Perfect Worlds Omnibus
Page 36
precisionwithwhichValwentatit,asifshehadbeenassignedthetaskbya superiorofficer.Whenshecame,Valseemedreadytosalute.
Withthesedoubtsinmind,Jerihadn’tbeenabletolookValintheeyesthe thirdtime.Shehadlookedawaytheentiretime,atleastuntiltheyfinished.
ThenshelaynexttoValtocuddle,fallingasleepwithVal’stinybreastscupped inherhands.
Withthetwins,therewasmoreoftheanimalpassionpresentthefirsttime JeriandValhadmadelove,exceptitwasmagnifiedbytwo.Jerihadmadelove plentyoftimesinherlife,butneverwithtwinsbefore.Shecouldseewhyall thosehornymenatthestripclubhadbeensoinaweofthetwins.Theywereso insynchwitheachother,asiftheywereonepersonwithfourhandsandtwo mouths.TheyusedallofthesetobringJeritoorgasmahalf-dozentimes.She wantedtoscreamwithdelightatthis,buthadtoforceherselftokeepitquietso asnottoalertValorwakeupMolegirl.
Theywereexhaustedanddrenchedwithsweatbythetimetheyfinished.
Jeriknewsheshouldgetuptogobacktoherstateroom,butshewasmuchtoo tired.Justalittlenapwiththetwinsandthenshecouldgobackforanightof passionlesslovemakingwiththattomboy.Withasigh,shefellasleep.
***
Shemusthavesleepwalkedbacktoherstateroom,becausewhenshewoke, shefoundherhandcuppingoneofVal’smosquitobitebreasts.Sheturnedaway fromVal;herhandfloppedovertotouchanothertinybreast.
Jeri’seyesfinallyopened.ShestaredintoafacethatwassimilartoVal’s butnotexactly.Theblackhairwasshorterwithacowlickthatstuckupinthe back.Insteadoffreckles,thisgirlhadangryredzits.Andthentherewerethe white-framedglassesoverherclosedeyes.
AssoonasJerirolledintoasittingposition,sheknewthejigwasup.Val satonacrate,hericeblueeyesglaringwithfury.“Sothisishowyourepay me?”Valgrowled.“Isavedyourlife.Igaveyouanewpurpose.Imadeyou beautifulagain—andlessthantwelvehourslateryou’realreadywhoringaround onme?”
“I’msorry,”Jerimumbled.Shetriedtosummonhernaïveinnocentvoice fromwhensheandValhadfalleninlove.“I…Ididn’tmeanforittohappen.”
ValcameovertoJeri,puttinganarmaroundhershoulders.“Oh,sweetie, it’smyfault.Imadeyoutooclosetohowyouusedtobe.Ishouldhaveknown youwouldbetoovainandshallowtostaywithme.”
“I’mreallysorry,”Jerisaid.Shebegantocry.“Ipromiseitwon’thappen again.”
“Ofcourseitwon’t,”Valsaid.
ThencamethedreadedwinkfromtheStoneofChange.RightawayJeri foundherbodyshrinkingandyetnotreallygettingsmaller.Assheshortened, theextramassconvertedintoflabthatpushedherbellyeverfartherwhilethe restofherinflatedlikeaballoon.Everythingexceptherbreasts,whichflattened outuntiltheyweregoneentirely.
Whenitwasover,JeriwasevenbiggerthanMolegirl.Shewailedasher visionblurred,butitdidn’tdimentirely.Somethingheavyandcoldwaspressed intoherhands;sherealizeditwasapairofthickglasses.Withthese,shecould seehernewfaceinamirror.Herhairhaddarkenedtoalightbrownwhile freckleslikeVal’shadpoppedupalloverherbloatedcheeks.
Asthefinishingtouch,ValhandedJeriapileofclothes.ThepinkT-shirt sheputonofcoursecouldn’tfitoverhergut,sothatabarerollofflabjuttedout frombeneaththehem.Herpinkjeanscouldn’tcoveranyhigherthanherpelvis, whichleftheruncoveredbellytosagdowntothebuttonofherpants.
