried to ignore them as much as I had since the day that Harriet had come over. I never did figure out my punishment for trying to yell out that day, but the whispering both terrified me and made me oddly calm.

Regardless, tonight, I drifted off in the warm and soft confines of my amazing blanket. Samantha would be back in a few days, and I just hoped everything would be okay after, but as anyone here could testify; there were no guarantees. A few tears fell from my face and is if on instinct by now, my thumb slowly made it into my mouth. I didn’t care anymore. By now, it just felt comforting, and I could use as much of that as I could muster. I don’t think anyone could truly judge me for that.

Slowly, though, my eyes began to drift close through the tears still wetting the blanket wrapped up around my body. As the whispering lulled me to sleep, I mumbled something as usual lately, but that I could also never remember what it was. “Good Littles are rewarded… I’m a good Little… I’m a good baby…” I’m sure it didn’t matter though... All that did matter though, was that Samantha was returning. Everything would okay then. ‘Three weeks top. Promise…’

[Guilend]

Really? I think this cliffhanger is by far the worst one yet. I knew that guy would do something, but I figured he'd do something to Samantha to force her into doing some of that stuff to Percy herself. I hope Samantha goes all mama bear on her when she finds out what happened. Does the babysitter not realize that if charges are pressed, the judge will simply say she's lying and not only will her grandmother's legacy never be restored, but she will most likely end up getting protocol 1 just to keep her quiet and be able to make sure she can never restore her family name? I'm very certain, even in this world, doing experiments on a Little, especially on one that isn't yours without the approval of the guardian is probably illegal. Unless she has video recording of Franklin telling her to do this, she's screwed. Even if she does, she won't be completely out of the woods, she might not get protocol one, but even with a deal, she will get regressed. It just might not be as far down as protocol one and have an option to grow up. And this is if Samantha doesn't end up putting her in the ground for this.

[Kat5]

6 hours ago, Guilend said:

probably illegal.

I'm waiting eagerly for the next chapter, but i keep wondering about the fact that the university isn't magically the highest court in the land. And illegal experimentation could wind up being investigated by the ABI. The judges run the university ... they don't run the ABI.

[Guilend]

1 hour ago, Kat5 said:

I'm waiting eagerly for the next chapter, but i keep wondering about the fact that the university isn't magically the highest court in the land. And illegal experimentation could wind up being investigated by the ABI. The judges run the university ... they don't run the ABI.

That's true. I actually forgot about that. My question then is, how much power do these judges really have? Are they even authorized to regress Bigs or even Littles the way they do or as far as they do without getting approval from a higher court or another third party like the ABI? 

[Little Andrea]

This story keeps getting better and better, it’s definitely one of my favorites. As far as your next story goes, I’m really intrigued by Bethany, it seems like there is so much that you could do with that.

[Kat5]

4 hours ago, Guilend said:

without getting approval

My impression is that as long as they keep us littles coming, they can get away with ... well a lot. I sort of expect that as long as they don't do anything to effect the general public, the 'judges' (which are really only judges on the college campus) won't get in any severe trouble.

Basically they are very big fish ... in a very small pond.

[Guilend]

1 hour ago, Kat5 said:

My impression is that as long as they keep us littles coming, they can get away with ... well a lot. I sort of expect that as long as they don't do anything to effect the general public, the 'judges' (which are really only judges on the college campus) won't get in any severe trouble.

Basically they are very big fish ... in a very small pond.

I agree, that's my impression as well.

[LostBBoyBear]

Hey everyone! Really sorry about the lateness of this post. Yesterday was at least fine, but I might have pushed a smidge too hard and just didn’t have the mental power at the end of it all to do much with this story. That being said, this is now definitely the second to last chapter of this story. So, barring any unknown complications, the final chapter will be up tomorrow.

You’re all basically spot on with the academy’s position in the government. You’ll see it more in the Height War and Halloween stories at the very least I write eventually, but most Bigs in my canon get very desperate to have Littles. There’s even a possible disease I have in the works that is basically the opposite of maturosis. As such, the government pretty much gives the academy cart blanche with some of these things.

Also, I’m just going to say right now that there is not a satisfactory ending to Georgette’s arc in this chapter. There’s some resolution, but there’s honestly just more cliffhangers for now. It’s a spoiler, but I just wanted to be upfront about it and note that her story arc continues in the final chapter, the next story in this trilogy, and even the Opening (yes, if you can recall, she is the CEO of future Diamond Technologies that was featured there and the mother of a future board member in Project Nurture).

Next, I’m still contemplating what my next story will be. A few of you have commented, but as a reminder, this is the final time you can make your suggestion to me if you haven’t done so already. I will also announce my next story when I post the final chapter, which again, will be sometime tomorrow.

Anyways, I hope everyone enjoys this next and penultimate chapter of this story!

Chapter 18: The Tasks of Aftermaths

I was a broken teacup. I felt I had been picked up as shiny and delicate perhaps, maybe even chipped before from just some time under a bit of stress, but now… I felt someone had dropped me completely and broken every fiber of what I was. I was still me of course, but after three weeks of enduring the treatments that Georgie heaped and tested upon me, I felt that I was no longer the same Little.

Georgie had explained to everyone about my T5 retrovirus as her cover story for why I had changed so much so quickly. It was a legitimate virus, but after only twenty minutes of Samantha taking me back under her care when she had gotten back, she knew it was a lie. Under an hour later, the whole family knew as well. I suppose things like that start to become obvious when you come back, and your Little messes themselves helplessly in your lap during a good long cuddle. To say she and everyone else were furious afterwards though was an understatement.

“I just can’t believe this is happening,” Harriet huffed as we all waited outside for the judge’s deliberation.

Oppy sighed. “It’s a lot, but I think things might soon be turning around. There is something funny about all this…” She then suddenly trailed off, and I quickly noticed that Samantha was glaring back at her. Once again, I felt like they were in cahoots with each other. Harriet and the rest of the family likely saw as well, but just left it alone. Whenever those two schemed, you either knew and helped them, or didn’t for a good reason and stayed out of their way.

For my part, I just humbly sat next to Samantha as she continued to stroke my back. I was disheartened to hear that despite her literally telling me that the academy was involved, Georgie would be tried in the normal governmental law system of Libertalia. Despite Grossman and Franklin, the academy did tend to rule more in favor of Littles. I was feeling helpless enough as it was, but all this certainly wasn’t helping… nor did it with my anxiety.

Since the interview 43C period, I had started to become very uneasy in my own life. Nurple, Stripe, and the family, particularly Samantha, had enormously helped me cope whenever I had an issue. Most of their methods only seemed to further plunge me into the more extreme aspects of Littlehood, but I just wanted relief, so I would take anything they threw at me.

Now, though, due to the substance on the ‘thumb suck balloon,’ I was doing just that to do a little of my own coping with my anxiety. The action just started off as something my mind would mindlessly do at first. I kept waking up after any nap, exhaustive episode after another round of testing, or even from my sleep, but then it progressed to my unconscious mind during the day as well. When Georgie first caught me doing it, she was elated, and I blushed about ten shades of red. When Samantha had caught me last week, I was mortified, but strangely enough, after taking my thumb out in shock, by then, I desperately wanted to put it back in. Since then, the urge had only gotten worse.

To my relief though, the inner chambers of the judge that was hearing if this mess was even a case, then opened. Several members filed out, but finally, one stopped in front of us. Her pressed pantsuit and detailed but subtle makeup told me that she was our advocate during the hearing. “Norris family I presume?”

“That’s us,” Oppy confirmed grimly.

