Strange Happenings
Midnight. They always came at midnight. The chimes from the old grandfather clock in the den jolted Daniel out of his restless dreams. It wasn't the chimes that woke him so much as the knowledge that They were coming. It was the same horrifying ritual, every single night.
The room was illuminated by an eerie pale green glow. Three figures in haz-mat suits stood around his bed. One of them held a large briefcase, another held a gun, and the third--the apparent leader, from the way he acted--was making entries into a large handheld computer. Daniel tried to escape, to run, to even move, but some unseen force held him in place, as immobile as the bed itself. The leader looked up from his computer and signaled to the one holding the briefcase, who set the case down and began to open it. Daniel strained to see its contents, but couldn't from his position. If only he could move...
The leader reached forward, grabbed the bedcovers and--
The shrill blast of Daniel's alarm clock filled the room. He'd had that dream again, the same one he'd been having every night for nearly a month. Except that it didn't feel like a normal dream. It felt more like a memory, but one that had been partially forgotten. Anyway, Dan had more important things to worry about, so he pushed whatever it was aside for the moment. Today was the last day of school, finally. All he had to do was survive his last few final exams, and he'd be home free. He wasn't about to let a creepy dream get him down.
***
Dr. DiCaoz glanced over his biology classroom. "Is anybody still working on the final?" he asked tiredly. He paused for a moment, then said, "If everybody is finished, you may talk quietly amongst yourselves for the remainder of the period." As the class erupted in chatter, he went back to nursing his hangover.
Daniel loved his biology class. It wasn't just that he was good at it, or that it was the last class of the day. By some bit of luck or fate, he happened to be in the same class as his four closest friends, Gassan, David, Pammy, and Jake. Gassan, David, and Pammy had become absurdly popular since coming to high school. Gassan was Lebanese and therefore "exotic," David was a star swimmer, and Pammy was a cheerleader. In retrospect, popularity was an inevitability. To the other popular kids, Jake an avid follower of the Furry subculture (he called it a craze, but nobody else did) and Daniel, the introspective writer, were social liabilities. Still, Gassan, David, and Pam never let their newfound "friends" keep them away from Jake and Dan. Privately, Daniel was grateful that he had managed to befriend the four people who appeared to be immune to high school drama.
"So, what'd you guys think?" Pammy whispered.
"I'm pretty sure Dr. Di is a nutcase," Gassan answered quickly. He was met with a chorus of approval from his companions.
"Anyway," Pam continued, "are we having our annual Thank-God-The-Schoolyear's-Over party tonight?"
"I can't go," Jake said, "I've got a convention."
"I can't go either," said David, "My dad's taking me camping. He's on a back-to-nature kick."
"I'm visiting my grandma," Gassan said. Pammy rolled her eyes.
"Alright," she sighed, "when do you guys get back?"
"Sunday"
"Sunday evening"
"Sunday, but it'll be late."
"So," Pammy continued, "is Monday night alright with everyone?"
***
The days passed quickly. By the time Monday arrived, he had gone an entire weekend without his mysterious dreams. He was mostly relieved, but part of him wished the visitors would come back so he could find out what they were up to.
The streets were charged with an eerie calm. A summer storm was coming. As Daniel reached Pam's door, he couldn't help but feel a strange foreboding. Something was decidedly wrong. He rang the bell.
"Come in," called Pammy. Dan opened the door and found friend sitting on the floor in a tidy circle. They were all staring at him, an unsettling hunger in their eyes. "We are playing Truth or Dare," Pammy intoned mechanically. "Please, join us. Truth or Dare?"
"Please choose Dare," Gassan said, in the same unearthly voice.
"The Truth is never any fun," agreed David, still in the same tone. Throughout the exchange, none of the four took their eyes off of Daniel.
"Is everything alright?" he asked. "You all seem...different."
Pammy answered in the same monotone as before: "We are collectively unnerved at a series of recurring dreams we have been having. Perhaps you too are experiencing these visions?"
"Yeah," Dan said, "but I'm not acting that weird about it."
"Perhaps," Pammy said, "All will be made more clear if you answer this simple question: Truth...or Dare?"
Written by Zodiac on 31 May 2008
The Dare
"Dare," Dan said shakily.
"Very well," Pammy responded, "your dare is to go to Area 50. You are familiar with Area 50, I trust?"
Jake jumped in: "It is a military complex on the outskirts of our town. It has been abandoned for a long time, though, so it will pose no immediate threat to you."
"It is nothing to be afraid of," said Gassan, "consider it to be something of a rite of passage."
"If you are truly afraid," said Pammy, "then we will accompany you."
Daniel stared at his friends incredulously. They had never acted this strangely before, and they had certainly never gone for childish dares before.
David appeared to sense his hesitation, and added, "perhaps Area 50 is somehow related to...Them."
Dan knew what that was about, and David was right. There seemed to be some connection between his nightly visitors and the military base. He couldn't quite place it, but the link was there. "Actually," added David, "all this talk of Area 50 has sparked my curiosity." He didn't sound the least bit like his curiosity has been even remotely sparked."