ShesobbedasValhelpedhertoherfeetandsaid,“You’dbettergetbackto yourroomwithyourlittlesister,younglady.”
Itwasonlythenoneofthetwinsopenedhereyes.Sheblinkedafewtimes behindherglassesthatwerejustasthickasJeri’s.“Molegirl?What’ththe doinghere?”
“Thisisn’tMolegirl.ThisisMolegirl’s bigsister,Jeri.”
Theothertwinwokeupandlookedaround.“Theri?What’thgoingon?”
Thetwinsscreamedinunison.Theypattedtheirfacesatthesametime,as iftheyweremirrorimagesofeachother.Thenitwastheirturntosob.“We’re geekth,”Sherilamented.
“Yougirlshadbettergetbacktowork,”Valsaid.Shetossedapileof clothestoeachofthem.Insteadofcadetjumpsuits,theydressedinold-fashioneddresseswithpuffysleevesandlacecollarsthatmadethemlookcloser toMolegirl’sage.
“Yeth,ma’am,”thetwinsmutteredandthenstaggeredoffbacktotheir duties.
Jerihadnochoicebuttowaddleofftothestateroomshewouldnowshare withKari.
Chapter4
Jeriwantedtolookdowntoseethenumberonthescale,butherbellywas toobigforittobevisibletoher.Valhelpfullysaid,“Onehundredninety.”She tousledJeri’sshorthair.“Fifteenkilosheavier.That’sreallygood.Now,let’s seehowlittlesisterdid.”
JeritookKari’shandtohelpherontothescale.Afewmomentslater,Val said,“Onehundredseventy-four.You’dbettergeteatingifyouwanttocatch up.”
Jeriresistedtheurgetoshakeherheadatthisfarce.Anyweightthey gainedwasbecauseValhadputitthere.Theonlyreasonforthisexercisewas forValtoremindthemofhowtubbytheywere—asiftheymightforget.Asif Jericouldn’tseehergutwithitsstretchmarksprotrudingfrombeneathhershirt.
Kariatleastwasluckyenoughtobeblind.
Afterthedailyweigh-in,theyhadtowaddleofftothemesshallfor breakfast.ItwasuptoSheriandTeritobringtheirbreakfastsin,eachtray saggingundertheirpunymuscles.Bythetimethetwinsmadeittothetables, theirfaceswerejustasredandsweatyasJeri’safterthewalkfromher stateroom.
Beforetheycoulddigin,theyhadtowaitforValtosignalthem.Thenthey ateasfastastheycould.Theydidn’twanttodothis,buttherewasn’tmuch choiceaboutit;iftheyrefused,Valwouldmakethemyoungerandfatteruntil theywouldbebedridden.Theyagreedbeforehandwhowouldwinthatday.
TodayJerishoveledpastriesintohermouth,barelytastingthem.Assheneared thebottomofthestack,shelookedoveratKari,whostillhadadozenpastries leftonhertray.
BythetimeJerifinished,shewantedtothrowup.Sheputahandtoher stomachwhileValtooktheothertoraiseitoverherheadtriumphantly.“The winnertodayisMolegirl2!”
Jeribelchedtocelebratethisannouncement.ValletgoofJeritotousle Molegirl’shair.“Betterlucknexttime,sweetie.”
Molegirlwasluckythatafterthisshegottowaddlebacktotheirstateroom untillunchtime,whentheywouldhavethesecondroundofthecompetition.
Jerihadtomakeherwaytothebridgeforhershiftatthehelm.Whileherbody hadgottenwider,herchairhadnot.Shegroanedasshecrammedherselfonto thechair,itsarmrestsbitingintohersides.