The woman sighed and I could feel the air go out of the room. “I’m afraid the judge won’t see the case. He’s very firm on this, but I’m afraid there are factors beyond our control at play here.” It was not the news we wanted to hear.

“How can that be?” Harriet burst out. “I mean… look at him. Percy is a Little!”

The advocate quickly looked at me and then seemed to become very uncomfortable. I of course knew what Harriet was trying to say, but the advocate barely knew me. She was court-appointed, and to point out that I was a Little around here was like saying the sky was blue. In this society, and even my own definition for a while now, I was a Little. What Harriet meant to say was that I was now more of a regressed Little instead of how I used to be. Still, the advocate nodded sadly after probably figuring out what Harriet had actually meant.

“Yes, and I’m very sorry about that. I’m very pro-Little myself, but the law is the law. Percy here is a Little and by such definitions, Georgette took care of him in Miss Norris’ absence as best as she saw fit. As of today, there are still no firm rights for Littles unless it comes to bodily harm or kidnapping. Neither of those occurred, but also, due to previous rulings after the Height Warm, right or wrong, a Little’s mental fortitude is weaker than a Bigs and therefore is easier to break. As such, Georgette cannot be prosecuted.”

“Then we will appeal that decision,” Oppy said defiantly. Samantha only gripped my hand tighter. She had taken it after the initial ruling was said out loud. It was a little too tight for me, but I didn’t complain. She probably took it for my comfort, but at this point, I felt it was more for her own.

“That’s well within your purview ma’am,” the advocate noted. “Knowing your reputation, I wouldn’t doubt it, but at this juncture, I can only wish you the best of luck. Maybe something will change in the courts, but for now, this is the ruling.”

After that, the advocate and Oppy talked a little and the rest of us mulled about the ruling and I got several more apologies from the family. Each had expressed their guilt to me since the revelation of what happened occurred with Georgie, but today, they seemed more resigned than as defiant as before. “I’m sure we’ll get her next time,” Luna offered, but I could see that their tail and ears were slumped downward in sadness, and in all likelihood, doubt over their own words.

While Harriet and Luna were talking to me, another crowd shuffled by, and one even hit a returning Samantha from the restroom. She had checked my diaper beforehand and noted that it likely could hold up until we got home. They had been upgraded again to be slightly thicker and definitely more absorbent. Due to their new Little classification, this now meant they were decorated with cartoon characters from one of the shows that I now actually enjoyed instead of the previous geometric shapes, but I just took it in stride. If nothing else, I was just glad that further embarrassing leaks were less likely… To me, it was now one less thing to worry about.

Regardless, the hit by that particular person in the crowd spun Samantha a bit. I could tell she was a bit dazed and saddened by the ruling as well, but she immediately seemed to perk up. She almost called out to the individual that had hit her, but they had seemingly dissipated back into the crowd. Oddly, she then rushed over to us and motioned us to leave quickly.

I just went along with everything and made sure to hold her hand as we navigated through the crowds. Once outside and to our cars through, Samantha stopped everyone and pulled her other hand out of her pocket. Inside it was a crumbled-up note.

“What is that?” Harriet asked, looking down at the paper Samantha had just revealed to us.

“The person that bumped me… it was a handoff…” Samantha said quietly. She then handed it to the group. It missed me, but Samantha quickly noticed and kept her voice quiet. “It’s about the hearing… it says we can prosecute Georgette further, but she’s being protected…”

“What?” Oppy asked in disbelief. “What does that even mean? You think she’s an informant?”

My mind quickly reeled and thought back to what she had informed me the last night. I had told everyone even, and while it seemed to cool tempers and ensure no physical harm would come to Georgette, they were still mad that she would agree to the deal from Franklin in the first place, hence why we were at court today. Still, her deal and her regret over her role with my further regression, at least to me, made the idea of her role as an informant seem less crazy. From what I could tell though, I seemed to be in the minority.

“I don’t believe it,” Luna said adamantly, “and I don’t care. She tried to hurt Percy. There’s nothing more to it…”

“Agreed…” Harriet said, her fists practically white knuckling from the rage I could tell she was holding back. She would have been a great hunter, but according to Samantha, she was already likely going to be one of the top new recruiters graduating this year. “I don’t think I would care even if she was helping the president.”

“As much as I want to be non-violent…” Samantha continued, her rage just as visible, “I agree. She hurt a member of this family… she hurt Percy…”

Oppy sighed heavily. “Maybe, but still, honey…” Oppy began, her wizened words punctuating through all the anger of the family right then. “I think it would be best to keep the note in mind. We might have some options open to us now, and you just never know when they could come in handy.”

After that, tempers seemed to die down and it was agreed by all that we should all resign back to Oppy’s house as usual. There, everyone had either planned a small celebration, or a consolation get-together for me if the hearing didn’t go well. As Samantha buckled me into my car seat, I could definitely see that it was going to be a consolation party for everyone else as well.

Arriving at the house, Samantha first went to change my diaper back in Chelsea’s still-present nursery. I guess I had been dribbling a bit for a while now as I was quickly declared as ‘soaked’ even through my new diapers. It was a bit embarrassing, but like other things, I was just grateful I wasn’t messy… yet.

The consolation party then proceeded and there was just more discussion about everything that had happened in general. I heard conspiracy theories and rumors regarding just about everything, but I had just resigned myself to sitting on the playmat on the floor with both Chelsea and Ditzy and tuned them out. It was just easier that way sometimes.

While we were at court, a neighbor that Oppy had known for years had been watching over the two. After Georgette, she was immediately let go as Oppy’s babysitter and she no longer even trusted the service she worked for. I could see the pain in Georgie’s eyes of her betrayal a few days later but considering that I only wanted to suck my thumb right then, I still couldn’t feel too bad for her.

On a brighter note, while Ditzy was still drooling all over herself, Cheslea had been approved to once again grow up. The process was apparently grueling and even agonizing to a degree though. At one point, Oppy informed us that Cheslea was basically feeling that prickingly pins and needles sensation one gets after a body part of theirs had fallen asleep… except that it was happening in her brain.

After looking it up one day when I just couldn’t find it in myself to watch another cartoon about a dancing bear, I found out that after even a single treatment, some had the mental capacity to then opt out of further treatments. It meant they would be in a state of regression in some ways for the rest of their lives, so Chelsea had been continually checked with to ensure she was still okay proceeding or if she wanted to stop. She never did, and if I had to take a guess, it was likely because with each treatment and awakening, a little part of her would come back if it could.  

“P… Per… Per-cee…” Chelsea said with difficulty. I stopped parading Nurple around for a moment and looked over to the former mighty Big. “I… I sowwy…”

Her words hung in the air with a heaviness I still didn’t expect from the woman before me. For almost as long as I had been here, she was basically an infant in all manners of that word except for in her size. I had seen her run around and not wanting to get dressed, I had seen her coated in carrot puree, and I had even grown almost used to the idea of her just squatting and going whenever she had to. She still did that… well, because apparently, those muscles atrophied a bit much, but still, I was finding it hard to say anything back to her.

“I… sowwy, Per-cee… I wassa bad Big to you…” she confessed.

Again, I struggled with my words, but I managed to finally find a few. “It’s okay, Chelsea. I’m not mad at you… not anymore really.”

Chelsea then oddly looked ashamed. I thought maybe she could use a diaper change, but she just looked back up at me and sighed. “Sammy nevuh told you… did she?” I wasn’t sure what she was referring to, so I shook my head. “She’s a good sistah…” She seemed to be heavily contemplating something, but like my Nurple, she pulled in her doll closer to her body. I guess after so many months of having it as an outlet of safety, happiness, and security, she still naturally gravitated to it more.

