Namakata: Final Conversion and The Truth

First posted to alt.devilbunnies on 22-25 November, 1998 and 21 December, 1998
© 1998 by Scott Bernier with thanks to Remus Shephard for mentioning his character.
First HTML-ized by Scott Bernier on 21 December, 1998.

[SLAM!] The doors flew open as a gurney pushed by a couple of squirrels raced into the the medical center of Namakata. Upon the gurney a rather large, brown pelt squirrel spasmatically contorted against restraints and chittered in pain.

Firbrush lept aside in startlement as the gurney was wheeled past him in a blur and into ICU.

"This is it," Aldin called-out as he scampered in behind the gurney and was followed by several other lab techs. "As I had forewarned you, Dr. Firbrush, I would have need of your ICU when Mustard reached the final stage."

Firbrush, somehow keeping a doctorally calm facade after his initial surprise, nodded and ordered his staff to cooperate with Aldin. Aldin in the meantime oversaw the work of his labtechs as they hooked-up sensors to Mustard's body and rolled him onto his back before restrapping his limbs loosely so that he couldn't thrash about and injure himself or the bystanders. He was in the finally stage of conversion. After several months, his bone and muscle structure had completed the change over from bun to squirrel. In some ways, the slow process he went through had its advantages, but not anymore. Over the time period, his organs had not kept-up with the rest of his body, until now.

One of the lab assistants made a run for the nearest bathroom as he couldn't stomach watching the movement below the skin of Mustard's torso as his intestines repositioned themselves. It was like watching several coiled snakes squirm over one another, but with a sheet over the snakes. Three times Aldin had offered a sedative to Mustard so he wouldn't have to endure the pain, but Mustard refused. Between fits of grinding his teeth, chattering, and crying-out, he stated he wanted to remain awake through the entire process, no matter how painful it was.

Several hours later, Mustard gave in to exhustion as his organs settled into their new squirrely alignment. Aldin dismissed his staff and spent the night watching over the sleeping body of his former henchbun, watching for any signs that Mustard may have suffered the worse.

Mustard remained in intensive care for several days as his body recovered from the stress of the final stage of conversion. At some point, whether it had been from the stress and pain, or just the change in the seasons, he had raoudkt shed his summer brown pelt for his winter white pelt. Aldin made note of this, though Mustard was now physically and mentally (in most ways) a squirrel, he maintained his snowshoe hare pelt, right down to the black paw/eartips. The very tip of his tail was also black.

He wasn't allowed visitors, much to Mapletip's chagrin, under Aldin's orders for his hench squirrel needed peace and quiet to recover from his ordeal. Mustard slept for most of those three days before Firbrush gave him a complete physical and discharged him. For the following week, he took it easy, slowly regaining his strength.

As humans around the country prepared to give thanks in their holiday tradition, Mapletip was also giving thanks that she still had her Mustard and now completely a squirrel. She loved his winter pelt, especailly the black tip accents and complemented him on it at every chance she got. Mustard, on the other paw, had mixed feelings within. He was happy it was finally over, that his conversion was complete, but a part of him also regretted it. At least now he and Mapletip could raise a family. And he looked forward to getting back into the lab.

Personal Journal, November 23, 1998

(wearyflick) The past few days have been very, very trying upon my
soul.  As much as I am opposed to conversion, I successfully helped
my former henchbun through the final stages of conversion and he's
been given a clean bill of health.  I should put him through another
battery of tests just to make sure, but both he and I need rest.

The tests will need to be done and soon.  Firbrush may have pronounced
him healthy, but there are things a medsquirrel doesn't see that a
geneticist can.  What other bunny genes remain in Mustard other then
his pelt?  Though he can't extend his claws, up until the time of the
final phase of conversion, they were still vorpal sharp.  How is his
heart doing after the stress and strain it underwent?  There are
just too many questions that need to be answered.

