The Moon Princess was in a quandary. She had some ideas for some Splices she would love to try – she was enthralled with the idea of having the ability of flight, to be able to soar through the air under her own power. But she didn't want to lose her hands by turning them into wings. Heck, she knew her penmanship was bad enough, with fingers!
But the prices! She would just love to be able to walk into a Splicing Station an say, "Do it." But, unless she wanted to wait until Crystal Tokyo, there was just no way to do it! She was broke!
So she got up from her desk, walked out of her room, intent upon her quest for her favorite snack... anything except carrots.
She went down the stairs, still contemplating her situation, when she noticed an ad on one of the newspapers in the recycling bin:
WANTED- SUBJECTS IN A BETA TESTING STUDY
We
are looking for willing people in a real-life study
of people
willing to test an experimental Splice formula.
Said subjects will
be provided with the Splice, as well
as recording materials to
note sensations and experiences.
If you are willing to be a
subject in this study, talk with
the front desk receptionist in
your local Splicing provider.
Her
eyes widened, as the possibilities went through her mind. Before she
could have any qualms, she decided to act...
"Tell me Usagi," came a muffled voice quietly from the blond girl's backpack, "why exactly you need me to go with you on this?"
The excited girl couldn't help but to giggle. "A Splice I don't have to pay for!" she squealed. "I'm going to be one of the first to have it." She slid to a stop, the Splicing Station within sight. "Now, Luna, you need to be quiet. I'm going to be going into a building." She heard a grumble, then silence from the satchel she wore. She bobbed her head in a quick nod, then walked into the door. What she saw gave her a moment of fright.
Sitting behind the desk was a skunk-woman, talking with, or rather at, a alligator-man in a lab coat that had a 'Hannibal Lecter' style mask/muzzle strapped on and padlocked in place.
"Now, Jacques," the furry woman scolded, "you have already eaten enough pets that you're going to have most of your paycheck withheld for the next three years."
The scaly man replied with something that was unintelligible to the frozen blond in the doorway. The skunkette growled in annoyance. "Tough, leatherhead," she snapped. "If you take that off at work, Dr. Mera said that you're canned. Now git!" The Spliced man slumped, grumbling quietly, and retreated through the doorway that was on the other side room from the entrance. The dark-furred Splicer let out a small 'chuff', then turned to face her. The woman's face went to a happy smile as her tail relaxed. She waved Usagi over.
As she approached, the woman bobbed her head slightly. "Hello, my name is Jen," she stated gently. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
The defender of the Moon took a long look into the woman's twinkling green-blue eyes and from there, into her soul. Playfulness, caring, joy of helping others and peace were the main traits that revealed themselves in the perusal; Usagi relaxed and returned the smile. "I'm hear because of the ad requesting volunteers, Jen-san," she bubbled.
The skunk woman nodded. "I see," she hummed, as she quickly reached for the keyboard at the side of her desk and began to enter data. After a moment, her eyes widened. "Um, miss," she sighed, "there's an opening, but I must warn you that there is a higher chance of rejection due to the uniqueness of this Splice."
The off-duty magical girl appeared to think on this for a moment, then brightened. "Momma always tells me to help people out, so let's go for it."
Jen nodded, then cracked her knuckles. "Well then," she admitted, "let's get you entered in for the study." The pair tilted their heads together and began to work.
Usagi sat in the small room, idly reading an 'idol mag' dedicated to Splices, listening with half an ear to the sounds coming from the hall. Various thumps, thuds and an occasional 'yowl' reached her, but she was assured that nothing was amiss.
She looked up, as a pair of ears and eyes circled by dark fur peeked around the door's frame. "You're here for the study?" he inquired.
Usagi smiled and waved him in. Yes, sir," she agreed. "Subject TsuU-Juuban. Nice to meet you."
He stepped into the room, revealing himself to be a raccoon Splice, dressed in casual wear. He gave her a warm smile and reached out with a hand/paw. "Nice to meet you, miss. My name is Dennis, I am a Species Selection Supervisor; usually, I would help you to decide what you want to look like. Today, I will be showing you what the experimental Splice will entail." He walked over to the computer and picked up the ball-shaped digital camera and pointed the lens at her. "Now, if you just smile, I'll get your image entered in and allow you to get a glimpse of the soon-to-be 'you'."
Usagi did so. The raccoon-man sat in front of the computer, while the flat photograph changed into a computer mannequin that had the blond's exact features and proportions. The furry technician pointed at the display. "This is you now," he told her, then pointed at the bottom of the display. "The three choices at the bottom are the openings that are still available. This 'Mythos Splice' study has already had many takers."
Usagi squinted at the names. "Let me see the first," she decided.
Dennis used the trackball to highlight the choice. "Alright, miss," he chuckled. "First up, Naga." The computer avatar disappeared momentarily, then returned showing a much-changed Usagi. From the waist down, the image was composed of a long, serpentine tail. The coloration was beautiful, but... "I'm sorry, Dennis," she sighed. "It's nice, but I can't see myself with that one."
He took a close look at the display, then reluctantly nodded. "Yeah," he agreed. "This one makes you clash too much; between the scales and the lack of hair, you'd be too unhappy." He moved the pointer over the second choice. "Well, here's the second: Jackalope."