“Back at da con… Sammy didn’t wan’ to take you at first…” Cheslea explained. “I changed her mind…”

“Oh…” I wasn’t really sure how to act with this new information. Maybe I would have been upset six months ago, but now… Samantha had been one of my biggest allies and advocates here. Maybe if Judge Grossman had taken me instead, I would have felt differently, but I couldn’t really say I hated where I ended up… despite some of my more recent issues.

“You did what most do around here,” I tried to explain to the struggling and still heavily mentally regressed Big before me. “You may have been an influence on her, but she still went along with it. I would be madder at her, but I forgave her a long time ago. I’m not sure if you saw all that though. It was when…”

“I saw evwy…” she groaned and massage her mouth for a minute. “Sowwy… hard ta form words… I saw it all…”

“Oh…” Chelsea didn’t say she had processed it all, but clearly, she could remember everything from it. I wonder if she felt shame for anything or if she had passed it off as a medical thing beyond her control and nothing else. The Chelsea I had first met of manicures, midriffs, and mimosas would have likely rather died than continue after all that if she remembered it. The Chelsea before me though, the one with diapers, a pink dress, and her hair now done in a ponytail and bow rather than pigtails… I wasn’t so sure about.

I had been so focused on Chelsea that I hadn’t even noticed the family above us had stopped talking and was now looking and listening to us. “I didn’t know that, Chelse…” Samantha said glumly, shocking me a bit from her sudden statement. “Why didn’t you say anything to us before now… or even to Percy just today?”

Chelsea looked down and seemed very ashamed. “I didn’t wan’ you all ta know… I was em… emba… embar…”

“Embarrassed?” Oppy finally added to help her daughter out.

Chelsea nodded quickly. “Yeah… you try rememberin’ all dat… I don’t think I’ll ever see a pool da same way again…”

Oppy blushed and seemed filled with regret. “Sorry about that… I had instructions from the academy, Chelse… I would have taken you to Nana’s old cabin on the lake up north if I could… but it was part of your specialized protocol two…”

Chelsea scooted over, a distinct crinkling echoing throughout the room and then nuzzled against her mom’s leg. It seemed pretty childish, but many online had noted that those recovering from protocol two, even if they opted for all the painful treatments, could still have lingering effects… years after or even permanently. “Iss okay, mommy… mom…”

Chelsea quickly blushed, but Oppy only brushed her daughter’s hair gently and looked back at her with an expression I could only identify as care and love. “Thank you, honey. It means a lot to me for you to tell me that.”

Their little moment lasted a little bit, but Chelsea then turned back to the rest of us who were just enjoying the tenderness of it all. “I wanna say sowwy to all you as well…” Everyone immediately tried to stop her, but she just held up her hand calmly. “Pwease… I wassa bwat…” She continued to blush at her mispronunciation. I couldn’t blame her, but I also remembered that only a little over a month ago, we were praising her for saying even single syllables to identify us by.

“I took you all fo’ gwanted an’ dwagged you thwu so much… I… I’m sowwy…” She drooped her head in shame, but Harriet quickly spoke up.

“It’s okay, Chelsea. You might have been all that back then and more even, but none of us are perfect.” She then paused and looked a bit saddened herself. “Especially me…”

“You da bess!” Chelsea said in a clear effort to cheer her old friend up. They were closer in age, and I had found out that they were really only a few years apart at the academy. In fact, Chelsea might have even been punished more if she hadn’t been so fresh in the field. “I couldn’t say it befo’, but congwats on bein’ a recwuitah… Buh pwomise to juss be bettah dan me… or dis be you.” She then flipped up her dress and showed off her diaper underneath.

We all laughed at that, but I could also tell that she was definitely still recovering. I knew Oppy would help her out like she did with everyone else. At the end of it all, I was still a little upset with her previous actions, but each day since the consolation party, I had felt that feeling recede even more. She was family and said sorry to me after all… that had to count for something.

In the weeks that followed, February approached and then flew by faster than I ever could have thought possible. Samantha seemed determined to be packing for something and I feared another trip. Not that I would have to spend another session with Georgie, as Oppy wouldn’t take no for an answer when Samantha had tried to think of other options, but I knew I would have been genuinely lost without her by my side. The blanket she had given me was amazing and I felt it was one of the few reasons I didn’t crack by the end of my time with Georgie, but it was no substitute for the real deal. Still, my nerves played havoc, even as Samantha noted that she was only ‘being prepared.’

Two weeks into the month though, I was lying on the floor in Samantha’s office back at the academy. I was guest lecturing today, one of my final times actually, but I was still mournful over my new bracelet. Despite lecturing, being a Little here, I still required a wristband to be on academy grounds when not in daycare like the others. With a recent surge in Little desire, it became even more pressing now for my own safety.

Still, the wristband was a reminder of two things. The first was that I was now rounding almost a full year since I had last seen Earth and come to this dimension where I received my first on my second day here. The con where all this had started felt so long ago now, particularly as I was now coloring on the floor in my caregiver’s office when a year ago, I was in an office of my own. Secondly though, was that after returning after my time with Georgie, my wristband now sported a single green stripe. It wasn’t the two that Ditzy had been given, but mine now matched Derek’s.

I could still comfort myself in the fact that I didn’t have two, but it wasn’t much. Of course, Derek would now be classified with two stripes himself after his abuse of the Tabers milk. I truly wondered if I could even call him my friend now with his level of regression unfortunately, but again, I had one consolation with my friends; DB’s and Melley’s caregiver had finally and fully stopped with their dosages of the Tabers milk the other day unexpectedly. I soon found out why.

Samantha had stepped out of the room briefly later that afternoon in between classes and I was back on the floor. The Bigs in class had asked some brutal questions, and I weathered them brilliantly in my own opinion, but now was my time to relax. I was even getting a little sleepy, but Samantha’s borrowed tablet helped stave off my exhaustion… for now.

I was watching a Littles program dedicated to the animals of other countries when an ad soon came on. ‘Stupid ads even in this dimension…’ I tried to click away, but then quickly realized that it wasn’t an ad for any type of new soap or car. It was actually a news story being circulated around instead.

“Breaking news…” the perky redheaded Big woman began to announce. “Tabers milk has been recalled completely from all markets after several incidents with Littles occurred last Tuesday.” My heart leapt for joy. I wasn’t sure if others would recover, but at least they wouldn’t be getting any worse. I wondered how Georgie and her father were doing and if I even had something to do with the recall. I listened intently to hear more.

“According to insider sources and eye-witness testimony, the ingredients can be a substitute for a fast-acting regression serum. While many hailed this as a miracle, three Littles were critically injured when they wandered off from their caregivers after being unexpectedly and quickly regressed. All three are okay but authorities may seek…”

“I don’t care, Tom! You can’t do this!” I heard Samantha shout from outside. I immediately dropped the tablet and rushed over to the door. Samantha sounded agitated but also a little frightened even. She was my caregiver, but I needed to protect her.

As I neared the cracked open door though, I stopped briefly and began to debate with myself. ‘Samantha said to stay put… she said there are dangerous people out there and that I’m safer in here. This also seems personal maybe…ugh! What do I do?” My head flipped back and forth at least six times, enough for me to not hear the conversation outside, but I eventually decided to only listen in and maybe just take a peak or two.

“… you have no choice, Sam,” Judge Grossman pointed out.

“Well, she does,” Reddington noted, a sinister laugh at the back of his throat coming though. “She doesn’t have to like that outcome and some things will get broken, but she has a right to exercise that option.”