Alas, I may never get to perfect the nanodocs we had been working on
those many months ago when this whole thing started.  We don't have
enough raw material on paw to continue with the research, but if we
did, I know what I'd be doing for the General next Easter (Honey Nut
Clusters Squirrel-style gigglechittering)

(drooptail) But we don't have the material and so that won't be
happening.  (besidesflick) I now have a source of squirrelvirus.
I'll turn my focus on that, if Pinebrush is willing to provide a
couple more blood samples....

Pinebrush...I've kept my distance from him since I saw his sleeping
form in the Infirmary...when was it now?  Early September?
(sighchitter) I do wish he'd be willing to approach me.  Maybe I
should drop him a note, let him know I'm not upset with him and that
he's welcome to stop by anytime. (pause) Then again, that could
upset him, it's been nearly 4 years since we last met and a lot of
things can change in that time period.  I wonder what his feelings
are over my former henchbun?  Is he the same squirrel I use to know?

As for Mustard...(perhapsflick) it's for the best that Mustard is
now a squirrel, but I still have bad feelings about it.  Research
work is down 5 percent since we discovered Mustard was still
converting late this past summer.  I guess I'll have to advertise
for another hench bunny, if Mustard will permit me.  He's was a very
bright bunny for a so-called Beta.  Maybe I should name him my direct
assistant now that he's a squirrel.

At least I know that when my time comes to leave this world, I'll be
leaving the labs in the good paws of my son, Cloud(chitter) and my
(former) bestest hench bun/squirrel, Mustard.

Aldin Busheytail

"Rabbit, end journal entry."

Mapletip relaxed as Mustard's gentle paws rubbed away between her shoulder blades. It was good to have her Mus back. Other thoughts were coming to her though.

"Mus, you ever wondered if you're the first to go through this?"

Mustard stopped and stared at her. "What do you mean?"

Mapletip rolled over and looked at her mate coyly. "Do you think that there may have been other buns in the past who might have been converted into squirrels?"

"How would I know?" (ponderflick) "Did you have someone in mind?"

"Yes," (flick,flick) "I have my suspicions. The biggest of which you work for."

Mustard stared long and hard at her. "Aldin???" (disbelieveflick) "Why in Frith's name would you call him a former bunny?"

"Compare him to everyone else here, Mus. He's the most analytical."

"He is a mentat, dear..."

"He's the least squirrel-like in emergency situations. Unlike anyone else but you, he is fluent in bun-speak. And then there's the matter of his son, Cloud(chitter)."

"What about Cloud(chitter)? He's bright and a quick learner, just like Aldin's other two kits."

"Yes, but look at his pelt. Grey squirrels are called such because of our pelts. We don't have much variation in the pattern. He's white, but not albino, for his eyes aren't pink. And he's not completely white. Much like you now," she points to Mustard's stomach with her tailtip, "his tummy is off-white, sort of cream color in comparison to the rest of his pelt. There's some non-squirrel genes at work there, trust me." She nodded to herself believing she was right.

Mustard refused to believe, though it made sense. That could explain why he had felt so good about Aldin when they had first conversed back when he was a prisoner of the Maine Fudds. He shook- off the thought.

"Nah, it's probably one of those rare combinations showing through..."

(shakeshead) "No, I'm telling you, Aldin had to start out as a bunny. He calls Rabbit Mentat, this warren's founder, 'Father'..."

"Aldin has told me that story. Rabbit had adopted and raised him after his folks had been murdered by human poachers. It helps explain a lot."

"But what if it's all a cover story?" (conspiratoryflick)

(sighflick) "There's only one way to solve this you know. I don't want to do it, but we'll have to ask him in private for the truth. First thing in the morning, you're coming with me and we'll talk to Aldin."

"But..."

"No, buts." (squirrelystomp!) "Aldin's a good squirrel to work for, I don't want anyone putting him down whether or not he's always been one."

(drooptail) "Alright..." She pounced on him and they 'played' for a while before bedding down for the night.

(scratch, scratch)

"Enter...Mustard, Mapletip? What can I do for you?" (curiousflick)

Mustard closed the door behind himself as Mapletip and he entered Aldin's office off the lab complex. "I need to ask a really personel question of you, Aldin."