Forhoursshestaredatthedisplaysthroughherthickglasseswhileatthe sametimeshestruggledtobreatheintheuncomfortablechair.Theonlything
thatcheeredherwastoseethedistancetoKifshrinkingonthescreen.They werejustthreedaysoutnow,providednothinghappenedtotheshipbetween nowandthen.
Jerirememberedwhentheshipshehadcommandedhadbeennearing Phera;TaihadbeguntousetheStoneofChangetomakethemeveryoungerand theshipevermoreantiquated.ShesupposedValwouldn’tdoanythinglikethat; shewantedtoreachtheplanettolearnmoreaboutthestone.
JeritoowantedtolearnmoreabouttheStoneofChange.Shewantedto learniftherewassomewaysheorKaricouldmakethemselvesnormalagain.
Jerithoughtofthebrieftimewhenshehadbeenherselfagain.Shehadbeen selfishandvain,butforthefirsttimeinabouttwoyearsshehadfelt normal.
Maybeatthecoreshewasselfishandvain,buttherewereworsethings;she onlyhadtolookoveratValtoseethat.
Aftertheireatingcontes
toverlunch,Jeriwasallowedtogobacktoher stateroomforanap.SheandKarilayontheirseparatebeds,theirguts overhangingtheedgestotouch.Molegirlclutchedastuffedwhiteunicornas shedozed.ItwasalwaysdifficultforJeritoknowwhenKariwasreallyasleep ornot.“Areyouawake?”sheasked.
“Yes,”Molegirlwhispered.
“Threemoredays,”Jerisaid.“Thenwe’llbethere.”
“That’snice.”
“Youshouldbeexcited.She’llhavetogiveyouyoursightbackoncewe’re there.”
“Idon’treallywanttoseemyselflikethis.”Molegirlsqueezedtheunicorn tightertoherchest.“IsawmorethanenoughofMolegirlalready.”
“Maybeshewon’tkeepyoulikethat.Maybeshe’llchangeyouback.”
“Towhat?Ateenager?Amidget?Atoddler?I’llneverbe meagain.”
TearsleakedfromMolegirl’ssightlesseyes.“IbarelyrememberwhoIusedto be.”
Jerisaidnothing.Shedidn’tknowwhatKarihadusedtolooklike.When they’dfirstmetatTaiCorp,Karihadalreadyundergoneseveralchanges.Andit wasn’tlikeValkeptaphotoalbuminherstateroomwithpicturesofherold lover.Shethoughtofherselfandsaid,“It’snotsoimportanthowyoulook,but howyoufeelinside.”
“I’vealwaysfeltlikethisontheinside.ExceptwhenIfirstcametothe office.AndwhenIwaswithKrisee,atleastbefore…beforeIknewwhoshe reallywas.”
JerireachedovertopryoneofKari’shandsawayfromthestuffedanimal.
“You’reagoodperson,Kari.Evenifyou’reuglyontheoutside,you’re
gorgeousontheinside.”Jerismiledandthentriedtoputthatsmileintoher voicesoKaricouldhearit.“You’retheoppositeofhowIusedtobe.HowI stillam,forthemostpart.”
“Jeri—”
“IknowwhoIam.I’mjustlikeIwasattheoffice.Valtriedtochangeme, butIguessallshedidwaspushtherealmedownunderneath.AssoonasIgot mylooksback,thatpartemerged.”
“Maybeyou’reright.AndIsupposeI’vealwaysbeenatimidlittlegirl.I guessthat’swhyIwasattractedtoVal.ShewaseverythingIwasn’t.”
“I’msureyoutwowereacutecouple.”
Molegirlwipedathereyesagain.“Maybeit’sstupid,butIstillregretwe neverhadthechancetogetmarriedortohaveachild.Isn’tthatstupidwith what’shappened?”
“Probably,butyouwouldhavebeenagreatmother.Andmaybesomeday youwillbe.”
“Valwillneverallowthat.She’llgetridofmeassoonasshehaswhatshe wants.Orshe’llleavemeontheplanetlikethis—likeTaidid.”