“Sure, Red,” Samantha scoffed. “Lose any more of your precious hunters lately?” I heard him grumbling but his relative silence other than that was very telling. “That’s what I thought. Now, I did my part last month. I agreed to it. I did it. It was dirty and low, but we had a deal. One last job for you all and that was it.”

“Well, we’re altering that deal, Sam,” Judge Frankling sneered back at her. “Or would you prefer that your activities in Europa get a little more light shined down on them? What would dear old Oppy say of what her daughter did?” he asked mockingly.

“You leave her out of this!” I could hear the fear and anger start to build up in her tone. I grabbed Nurple from the floor and held him close. My thumb nearly itched I wanted to suck it so bad right now, but I frustratingly always seemed to sort of space out if I did though. All this was clearly too critical of information to submit to my stupid new urge, so I resisted and continued to listen in.

“Then help us out,” Judge Grossman then offered, clearly the more level-headed of the group. “You do this for us… and we hold our end of the deal up. It’s very simple and even just a repeat of last year.”

“But he’s different. I’m different…” Samantha paused for a moment. “Heck, you all even made sure my sister is different now. I don’t even have a partner anymore to go with me. How can I possibly pull off what you’re asking? Last time was a single Little each. Now you want four per recruiter?”

“Exactly, Sam!” Reddington thundered. “I knew you could count. Wasn’t sure if your sister had rubbed a little off on you. She can count past four now, right?”

“Quiet, Red!” Judge Franklin surprisingly fired back. I bolted to the crack in the door and looked out at the posse surrounding Samantha. I was half-expecting to see Reddington suddenly wallop the judge beside him, but instead, he just took a step back. “Good… now,” he turned back to Samantha, “this is why we want him to go along as well back to Earth.” ‘Oh no…’

“But he got hit by that tramp, Georgette…” Samantha tried to defend. “He’s not the same as a year ago. He might not make it back.”

“Such a shame,” Judge Grossman said, actually sounding a little saddened over the news. “He’s stronger than you think though, Sam. Give him a chance, and besides, we only want him to advise you.”

“But that’s betraying Earth!” Samantha shouted back. I even took a little step back from her displayed fury, but I managed to re-step back into place. “He knows now! I told you all that months ago and you didn’t care then, but now you should.”

“And why should we care?” Franklin unapologetically asked. “He’s your problem over there. Keep him in line and then bring him back safe. What harm could Earth possibly do to him more than what’s already happened over here?”

Samantha sighed. “If you weren’t such a high-born little priss, it would be a wonder you ever made judge…” Franklin seemed so stunned right then, that Samantha had just enough time to continue. “You idiots. This is Earth and now you want Percy to advise me on potential targets to take back here!”

‘I knew it!’ I didn’t want to have been right on my guess that they were talking about me, but there it was. ‘Earth… one year since…’ It was my home, and I was human, but I felt so conflicted. Having practically no family back there anymore, my connections were dwindling each day, or at least in comparison to the massive growth I was experiencing on this planet and dimension. At the same time though, I would always be from Earth. I would always be reminded of it even, so all this just felt like a massive burden. Samantha was clearly on my side, but it was hard not to feel that sometimes she was the only faculty member who actually was.

In my moment of apprehension and conflict though at that door, suddenly, a moment of clarity washed over me. Perhaps it was a surge of emotions to defend the woman who was risking so much for me to remain free and out of the true reach of the academy, but maybe it was something more… primal… loving even. Whatever it was though, for Samantha’s sake, I knew I had to swallow my own fears or doubts right then, and listen back in.

“There’s no gray area here,” she continued gallantly in my defense. It was hard not to care for her even more right then. “If he did this, he literally would be betraying his own kind. I mean, I know how I would feel about that, but how would you all feel?”

The three looked at each other, but Reddington and Franklin just shrugged. “Your problem… not ours…”

Judge Grossman acted differently though. “Pay no attention to them, Sam.” She scoffed. “You are right… they can be idiots sometimes.” I could see that Samantha was just as shocked as I was, but Grossman just continued. “Get him to see reason here. I mean, Georgette might have whacked him, but he’s still mentally there when it comes to these things. His lecture today showed me that if I didn’t know it already…”

“You saw?” Samantha asked warily.

Judge Grossman nodded her head. “I see most of them online via the web camera you have there for remote or sick students to view later. If this academy wants to interact with Earth more and even advise the government on the Little situation in the coming years, we need to know humans and those lectures are just perfect for that…” It was now Franklin’s and Reddington’s turns to seem shocked.

“Still,” she continued, “I know it will be hard, but I’ve seen the burden he carries about knowing about protocol one. Tell him… hmmm…” she seemed to be thinking on the spot, but finally, I saw the light of an idea behind her eyes. “Tell him that he does this… you are both free… not even protocol one anymore. Forever…” Judge Franklin immediately seemed to try to protest her deal, but Grossman just held her hand up in defiance. It was so sudden that I thought she was about to slap him, but regardless, her quick gesture stopped him cold. “So, Sam, do we have a deal?”

Samantha seemed hesitant once more, but ultimately nodded. “I’ll tell him that. It will help, but I can’t guarantee anything.”

Franklin then seemed to get his nerve back. “Think of something, Sam. I don’t like this new deal, but you’re smart enough to convince Percy of anything and we need this surge of Littles from Earth. You can do this.” He then scoffed. “You know, it’s even one of the reasons we didn’t deny your sister’s regrow application or didn’t regress you on the spot originally.” Samantha seemed to a second to process it all, but just nodded and backed closer to the door.

Fearing the conversation would end soon, I shuffled as quietly as I could back over to my tablet and brought up a game of popping balloons. It was honestly fun, but it was just loud enough to ensure that I couldn’t have heard of anything if someone else looked in, but also quiet enough that no one would be suspicious of the game just suddenly turning on.

Soon, fortunately only Samantha wearily re-entered the room and looked over at me. For my part, I knew the burden she must be carrying then, so I just did my best to smile at her. She smiled back and eased down to the floor with me. She exhaled loudly. “Percy… you’ve been asking if I was leaving for another mission. I wasn’t sure I was, but I had my suspicions.” She sighed. “Well, now I know I’m going, but this time… there’s something different. This time…”

“I’m coming along with you,” I interrupted. The shock on her face was priceless and worth my interruption alone, but I had my reasons for springing it on her. She was burdened enough, and I want to take the load off where I could. “I listened in… at the door… just a little…”

“Oh?” Samantha questioned, almost as if she was finding out that I was confessing to eating a cookie from the jar in the kitchen I wasn’t supposed to.

“I heard yelling… I wanted to help… I know I’m not supposed to leave the floor, but I heard the deal… so, I’ll go…”

Samantha smiled but then seemed pained for a moment. “But Percy… it’s back to the con… the one where we met an all… so, are you sure? I can find a way around this.” She then began to panic and sputter out a whole bug-out idea. Apparently, she had been thinking about all this for a while. “We’ll get Oppy and everyone else. I heard Gaule is very liberal. We can go there. It’s beautiful and I even know a place where we can stay. Water, gardens, trees, picket fence… its all so wonderful and great and free. I actually saw it last month when I…”

“Woah!” I said, reaching out to her and rubbing her leg to ease her obvious anxiety over this. From everything that had happened in the past year, it was actually quite the reverse of our positions for who was comforting who. “I’ll still go, Samantha. That deal is too promising to not take.” I then stood up defiantly and was about a second away from striking a superhero pose with my hands on my hips. “When do we leave?”