Aldin looked at him a moment. "What sort of question?"

"Well," (scuffpaw) "Mapletip and I got into a small argument last night..." (sighflick) "There's no polite way to approach this...."

(impatientflick) "Aldin," Mapletip interjected, "you use to be a bunny just like my Mus was, weren't you?"

[Dead silence]

Aldin drooped his tail. "I knew I'd be asked something like this sooner or later because of Cloud(chitter) and Mustard...." he depressed the communications switch on his desk. "Have Ash and our kits come to my office as soon as possible, even if you have to physically drag Puffcheeks in from training." He turned back to his two visitors. "The short answer, Mapletip is no. I was never a bunny. I spent a stint against my will as a human, though many don't believe that, but no I was never a bunny. For the long answer, I'd rather have my family present so I only have to answer this once."

Mapletip half-nodded. Over the next ten minutes Ash, Hazel and Cloud(chitter) wandered in. Puffcheeks arrived 2 minutes after that with a crossbow slung to his back.

"Close the door, please, Puffcheeks...good. Mapletip, repeat your question for my family..." She did so. Ash and the kits gasped in shock at the question. "As I already told them, the short answer is no. For the long answer, which will help explain why your pelt is white, Cloud(chitter), we'll turn to a message from my adopted father."

Aldin turned to the terminal and used voice activation. "Rabbit, replay message from Rabbit Mentat dated 14 January, 1983, set-off by my journal entry the week after the birth of the kits..."

Rabbit Mentat's muzzle appeared on screen. He smiled.

"My son, you have triggered this message by mentioning the birth of the first litter of kits you have sired in your personal journal...."

Aldin's family and the visitors watched and listened to the lab's former commander. Cloud(chitter) (shudderflicked) at the idea that he might have been called 'Checkers' instead. Mapletip bowed her head in shame as the terminal went dark.

"I'm sorry, Aldin, I should have been more respectful...."

"No need to appologize, Mapletip, but we're not done yet....Rabbit?"

The computer responded, "Yes..."

"According to all records and I mean ALL records, was I ever a devilbunny?"

"No. Rabbit Mentat took in Aldin, the orphaned, wild squirrel kit as his own son in mid-May, 1979..."

"Rabbit, cease history log. Everyone knows the record and has access to it..."

"I believe you, Aldin, you don't need to go further..."

Aldin glanced at Mapletip briefly and continued anyway. "According to all records, Mustard is the first conversion of bunny-to-squirrel here at Namakata, correct?"

The computer system paused. Aldin stared at it. "Rabbit, is there a glitch in your programming?"

"Negative"

"Then answer the question." (commandflick)

"Negative. Mustard is the second."

The kits and Mapletip gasped. Mustard and Ash remained silent.

"I discovered this little tidbit while trying to find a way to reverse Mustard's conversion. I was searching the data base in the hopes of finding something that would help me. It was in one of Rabbit's journal entries. I had hoped to wait a while longer before bringing this to light, but..." (sighflick) "Rabbit, display Rabbit Mentat Personal Journal Entry date 16 April, 1980..."

"Password?"

"Checkers"

"Insufficient"

(sighflick) "I keep forgetting a second password has to be typed in at the same time." Aldin grabbed the keyboard and typed-in a sequence while verbally giving the password again. The screen went blank for a moment and flickered to life, again showing Rabbit Mentat's image.

"April 16, 1980. I am recording and encrypting this journal entry for a future time. A time in which I hope my fellow buns will be more open minded then those of my day. An accident occured in the lab three days ago. I have ordered it covered-up for I know my fellow buns outside this facility would panic and pull the plug on my research if word leaked out.

"All attempts made to slow-down or reverse the conversion of this intern failed." (obviouslyfluff) "The new squirrel isn't too pleased with the situation, but he also accepts this as the fate of Frith and understands the stakes involved. He has stated that he looks forward to future tests, putting research ahead of his own comfort. Young Quickhop has yet to come up with a new squirrel name, but promises to have one by tomorrow. Though he's still in ICU, I suspect we'll be releasing him in another day or two. Careful interviews with him during the periods he has been awake reveal that he has converted not just in body, but in mind..."