The young woman blinked, then screwed her face into a grimace. "Eeeew," she moaned. The screen showed a lupine form, with a long mane of blonde hair from which sprouted a respectable rack of antlers. "Where did this one come from, Dennis-san?"
He chuckled. "The American Northwest, actually," he admitted. He looked between the display and the young woman. "It's different, I admit, but why wouldn't it be acceptable?"
She growled. "Personal reasons," she stated simply, her eyes narrowing in challenge.
The raccoon Splice swallowed at the cheerful-looking blond suddenly becoming a very, very scary young woman. "That leaves this one then," he sighed, wrenching his gaze to the monitor to click on the third choice. The girl turned to the monitor, ready to be disappointed. As her eyes beheld the display, they began to sparkle. "Suuuugoi" she whispered. She took a quick glance at the raccoon-man. "What if we use a certain type of animal to create this one?" she asked.
He cracked his knuckles. "Such as?" he stated in return.
The pair leaned closer together and began to plot.
Dr. Mera leaned over the newly-Spliced Usagi as she opened her icy-blue, slitted eyes. "Hello, miss," he stated with a smile. "I thank you for deciding to help us with our study." His gaze roved up and down her sheet covered form. "I must say, Miss, you're well suited for that form."
She glanced down at her hand/paws, covered with soft, black fur and turned them over to see the pads of leathery black flesh that formed the palms and fingers. She then looked up at the good doctor. "It feels nice," she admitted. "Could I see the rest?"
The doctor waved at a pile of clothes beside him. "I'll go outside and let you dress," he assured her. "These are a set of clothing that will allow you to be decent, as they are designed for someone who carries Splicings similar to your own." He walked out of the door, speaking over his shoulder. "Unfortunately, digigrade legs are hard to get shoes for. Call when you're ready."
She turned the body on the table, and reached for the clothing, when a small furry head peaked over the clothes, the eyes shining. So was the matted fur; the black Moon Cat seemed to have been dipped in glycerin. Luna let her gaze roam over her advisee/owner's new form, before staring into the girl's eyes. "Why?" she asked simply, her tail drooping behind her.
The furry princess gave her companion a smile, as she picked up the clothing and began to dress. "Three reasons," she admitted softly. "First, Splicing can help people, in ways we can't do with magic."
The mausian nodded reluctantly. "I agree with that," she allowed.
Usagi nodded, as she finished clasping the black sports-bra around her fur-covered globes. "Second, it's for a study, to help them research what they can do with this." She slipped her arms into the white, handkerchief-style halter top and tied the base at her furred waist. "This Splice will help them to help others."
Luna gave her a small smile. "I expected that one, from you," she chuckled softly. "And I must admit, you do look nice, even with that silver crescent on your forehead." She lifted a slick paw and shook it slightly. "Though if you ever Splice again, do not use me as a donor. That man drools entirely too much."
The dark-furred feline-girl giggled, much to her smaller friend's dismay. "Who was it?" she asked, as she stepped into the blue skort and sat down to pull them up over her now-higher ankles.
"Some weird alligator-man wearing a modified hockey mask," Luna replied.
Usagi twitched her ears in annoyance. "Jacques no baka," she growled. She tucked her tail through the keyhole slot and settled the skort around her hips. She shifted her hips from side to side, and flipped her tail experimentally. "Alright. If I decide to do a different Splice, I'll go with a canine."
"Don't. You. Dare." The small black cat attempted to bristle, a near impossible task while wearing something in her fur with the consistency of styling gel. She tilted her head side-to-side, then nodded. "I must say, it does look good. But what was the third reason?"
Usagi stretched her new muscles, flexing her new appendages. "I thought this one was neat," she admitted.
Luna faceplanted off the table with a wet 'sploit'.
Usagi stepped into the Anthro Diner, looking for the hostess. Jen had assured her that this was the restaurant for full-fur Splices. She had noted the sign in the window, as well as spotting her friends gathered around a table in the corner. She spotted a beagle-woman heading toward her, and gripped her backpack.
"Welcome!" the canine woman called.
Usagi unzipped the backpack, allowing Luna to pop her head out from the depths. The hostess laughed. "Pet match, hmm?" The blond haired, black-furred girl nodded. The Diner's hostess pulled out her camera and Usagi raised her hand/paw.
"Better step back, ma'am" she cautioned. When the woman did so, she parted what everyone assumed was a cloak slightly to place her smug house-cat on her shoulder, then whipped the 'cloak' open.
Jaws, both human and anthropomorphic, dropped, as the 'cloak' was revealed as a pair of black wings speckled with patches of brown and having white feathers at the tips. The hostess raised her camera, asking, "What do you call this Splice?"
Usagi smiled at her friends with her usual intensity, just more furry, as she replied. "I am a Kitty-Hawk, ma'am," she announced, her voice filled with pride.
At the table, Setsuna covered her face with her hands and began to shake. The others turned their heads.
They recoiled when the Senshi of time looked up to the ceiling and began to howl with laughter.
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(Posted Fri, 29 Oct 2004 10:42)
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