Samantha giggled a little at first, but then immediately scooped me up and gave me a long cuddle. After everything that had been going on, I think it was exactly what we both needed right then. “Soon, baby. Soon…”

We then stayed like that for a while. I wondered what she was thinking, but my own thoughts were very clear to me. Everything was being set up just how they wanted, and we were going back to where we had first met, and all this mess had started. “From what I knew, I no longer believed in just pure coincidences.”

See, after finding out that Reddington had such an issue with our family and was the one to set up the con in the first place, I felt that the whole thing was a set up. Obvious choice to find willing Littles? Yes, but almost too obvious. To me, it felt like leading a bunch of lions to a buffet of zebra meat and then not expecting them to chow down. It was frankly hard for me not to imagine a scenario where any Big wouldn’t be tempted by everyone there rocking their onesies and padded posteriors. So, now going back to where it all began, I felt I could be forgiven for thinking that all this might have been a trap.

It puzzled me though and I wondered how it would work this time. ‘Would I be getting a new brother or sister?’ I internally shook the thought out of my head. ‘No, idiot. There’s the whole one Little per Big rule, but then what if not that?’ I tried to think hard on it, but about the only thing I managed to do from all that mental straining was almost fill my diaper up right then and there. That was the last thing I wanted.

I wasn’t sure when the next con would be and I wasn’t even sure what was happening, but right then I felt I should only have one goal in mind. Regardless of how I felt about Earth and being from there myself, I knew then I had to help Samantha in any way that I could. I had thought about it for a while now, but I was truly part of the family, and now, people in this academy were threatening it. It wouldn’t stand, so regardless of whether it was a trap or not, I knew I had to go help them with whatever I could. Something had to be done about the academy for sure, but for now, helping my family was my priority. So, with a sigh and a quiet suck of my thumb in resignation over what I had to do, I knew I didn’t know it all, but I at least knew one part of my future for sure now. Next stop; the convention.

[Baby Billy]

If he goes back with Sam, I wonder if they will tell him if he runs away they will regress Sam.  I would not trust those judges at all for their promise.

[LostBBoyBear]

Hey everyone! So, after all this, welcome to the final chapter. First off, I just want to shout out a huge thank you to all who have commented, liked, or even just read this story. Again, I don’t do it for praise, but it is a nice bonus when you see a story actually do well. There’s always a risk that no one will like your story, so it’s a nice sign when people actually seem to.

Also, as I’ve mentioned the idea before, I don’t think it will be a strict spoiler when I note that there will be a sequel to the end of this (if you couldn’t guess that from the last chapter), so if there are any hanging plot threads, they may be addressed then, so don’t panic. Also, I just couldn’t help but end it in the way I did. I hope everyone appreciates the symmetry there from the last story.

Next, I want to announce that I will be doing the Dash’s Redemption story next. I was really debating about the Bethany one there for a while, but I will include it in the rotation next time for the possible stories that I write next. If you have a strong opinion about wanting to read that story, just let me know before the end of my next one. Also, with where I’m going tomorrow and the chaos that ensues during and after, I might not get to writing this story for a little bit, but I could also use it to deal with the dreaded con drop. I’ll just have to see, so keep a weather eye out for the story to be up sometime in March.

Anyways, I hope you all have enjoyed the journey so far with me and will also enjoy the final chapter of this story!

Chapter 19: Not For Me but For Them

Walking across a threshold can be one of the most daunting things one ever has to do. It can be the metaphorical threshold of a new path in life, or it could be a literal one. Almost a year ago now, I had stepped through the threshold of a portal, completely drugged and out of sync with the world and had ended up in a new dimension entirely.

I had no idea what to expect when I came out of my fog of regression, but staring up at ten-foot-tall women and a society where I was treated as a baby, was never even on my radar. That being said, I endured and even thrived in some ways in my new environment and with my new family. They all took me in, and despite some bumps along the way with the academy and just this society in general, sitting in the stands of the academy main arena today, I was at least proud and happy for a moment.

“Graduates of the academy,” the dean continued, “today, you go forth and into a society that is reliant on all of you to do your jobs. Be it cleaner, recruiter, hunter, investigator, or even some new category we haven’t thought of yet, you all will make your mark upon this world and all the others. Many of you will go to Earth, and what you do there will reflect on this academy. Whatever your actions, ensure they are the best for you and for your country and dimension.”

Everyone applauded along, but I was honestly a little bored. I wasn’t like other bored Littles making a fuss and whatnot, but I had two things going against me. The first was that it was all just a bunch of long speeches by people I either despised at this point or who were just plain boring. Even Luna had to be woken up at one point. Secondly though, I was a little distracted by the people whom I knew were trying to hurt the family and by the looming notion of once again going back to Earth.

Samantha had petitioned a few recruiters to come with her to be her partner in lieu of her still recovering sister, but after the fifth had turned her down or had suddenly become unavailable, it all but confirmed my suspicions of something foul being planned once we got there. I still wasn’t sure what it was, but Oppy had at least agreed with me when I just had to unload my suspicions to someone before I burst. We had a good talk and hugged it out afterward, and I’m not sure how much good it actually did, but I at least felt better.

“George Adler…” My head spun about and popped up. I was so distracted in my own thoughts that the ceremony had already switched to the handing out of diplomas portion of the ceremony. While all graduates of the academy wore the typical black graduation robes one could find anywhere, each also bore a single or multicolored stripe marking their concentration and sector to be assigned to. “Jennifer Baker…”

“She’s up next,” Luna practically squealed to my left. I immediately sat up and tried to scan the crowd still waiting to come on stage to receive their diploma. Finally, I found her.

“Harriet Beechum…” the announcer continued.

Everyone in our section quickly stood up and cheered as best each of us could do. Despite a glare from Samantha, I stood up on my chair and waved my arms around in support of her. Samantha quickly dropped one of her cheering hands to hover just behind my back and I feared that I might get my desert privileges taken away tonight, but I didn’t care right then. My friend, after so much work and heartbreak, was finally graduating as a full-fledged recruiter.

We all sat back down after Harriet spotted us all and gave a little wave. Oppy was prepared and was capturing it all with photos and videos for everyone to look back on. For that single moment, as Harriet’s stripes of blue and pink, denoting her as a recruiter, flapped down the aisle and back to her seat, I felt that we could feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. For today at least, the family’s luck was good. She would be given her first assignment tomorrow however, and we all shakily knew that our good feeling might not last.

We had a massive block party once again after everything was over, and while it was a little chilly, the end of this February was actually a little warmer than usual. There were also definitely some visible tensions when Grossman, Reddington, and Franklin showed up, but Oppy had warned everyone to keep the peace beforehand. With the looming knowledge of ‘just one last job’ being dangled in front of both Samantha and I before the removal of being threatened with protocol one, no one wanted to endanger that chance in the slightest.

The next day, we all came back to the academy for moral support when Harriet got her first assignment. With Chelsea regaining her abilities, Oppy’s decades of previous experience, and Samantha’s current experience, she had a strong team behind her to explain or help her with any of the details. Additionally, Samantha had a strong feeling that I would get the official nod and request to go to the con with her from the judges themselves. It was unusual and everyone already knew about it, but with their regulations and all, the request had to be made officially in person.

Waiting just outside of the assignment and planning offices, we finally saw Harriet come out. Her face was a mix of both apprehension and joy. I wanted to know where she was assigned and just hoped it would be someplace safe and easy for her first official mission as a recruiter. She had gone back to Earth for a few training missions since her previous botched mission, so we knew she would be okay on that level, but according to Oppy, Samanatha, and Chelsea at least, there was just something different about your first actual mission.

“So?” Oppy immediately questioned once she got close to the rest of our eagerly awaiting family. “Where were you assigned?”