“Hey,comeon,let’strytothinkpositively.You’reasmartscientist;you’ll findsomewaytochangeusbackandtostopVal.”
Molegirlsaidnothingtothis.SheyankedherhandoutofJeri’sandthen beganthelaboriousprocessofturningontoherotherside.Jeristaredat Molegirl’swidebackforalittlewhile,untilshefinallyfellasleep.
Part2:TheGateway
Chapter5
JeriwasonthebridgetoguidetheshipintoorbitoverKif.Shebeganto runscanstomakesurenothinghadchangedabouttheplanetsinceValandKari hadlastbeenthere.Afterafewminutes,thesensorsindicatedeverythingwas thesame.
“We’reclearedtogodown, Colonel,”Jerisaid.
Valgotoutofherchair.ShecameupbesideJeri.“Gobacktoyourroom.
I’lltakeusdown.”
“Butit’s myjob!That’swhyyoubroughtme.”
“Oh,sweetie,I’msorry,butIcan’tleavesomethinglikethistoa child.”
OncuetherewasaflashoflightandthentheroomaroundJeriswelledintime withherstomach.Thearmrestsofherchairpresseddeeperintohersidesasshe gotevenwider.
“Thisisn’tfair!”Jerishriekedinanow-childishvoice.
“Gobacktoyourroomwithyoursister—ifyoucanmanagetogetoutof thechair.”
Ittookalotofgruntingandstraining,butJerididfinallydislodgeherself fromthechair.Ittookevenlongerforhertowaddlebacktoherstateroomnow thatshewasonlyabouteightyearsold.Shegratefullycollapsedontoherbed withasigh.Asbefittedhernewage,therewasastuffedbearonherbedforher toclutchtoherchest.
“We’rehere,”Jerisaid.“Valistakingtheshipdown.”
“That’sgood,”Molegirlsaid.
“It’snotfair.Iwassupposedtoflytheship.She promised.”
“Didshemakeyoulittler,Jeri?”
“Yes.”TearscametoJeri’seyes.“We’realmosttwinsnow.”
“I’msorry.”
“It’snotyourfault.She’sapoopyhead.Ihateher.”
MolegirlflailedarounduntilJerifinallytookherhand.“It’sgoingtobeall right.It’slikeyousaid:weshouldthinkpositively.Therehastobesomething downontheplanettohelpus.”
“Nuh-uh.We’regoingtobebigfattiesuntilshegetstiredofusandkills us.”
Molegirlsaidnothing.ShejustsqueezedJeri’shand.Inspiteofhowbad shefelt,Jerismiled.Shehadneverhadasiblingbefore.Motherhadonly wantedtohaveonechildtocarryonthePoldarlegacy;asecondhadbeen absolutelyoutofthequestion.Ithadn’treallybotheredJerimuchsinceshe’d
alwaysbeenprettyenoughtohavelotsoffriends.ItwasonlyonceTaihad madeheruglythatshe’dstartedtobegladtohavefriendslikeKari,Sheri,Teri, andthenValtoeasethelonelinessanddespair.
Theairinthestateroombegantowarm.SweatbrokeoutonJeri’s forehead.Ittookmoreeffortthanusualtomopherforeheadwiththebackof herhand;itfeltasifsomeonewerepressingJeridownintoherbed.Thatwas justtheG-forcesastheshipenteredtheatmosphere.Theship’santi-gravity counteredmostoftheeffects,buttherewasalwaysaresidualamountof discomfort,especiallyasarotundeight-year-old.
“Itshouldn’tbemuchlonger,”shesaidtoeaseKari’smind.Jerihadbeen throughhundredsoflandingslikethisinhercareer,thoughneverquitelikethis.
Itwouldonlybeafewminutesuntiltheybrokeintotheupperatmosphereofthe planetandfromthereitwouldbeasmootherridedown.Oritwouldbeifthey hadanexperiencedpilotatthecontrols,Jerigroused.Valmightthinkshewas omnipotentnowthatshehadtheStoneofChange,butshewasstilljustafoot soldier;shedidn’thavenearlyasmuchexperienceatthecontrolsofashipas Jeridid.