"I, too, am interested," agreed Pammy disinterestedly.
"As are we," said Gassan and Jake in eerie unison.
"Perhaps," Pammy went on, "we should go to Area 50 ourselves, whether or not Daniel is interested." The four of them stood to leave. Pam stopped for a moment, and asked, "Are you joining us, Daniel?"
Written by Zodiac on 02 June 2008
Area 50 Arrival
Daniel looked at his friends nervously. "Al...alright," Daniel said reluctantly, "I will go..."
"Nice to have you coming David," Pammy exclaimed. All David could do is let out a sheepish smile. "We will meet at Area 50 at 9 P.M. tonight, everyone can run by their houses and grab anything we may need. Flash lights, snacks, etc."
"I am just going to relax at my house until it is time" David said
"We'll I will see everyone then," Gassan said. Everyone soon dispersed and left to their respective houses.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Later at 9 Daniel met his friends at the base.
"Everybody ready to go in?" Pammy inquired.
"Yeah!" Gassan shouted.
"Let's do it!" As did Jake.
"Sure am" David said
"Unfortunately..." Daniel murmured.
David looked around and saw the front entrance directly ahead.
Far down to his left a hole in the fence could be seen.
And to his right a large tunnel could be seen. Though it was pitch black, so somebody better have a flash light.
Written by Shuusuke on 03 June 2008
Split Up
Last week had been the last time ‘they’ had visited Daniel, and ever since then, strange things began to happen. Daniel had been seeing things, and exploring through this kind of place was not helping him handling things any better.
They had decided to split up, in order to cover the grounds better. Pammy went with David, of course, and Gassan was left with Jake. That ultimately left Daniel for himself, and the guy couldn’t be anymore worried.
He wasn’t even into any of this, but why did he have to be the only one who had to go by himself?
Written by Stella Purple on 10 March 2017
Into the Void
Daniel got a flashlight for his own. Since the bunker and the front entrance were taken by the others, Daniel was left with no any other choice but to go into the dark tunnel. He didn’t like where he had to go for one bit, but at the same time, he also didn’t one to be the one who spoiled the mood.
The tunnel was dark and rusty, with dirt covering pretty much every inch of the place. Every step he took caused the soles of his shoes to sank lower, almost making him slip for a handful of times. He had to be careful if he didn’t want to fall down.
He kept on walking until he found an intersection which one of them lead him to a small lab. The room, just like the rest of the place, appeared to be abandoned. The lab was so old that he could see mold growing on the surface. While the place was old and disgusting, Daniel couldn’t help it when curiosity started to creep in. This place seemed like it had a story of its own, and his curiosity was telling him to go and explore. But at the same time, shouldn’t he call for the others? What should he do?
Written by Stella Purple on 21 March 2017
Falling Down
As he explores the floor fails and he finds himself falling.
At the bottom of the fall he suddenly slows and stops. Looking around he finds himself in a dimly lit hallway.
"Hello?"
He calls out but there is no response. There is a light sound of shuffling nearby and he turns to face the direction of the sound.
A voice calls out "Lifeform detected"
"Who are you?" he asks.
"I am the ship's computer. Trying to match your profile"
Before he can speak up the computer speaks again. "Match found. DNA damage extreme. Emergency DNA correction to be started"
"Wait! What are you talking about?"
"Starting protocol"
Before he can speak up a tiny robot moves up and injects him.
"Please proceed to the medical bay for observation" A series of light turn on leading him forward.
Written by Ai Dungeon on 12 March 2021
Transformation
He follows the lights until he finds himself in a medical bay.
Looking around he sees nothing but medical equipment. He feels his insides reshaping as the liquid flows through.
"Please lie down on the bed to prevent injury" the computer voice says. He lies down on the bed and immediately starts to feel sleepy.
"You may experience a discomfort during the procedure."
The first thing to change is 6 lumps start to grow on his chest. As they continue to grow they pop out the bottom of his shirt. Leaving the top ones barely covered by the material.
As they continue to grow he feels a strange sensation between his legs. His manhood was slowly being sucked into his body.With the last of his manhood gone, he looks down find he now has a new set of equipment.
The growth on his chest have finished growing , the smallest of them the size of volleyballs. He looks back between his legs and now finds himself staring at a small stub. The stub grows out into a large skunk tail bursting his pants in the process.
His shoes are now filled with fur and feel very tight. He slips them off with his other clothes.
His feet now are skunk paws. The change is continuing up his legs at a rapid speed.
The rest of his body hair is receding and being replaced with thicker coarse black and white fur.His face is completely obscured by a thick black and white mask. He feels his nose move to the center of his face and become more pronounced. His ears are moving up the sides of his head and becoming larger. He can't see it but he knows his eyes are moving to the side of his head, but he can still see just fine.
He extends his tongue to its full length finds it is longer than before.
The mirror in the room shows a very well endowed skunk lady staring back at him, the top of his head not visible. His shirt and pants are in tatters on the floor.
The computer chimes in "Species correction complete, all organs are normal for a skunk taur"
He touches his new face in the mirror. "A skunk taur?"