Harriet looked down at the printed note in her hand. “I’m not sure what to make of it. It kind of seems odd… I’m excited for sure but I’m not sure what to make of it.”

“Here,” Samantha said, reaching out to take the note, “let me take a look at it.”

Harriet gave the note to her old mentor and Samantha looked down at the writing printed off before her. Her eyes immediately widened, and her face became pale. “What? What is it?” Harriet asked eagerly.

Samantha didn’t reply and only shakily handed off the note to Oppy. “Oh…” was all she said after looking down at the note herself.

‘Oh, for the love of all that’s good and holy!’ I just wanted at least one person to read the blasted note out loud, and I wasn’t the only one. “What does it say?” Luna asked impatiently. “It’s not some state secret, right? Can someone just tell the rest of already?” Their tail flicked back and forth as if they were about to attack.

“It’s tagged as ABDL,” Oppy finally said quietly. ‘Okay… not so surprising if the academy is trying to find eager humans to adapt to being Littles here…’ Oppy looked up from the note and handed it back to Harriet. “You’re going to the convention…” ‘Oh… definitely not good…’

Harriet still seemed perplexed and while Chelsea slowly explained what it was to her as best she could with her current abilities, Oppy and Samantha looked at each other with only fear and apprehension. I knew it wasn’t exactly official yet, but Samantha, myself, and now Harriet would be going to the same convention together. If the first time already seemed like a trap to me with what I knew, this time now definitely felt like a trap for the Norris family.

Not long after, Harriet still seemed excited, and I quietly assumed that neither Oppy nor Samantha had clued her in to what was happening. That being said, we all heard the steep and steady thuds of approaching footsteps. Looking back to where the noise was coming from, we all saw that it was Judge Franklin. With his presence now and the near bulging vein pulsing from Samantha’s forehead, something told me that Harriet would definitely be clued in tonight over what was going on.

“Hello, everyone,” Judge Franklin began with his cheery public demeanor. I really hated the front he put on for everyone else with what I knew about the man now. He had practically been holding mine and Samantha’s head under the proverbial guillotine for almost a year now. From the responses back from the family though, it quickly became obvious who knew about his devious side and who didn’t.

He turned to Harriet first. “Congratulations young lady. Your education was hard fought, which makes this victory all the sweeter. I’m told you got your first assignment today. Excited for your first official mission abroad?” he asked with an outward glee that seemed normal, but for those of us who knew, it came across as more sickly and even creepy.

“I did, sir,” Harriet replied, her lack of knowledge into everything becoming abundantly clearer. “I’m very excited… I won’t let you down!” she quickly added.

Judge Franklin chuckled a little and then reached into the side pocket of his robes. “I’m sure you won’t… especially not with your team leader coming along as well.” I then saw the object was a large scroll of sorts, and almost felt out of place with everything else around here, but then he just simply handed it to Samantha. “Your assignment as team leader, Sam. As I’m sure you know, Harriet will be on your team, as well as Percy… if he accepts.”

Judge Franklin then tilted his body to one side and looked directly at me. It was all an act, and Oppy, Samantha, and I all knew it, but he was a respected judge within these halls. Me punching him right in the no-no spot or his face wouldn’t have been good for anybody. Still, having already known about it all, I already knew my answer, and Judge Franklin likely did as well, but I think he also wanted to put on a show.

“Actually,” he quickly continued, “I know it must be a lot to consider. It can be a very big burden for you Littles, especially for you given that awfully unfortunate incident with Georgette. Such a shame too… such a beautiful and talented woman doing such… terrible things.” He paused and almost seemed to show a speck of emotion. I would have spit in his face personally to produce his crocodile tears if I could have.

“But, I know these things can be tough, so let me add this bonus.” He took a breath, and I could almost hear the drumroll going on his head with his little production number right now. “If you agree to go with your mo… caregiver, I will erase all debts from the trial. We’ll call it a learning curve if you will. How does that sound?” For her part, Harriet, Luna, and Chelsea all gasped. Ditzy just giggled at all their funny noises.

For me though, his tone, normally reserved for children, was extremely evident and almost too patronizing to stand. Again, having known about all this already, I just wanted this guy to get what was coming to him. I wanted to yell or push him into protocol two, but I knew I had to maintain my façade in front of so many other people. If I acted out now, it would be all over and I was sure that I would have been subjected to protocol one within the hour. So, I hugged Nurple closer and nodded my head. “I’ll go. I will do what needs to be done…”

Judge Franklin sickeningly smiled at my official acceptance of the deal that had in actuality already been forced on us and had then been brokered a few weeks ago already. All this was just for show, but I was just glad that it was officially a done deal now.

So, with a final handoff of the official mission scroll to Samantha and smiling all the way, Judge Franklin finally left. If I didn’t know any better, I would have sworn that Samantha was just handed a bomb she had to dispose of or a gun that she was just ordered to go assassinate someone with. I could only imagine the turmoil she was feeling now, so I just did what I could and cuddled into her side. It probably didn’t do much to help, but her smile afterward down to me was always a welcome sight.

I could tell that something more was bothering Samantha though as she slowly opened the scroll and read it off to the side of the group in relative secrecy. From what I remember, those scrolls were typically for mission leaders’ eyes only, but I was also her Little. There was no denying that now, and while that didn’t mean much on a grand scheme in this society as far as my power went at least, I felt I could sometimes get her to open to me. So, I waddled over to where she had distanced herself to and tugged on her pant leg.

She looked down at me with a clear worried expression. “Hey there, sweetie. You okay? Need a change?”

“I, uh,” Her questions shouldn’t have thrown me, but I honestly wasn’t entirely sure of the state of my diaper. I tried to give it a feel, but I still couldn’t be positive. “Uh, no?” I shook my head trying to refocus myself. “That’s not why I’m over here in either case though. I want to know what’s happening.” I then pointed to the opened scroll still unfurled in her hands. “Is it bad news?”

Samantha sighed and for a second, I thought I had overestimated my connection or power with her, but she ended up relenting once a group of other new graduates passed by. “It’s saying that more hunters have gone over and are now stationed in several cities. They’re now even joining the online communities over there to better able to slip into events and find willing, or even unwilling Littles to be targeted for extraction.”

So, basically, humans were screwed in this whole mess, but I still wasn’t sure why she was so disheartened. “Is there something more?” I probed further.

Samantha sighed and nodded. “There can be a lot of academy forces and sectors over there, but hunters sometimes stay instead of just scouting out locations.” She looked back at the scroll and then crouched down to meet me face to face. “Percy, this scroll is a warning to me. If I had to take a guess, there’s going to be hunters over there spying on us. Any slip ups… well, I’m guessing then that our deal will probably be off and when we come back, we’ll be put on trial for failure of duty or just summarily sentenced to protocol one.”

My breath was nearly taken away, so all I could do was just nod in horror at what she was telling me. The next events after that got a little hazy, but after a quick diaper change and goodbyes from everyone, we all headed our separate ways. For us, we had to start packing and preparing for our trip. It was a welcome distraction from everything I was learning lately.

Now at first, I began to think about all the events from last year and even wrote out a list of all the things I wanted to bring this year. It was a little complicated in trying to figure out everything, but as soon as I started laying out my clothes on my floor to see what I should bring, Samantha came in. “And what do you think you’re doing?” she asked glaringly, quickly telling me that I was doing something wrong.