Rabbit shifted uncomfortably on screen.

"There is a lot of data I could collect still, but I will not do it. There's too much risk involved in this leaking back to Central Command¹. As an added precaution I have had all data collected from the accident purged from the system. A single hard copy is locked away for safe keeping where only those I trust will be able to find it if and when the time comes."

The screen went dark again.

-----
1-Central Command--an old name for PAW

After a moment of silence, Aldin answered the unasked question. "I don't know who this Quickhop was. I have no recollection of Quickhop. Rather easy to miss a single bun, considering how large this place was back then, and I was just an intern at that time. I haven't been able to find any other records on this incident."

"What about the hard copy Rabbit refered to?" Cloud(chitter) inquired.

(sighflick) "If they're still intact, they'd be somewhere within the old warren across the lake and probably glow in the dark. Laying where they had been burried under Nesuntabunt Mountain after the Fudd attack in '89..'88..."

"Father told me the accident occured on March 14, 1988," Ash added. "As we later learned upon your return, the jets that slammed into the warren was no accident."

Aldin nodded. "Anyway, the attack/accident hit their powerplant, a new, small nuclear plant. Even if one could get into the rubbled remains of the old warren, you'd need a radiation suit, and we don't have any squirrel-sized suits, never having a need for one with our hydroelectic system." (ironicflick) "We do have a couple of bun-size suits on paw.

"So, Mustard, you aren't the first, but we'll never know who the first one was..."

"Aldin," (concernflick) Ash interrupted, "my father had told me his date of birth was..." (momentary pause) "April 13, 1980..." She started shaking.

Everyone stared at Ash for a moment.

(perhapsflick) She openned her mouth and shut it again several times, unsure whether or not she wanted to continue and make the connection. Aldin hushed her before she could attempt to start again.

"It doesn't really matter if your father, Puffcheeks, was Quickhop or not. He was a good friend of mine and he served his fellow squirrels for many years. Let the dead rest."

They hugged, intertwining their tails. The others left the office quietly.

*****BUNNYSTUMPER DELUXE™ TIGHTBEAM TO REMUS*****

(greetingsflick) Remus!  I hope you don't spend the holidays alone.
I'm just trying to tie up a few loose ends here in the labs before
my family heads off to spend the holiday at the Maine Fudd HQ on
Eugene's invitation.

I've been very busy and (apologyflick) for not getting a copy of
this information to you sooner.  I simply wanted to make sure I had
all the data straight.

Mustard completed conversion the weekend before Thanksgiving.  All
signs and/or residual matter dealing with the nanites/virus have been
flushed from his system.  All exams and tests he's undergone since
then indicate he is a healthy squirrel.  I've enclosed a copy of all
data concerning the final stage of his conversion and all the test
results since then for your examination whenever you feel like looking
through it.  There is no rush as I consider this unexpected experiment
complete.

Mustard is a tad on the large side for a grey squirrel, if you could
call a squirrel with snowshoe hare pelt markings a grey.  His pelt-
coloration gene has remained unchanged for he is currently white with
black tip markings on his ears, paws and tail, which is standard for
a snowshoe hare in the winter.  We'll know for sure in the spring as
to whether or not this is the case when he should shed the white for
a brown pelt.  His final body length of 16 inches not including tail
makes him nearly 3 full inches longer then any other squirrel here.
His mass of 1 lb 5 onces corresponds well to his size.

I still don't know if I'll ever get use to this as I don't support
conversions, but I (supposeflick) things could have been much worse.

(gigglechitter) Now if I could repeat this experiment on somebun like
LonGears, but make him a chipmunk.... };3

May all be well with you in the coming year,
Aldin Busheytail
Namakata Research Laboratories

*****END TIGHTBEAM AND ENCRYPTION*****