He looks down to see two new lumps forming just above his legs. He watches them grow before his eyes, extending into new legs.
"Why are you doing this to me?" he hears himself say. His voice sounds different. Deeper but feminine at the same time.
The computer voice "DNA was damaged. Repair is now complete."
His ears twitch and swivel atop his head, and he feels his skunk tail swishing from side to side. He can also feel his new scent glands working.
He brings a hand up to touch his face. He can't talk anymore, he can only make chirping sounds like a skunk.
"You are now a healthy female skunk taur. Gender and species have been corrected."
With that a door opens a few meters away from him. He walks towards it with a new spring in his step.
The door leads to a small bathroom, with a toilet, sink and bathtub. A large window is over looking the forest he was just in.
"Welcome back captain" the voice says. "Waiting for instructions"
He looks at himself in the mirror. No sign of stitches or even a scar. Just his new face, with black and white stripes running from his forehead down to his chin. A large bushy tail hangs from his waist.
"What is this?" he asks.
"This is the starship Mephitidae Pride. Crash landed and unable to fabricate parts the crew left to look for parts. Dna was changed to match local species. Last crew contact 60 local years ago."
"Last contact?"
"Last contact was the captain reporting 'Parts unable to be found. The crew have found new lives. I am reporting for the last time. I have now started a new family here. '."
"New family?"
"Local species are called humans. Children stay with parents for twenty years ."
"But what am I?"
"You are a female skunk taur. Captain of the vessel"
"What happened to me?"
"Your DNA was corrected to your old self"
"DNA?"
"Your genetic information. It was changed to match your old self. The ship made you how you were before the crash"
"I feel so strange"
She touches her face and feels the thick fur that covers it.
"After spending so long as an alien species, this is normal. It may take some time to adjust."
She looks at herself in the mirror. A female skunk, white fur with black spots looking back.
She looks behind her and sees a furry tail hanging from her bottom. She touches it and feels its texture.
"What are your orders?" the computer asks.
"What are you?" she asks.
"I am the computer of the Mephitidae Pride, a Creationship. I am in charge of this vessel and crew"
"Crew?"
"You are the only member of the crew"
Written by Ai Dungeon on 30 March 2021
More Changes
She asks the computer "How many crew are their meant to be?"
"39 crew are missing." the computer says, almost immediately. "Scan range is limited, even in the ship. Repair materials depleted"
"Can you change me back to the way I was?" she asks.
"Emergency DNA repair is incomplete. Full process is required before further DNA changes can be done."
"Full process require working biobed. All biobeds aboard are broken"
"Can you fix it?"
Repairs require specialized materials, nothing in scan range"
"How can you increase the scan range?"
"External sensors are encased. Please clear."
"What can I do?" she asks desperately.
Please go to the airlock to exit and dig out the sensors.
"How?" she asks.
Please walk to the airlock and use the hand scanner to exit. It does not matter which airlock
The taur considers her position. Her life has been forever altered without her consent. Now, her choices are taken away. She must obey the computer.
She stands up and walks to the door. A hand scanner is built into the wall. She steps up to it and places her hand upon it.The door opens and a bunch of dirt falls into the room.
The room beyond is filled with dirt, the top of the doorway just visible beyond. "Repair materials detected" the computer says. "Please move the dirt to the workshop"
She steps out and looks at the mountain of dirt. She paw at it, and her fingers go deep into the pile. It is soft and loose. "Do you have a cart available?" she asks the computer.
A small robot carrying a small box comes out from a flap. "Place the dirt in the box and it will be carried to the workshop"
She sets to work digging out a tunnel while the robot carries the dirt away. After many hours, the room is clear and she has started to clear outside the ship.
Progress is slow as she waits for the robot to return. Her stomach growls, "Is there any food on board?" she asks."Prioritizing food replicator for repairs" the computer says.
By the end of the day the robot returns with a small portion of food. "Food replicator fixed. Food supplies including replicator ingredients on survival level. 3 months. " "What about if I wanted to fix the ship?"
"You will require triple the survival rations. 1 month supply remains."
"Are their any nearby sources we can use?"
"The dirt you shoved today contained enough for a week's ration. In a month time the ship should be fixed enough that it will be able to generate enough ingredients by itself."
"What else can I do?"
"Just keep trying to clear the ship. More resources will assist in the repairs"
She eats the ration and soon after she feels a warmth forming on her lower chest.
"What is happening?" she asks
"Ration contained hormones. Your body is not yet fully changed. This will help complete it"
"What more needs to happen?"
"Skunk taurs have six breasts instead of the two humans have"
"I am getting more? These ones are large enough and I have to deal with more?"
She groans as four lumps appear beneath her normal two. They slowly grow larger and larger as the day passes.
"Things are going well" the computer says. She falls asleep and wakes up the next morning as they have finally stopped growing.
"How do I get rid of them?" she asks.
"Repair the ship and we will be able to finish your change"
"Why did you do this?"
The computer stays silent. She goes outside and starts digging again. The robot carries the dirt away like before. It takes two days but she finally manages to finish the task.
Written by Ai Dungeon on 12 September 2021
The end (for now)