I panicked and realized that from an outsider’s view, I could have been seen as just making a mess of my clean clothes. “I’m packing up for the mission… honest. Planning out and the like, you know? I wasn’t sure what I wanted to bring.” I then held up two onesies, one was a series of skulls and crossbones, and the other was just a bunch of happy foxes dancing around. Both were extremely comfortable, but I felt I had to limit what I brought. I didn’t want to overburden Samantha. “So, what do you think?”

For her part, Samantha just looked back at me and chuckled a little before crouching down and pushing my arms down. “Baby, you can’t bring any of these.”

“But why?” I complained, my voice coming off more whiney than I had anticipated.

Samantha just smiled and stood back up and held her hand out to me. “Come on, sweetie. I need to show you something.” I then nodded, dropped the two onesies, and followed Samantha into her own bedroom after taking her hand. Already, I could see dozens of clothes both on the bed and on the floor.

“You’re bringing all of these for yourself?” I asked skeptically as she picked me up and set me on the chest she had at the edge of her bed. From the women I had dated before all this, I knew there could be more than one outfit in a day depending on what was happening… but this felt too much by even those standards.

Once again though, Samantha chuckled. “You’re just so cute sometimes.” She then backed up and started pointing to the clothes on the ground. “Honey, if you look, I’m packing for both of us.”

“Oh…” I quickly blushed and felt extremely little right then. My caregiver was packing for me. At this point, I would probably only be choosing which of the onesies I now saw laying out on the floor.  

“It’s okay, Percy. You didn’t know, but I’m an old pro at this. Bringing a Little along is a little different, but it’s basically the same principles, other than that,” she noted, pointing to my diaper bag in the corner of the room. Her reassurances made me feel a bit better, but I also just felt like about as much of a Little as I could at that point. It didn’t help that I probably could use yet another diaper change today.

Samantha probably saw my disheartened feelings and came back over to me before pointing at my current onesie underneath my shortalls with the snap crotch. “Going back to Earth is a little different than coming over here. Coming here, you could wear whatever you want because we have decontamination procedures and there’s no technology issue, but going back to Earth, advanced tech could be an issue.” I only looked back at her with a confused expression.

“Look at your onesie, sweetie,” she continued. I did and I still felt a happy feeling when I saw the smiling teddy bear astronauts waving at me. “First off, they don’t have this pattern on Earth, and everyone would want to know where you got it at the con. Second though, it’s made with a material that Earth might not even develop for another decade at the very earliest.”

I looked down at the wonderfully breathable and lightweight fabric that kept my body just at the temperature it needed to be at. Still though, I panicked a little as I realized I wasn’t sure what I could bring anymore. “What about Stripe or Nurple… or even the blanket you gave me?” I asked, freaking out just a little over leaving my comfort items back here. As if to mock me further, my thumb began to twitch a little and I desperately wanted to start sucking on it for comfort. I was giving into that impulse more and more lately, but I just couldn’t help it anymore.

Samantha noticed my discomfort and quickly came over to me and gave me a quick but reassuring hug. “Of course you can bring those, honey. We just need to log them into our books to ensure they are brought back. They have some technology in them, but most of those objects can just pass as something you could still buy on Earth. Just don’t lend them out, okay?”

I nodded and my anxiety quickly dissipated, as it usually did with the near magic ability that Samantha seemed to have over me, but all this made me start to think long and hard about this mission. After only a few seconds though, I couldn’t stand keeping it all bottled up inside of me. “I want to know everything, Samantha.”

Samantha stared back at me, and I could see the subtle fear nestled right in her eyes. “What do you mean by that, honey?”

“I want to know everything about this mission,” I restated. “I think there’s things that you and Oppy know about that I don’t.” I took a quick breath. “Now, I’ve been a good Little and I didn’t ask questions unless I felt in danger or something like that, but this is different. We’re about to go back to Earth and I’m going to help you basically abduct humans back to this dimension.” I then poked at my now obvious soaked diaper bulging out underneath my clothes. “Believe me, I could be condemning these people to a terrible life… not all of them, but the odds aren’t good here for Littles.” I then gulped and took my shot as far as I thought I could without being punished. “I think I deserve to know everything before doing all that.”

Samantha stared at me like I had just asked her to divulge every classified secret from this country, but ultimately, she just sighed and fortunately nodded. “Okay. I can do that, but I’ll only tell you what you need to know for this mission alone. We’re going into something that could get very complicated very fast. What I’m telling you now, and I’ll just say it all in one go, is for you to be able to identify a problem and tell me about it so we can eventually come back home in one piece. Anything I don’t tell you, I want to, but it would just put you in more harm… life-threatening stuff even.”

There was silence between us for a moment, and everything began to hit me. All this was serious, but I never thought it was life-threatening… mind threatening, yes. I already knew that possibility from personal experience, but there had never been a real danger to my life. There was tension in the air, but finally, though, she spoke back up. “I need you to trust me on this, okay?” I wanted… needed to know, so I just nodded.

She inhaled deeply and began spilling her secrets. “Okay, well, first, as you might have guessed, Judge Franklin has a vendetta against this family. It turns out that he voted against Chelsea and I during the trial and suggested protocol one as a caveat for both of us directly. He then elected himself as our overseer to ensure our selected punishment would be followed to the letter.”

I had suspected as much, but I was just finally glad to hear all of this out loud. I felt he was a dangerous man, and to me at least, I felt he was just assuming more power here at the academy and from what I suspected, outside of it as well. After all, at each of the block parties at Oppy’s, he always seemed very friendly with the senator from this area.

“Next, since about July, after the first block party at Oppy’s, I’ve been doing small covert tasks for him whenever he asks. They weren’t big, but it turns out that these were the original extra bit added to the trial outcome that I wasn’t sure about. That being said, he’s changed his mind a few times on what the last one was going to be.”

Immediately, it made me concerned about this trip, but now, the mission orders and our freedom from protocol one was on an official scroll. They were approved by the highest levels of the academy and needed at least one signature from either a congressman or senator, and then be witnessed at least by the other. If he reneged on his deal, more than just the academy would know, but it brought up one terrifying thought that had been looming over a lot of this since I first got here. “How large is this conspiracy against Littles to kidnap us from Earth and then regress us all?”

Smantha sighed and I knew the news wasn’t going to be good. “There is a growing movement, but to give you an idea, you remember the recall of Tabers milk, right?” I nodded. “Well, it was recalled, and several people were relieved, but several more were upset and lost a lot of money. That being said, many of them just suddenly stopped their formal complaints one day. Well, it turns out that Tabers milk wasn’t outright banned for its regression properties… only the immediacy of that particular formula. In fact, it was handed back to a government-backed research company site to become more subtle to you Littles and therefore more sellable in the future. It’s not the last we’ve seen of it.”

Of course, I actually already knew most of that already. I had informed Samantha about most things with my time with Georgie, but there were a few things I had mostly left out unintentionally. “Uh, while we’re telling each other everything… I knew most of that already actually. Ummm… Georgie’s father is in charge of that company in fact… she’ll probably be as well…”

Now it was Samantha’s turn to be shocked. In seconds, she reached underneath her bedside table and grabbed a hidden tablet. She hit a button on the sign, scanned her fingerprint on the front, and then a red flashing light passed over her face inch by inch. I could see she was quickly typing something before then turning the tablet back off and shoving it back underneath the bedside table. “Thank you for letting me know,” she said as if none of that just happened. “That actually might be really helpful…”

There was just too much going on for me to guess about the tablet, so I only nodded. “I figured you should know… I didn’t think anything of it in the grand scheme at first, but then… you just added a seriousness to what I knew.” I then looked down at all the clothes surrounding us. I recognized a few of the labels before me and I briefly wondered how all this had come over here to this dimension, but I just marveled at all the planning she had in mind… for two people no less.