Shecountedthesecondstoherselfevenassweatdrippedintohereyes.She didn’tbothertryingtowipeitawaynow.“We’realmostthere,”shesaidmostly toherself.
“Itwouldn’tbetheworstthingifwecrashed,”Karisaid.“Atleastthenit wouldbeover.”
“Don’tsaythingslikethat,”Jerisaid.“It’snotoveryet.”
Assoonasshesaidthis,theweightpressingherdowneased,asdidthe temperature.“Thatdidit.We’reintothestratospherenow.”
“Hooray,”Molegirlgrumbled.
***
Withatraceofsmugness,Jerinotedhowroughlytheshipcametoafinal stop.IfValhadletherstayatthecontrols—especiallyinherskinnyadultbody
—shecouldhavemadeamuchbetterlanding.Shesatuponherbed,herbear pressedtoherchest,asshewaitedforValtofetchthem.
Butitwasn’tValwhocametogetthem.Itwasthetwinswhoshowedup instead.“Valwantthtotheeyouonthebridge,”Sherisaid.
“Rightnow,”hersisterunnecessarilyadded.
“We’recoming,”Jerisaid.Sheheavedherselfoffthebed,groaningasshe stoodup.IttookbothtwinstohelpMolegirlslideoffthebedandgettoher feet.JeritookMolegirl’shandtoleadhertowardsthebridge.
Theywerebothexhaustedbythetimetheyreachedthebridge.Valsatin hercommandchair,facingthemastheycamein.“Good,
nowwe’reallhere,”
shesaid.“Thatmeansit’stimetogettobusiness.”
“Whatmakesyouthinkwe’llhelpyou?”Molegirlsaid.
ValreachedouttopinchMolegirl’scheek.“Aren’tyoujustprecious?You stillthinkyouhaveachoice.”
“Idohaveachoice.IfIdon’thelpyou,you’llneverfindoutwhatyou wanttoknow.”
“Perhaps.ButmaybeIdon’tneedyou.Maybethestonewilltellme everything.”
“Ifyoudon’tneedme,thenwhyamIhere?”
“MaybeIjustwantedyoutobeheretowitness mygreatestdiscoveryin Pheranhistory.”
“Didthestonetellyouhowtoreadtheancientlanguage?Didittellyou whereallthetrapsare?”Molegirlgrinnedwithunnaturalsmugness.“Well?”
“Don’tactsohighandmighty.You’rejusthereasabackup.”
“ButI’mstillnotgoingtohelpyou.”
“You’resoadorablewhenyou’retryingtobetough.Ifyoudon’thelpme, thenI’llkillyou.”
“Thengoaheadandkillme.”
“Kari—”
“Stayoutofthis, Molegirl2,”Molegirlsnapped.“I’mnotgoingtohelp Val.”
“I’mnotanidiot,Kari.IknowyouwanttoknowmoreabouttheStoneof Changeandtheancients.Evenunderallthatflabyou’restillthesamegeeky scientistyoualwayswere.”JeriwaitedfortheStoneofChangetoflash,but nothinghappened.KariremainedMolegirlforthetimebeing.“You’dnever forsakeanopportunitylikethis.Afterall,isn’tthatwhyyoucameherethefirst time?”
“I’velearnedmylessonsincethen.Somethingsaretoodangerousto study.”
ValpinchedMolegirl’scheekagain.“Iknowyouandyoursisterhavebeen plotting.Iknowyou’rehopingsomethingherewillbeabletochangeyouback.
You’llneverfinditifyougiveupnow.”WhenMolegirlsaidnothing,Val continued,“Andit’llgiveyouachancetobeanormalyoungwomanagain.
Don’tyouwantyoursightback?”
“Idon’tcare.”