It also made me start wondering something else though; if all this was planned out, did she have another plan for going back to Earth? She was always so prepared, but right now, I had only heard facts… not plans. “Uh, Samantha… I’m honestly getting a little nervous about this mission,” I confessed. “Do you have a plan? You do, right? We’re not just going in blind back to the convention?”

Samantha shook her head. “No, Percy. We’re not going in blind, and I do have a plan. You see, Oppy and I have been talking, but she and a few others back here need time back here to execute it to ensure we actually come back from this mission on this side. I also have a plan for the trip… but everything has to go exactly right for it to work…”

I wanted to trust in Samantha’s plan completely, but I just felt that there was too much on the line not to express my concerns. “That’s not exactly helping my nerves… can I get a little more?”

Samantha sighed. “There’s other things I’m not telling you, and I really wish I didn’t have to tell you even this, but on my trip last month, the academy only needed me away for 18 days…” She was gone for three weeks, 21 days, so I instantly wondered where else she had been. “See, I had a meeting with the ABI… uh, kind of like our version of your FBI. They seem split, but I’m working with those who want to see a change for the betterment of Littles. For now, that’s all you get to hear from me, so I just need you to trust me, okay?”

Her question hung in the air for a little bit. Of course I trusted her though. In less than five minutes, if that, she would be seeing my most intimate areas as she changed my diaper. We had weathered the academy, Tabers milk, and a whole host of other issues since I had come under her care. To me though, I just paused for a moment as I marveled at the change I felt with her now. I then nodded quickly and without question if I trusted her, which just made me realize more of just how much I had changed with how I felt about her now as compared to less than a year ago when I first stepped out of the portal from that first convention.

So, things went accordingly and a few days later, Samantha had both of our bags packed and ready to go. As I looked over the list, everything had been checked off and we even had made sure that Oppy had a spare key to be able to watch over our house while we were gone. It felt weird to leave it all behind, but with Nurple by my side and Stripe and my blanket packed safely away, we then closed and locked the door. In moments, we were in the car and headed over to the academy.

There, in the portal room, I felt like such a celebrity. There were two other teams leaving for Earth today, though both were going to other regions themselves. Our crowd waiting was smaller but still significant. Melley, DB, Derek, a few others from daycare and our whole family were there to wish us good luck.

I even felt so fancy and almost a little weird in my current clothing. I had gotten used to the soft and breathable fabrics of this dimension, but now, I was wearing a bunch of plain Earth clothes. I still had an undershirt onesie to hold up my still-present diaper, but I knew even going back to Earth, I just had to expect some caveats. Still, I felt so mature and grown-up in my current clothing as Samantha walked next to me with all our luggage. Harriet trailed close behind with her own and my diaper bag as well to spread the load. Once we were on Earth and we went through the size changes inherent in portal travel, I would take a few of my bags back to carry around.

Regardless, the four judges soon approached a stage in front of the three portals and quieted down the crowds that had gathered just for this occasion. Judge Hawthorne normally gave the departing speech apparently, but he was dealing with the aftermath of a severe sinus infection, so of course, Judge Franklin had offered to fill in. I kept my fuming about as quiet as I could.  

“Portal travels of this hallowed academy!” he began loudly, almost not even needing the microphone. “Today, you embark on a journey that you have prepared for all your lives. One day, portal travel will become the norm, but today, you are the adventurers. What you do today and on your travels, will echo throughout our history as a species and world for decades to come. We’re all counting on you, and with that, I wish you all a good luck!” He then turned to the control room above us and waved.

In an instant, the portals hummed to life and began to reverberate back and forth. While they powered up, Oppy stepped forward and handed Samantha a small box. “You know what to do with this?” Samantha nodded and both, seeming very emotional, hugged tightly.

The portals vibrated even more and then spouted out the familiar whitish-blue rippling surface I had come to know since last year. Oppy and Samantha saw and backed away from each other. Oppy then crouched down and turned her attention to me as she made a few last-minute adjustments with my clothing. Without her prompting, I quickly gave her my own goodbye hug once she was done.

She and a few others nearby chuckled over my cute actions. “Easy there, sweetie,” Oppy said after a moment and easing me back in front of her. “All this will be over before you know it and you’ll be back here safe and sound. I’ll even have a batch of my fresh baked cookies waiting back at my house.”

“The ones with the chocolate chips?” I asked eagerly, already being able to just imagine sitting back in her house after the mission, safe and content and surrounded by my family here.

Samantha ruffled my hair and Oppy chuckled. “Yes, the ones with the chocolate chips.” Her face then got suddenly very serious, and I could see that Harriet was now listening in as well. “Now listen, Percy. I want you to look after these two very important women for me, okay? They’re going to need your help, and I’m trusting you a lot with their safety, okay? I’m counting on you.”

I nodded quickly. “Yes, ma’am. I won’t let you down. I promise.”

Her face brightened up again and she took both my hands tightly. “Thank you, Percy, and good luck.” She then looked back up at Samantha and Harriet. “To all of you.”

She stood back up and got behind the designated safety line again. I doubted she was allowed across, but no one around here told her ‘no.’ Then, Oppy, along with the rest of the crowd waved goodbye one last time and we all headed to the glistening portal before us. Judge Franklin eyed us from above, but I just clenched Nurple tighter in one hand and Samantha’s hand in my other. I then looked ahead and breathed out.

Less than a year ago, I was walking out of these same portals and into a world I neither knew nor wanted to truly be at in the first place. I was alone, angry, and scared. Now though, I was walking back to Earth, diapered and together with Harriet and Samantha, who was no longer my abductor, but now my loving caregiver.

I looked back at Harriet and then up at Samantha as she looked down at me. “Ready?” she asked, smiling down. It was such a loaded question, but with as much will as I could summon, I nodded my head. “Okay. On three…”

I nodded again and took a breath. I did not want to step into the almost mercury-like substance before me, but I knew what was at stake. Judge Franklin was back here and was growing more powerful it seemed like every time I saw him. He was a true menace, and I knew, even if he didn’t keep his word, that I had to complete my mission… for even just this world to not be under his grasp as we were being punished. If we were successful, however, I knew we could both fight him and maybe even win.

“One…” Samantha began.

That being said, I was afraid. I knew I had a choice, like Reddington had said to Samamtha back when I first heard this proposal for me to go back to Earth. I mean, it wasn’t much of a choice really, but I could still back out. It was only a little fall at this point for me accepting protocol one, and I felt like I wouldn’t even know it if I was a newborn based on what I had seen, but something else propelled me forward; something that moved me beyond my own palpable fears.

“Two…” Samantha continued.

Now, even in all this mess, I had a reason to go and finish this mission; I was protecting my family and friends back here. Judge Franklin wouldn’t stop even if I gave in. He would go after the rest of the family in a heartbeat, and that just felt wrong to subject them all to. After all, they had helped me out in more ways than I could ever have imagined when I first came here. I had been whittled down even more as a Little, but I was still me. My friends, with other caregivers and families, could not say the same. They were getting better it seemed, but I had a family who would walk through fire for me. It only seemed fitting that now, I would walk through a portal for them.

“Three…” I nodded up at Samantha at the final count, and following her much larger steps, we stepped through the portal once again. Then, darkness.

[sklawlor]

this was a fantastic story, I can't wait to read the sequel, whenever it will be complete. I put you up there with little fallen princess, cute kitten and minosota writer for creating some of the most compelling fiction on this forum.

 

[Guilend]

Definitely amazing as always. I can't wait for the sequel, and the other stories in the timeline you've created.