[TheGov]

Mr. D –

Um… uh… *yet another thud*

[time passes]

oh… um… Where was I?  Oh yeah, thanks for writing and sharing.

With grattitude
With gratitood
With gratta

Well, you know what I mean

The Gov

[Jon Saul]

Two very enthusiastic thumbs up!  🙂

[g-man]

Oh man. Oh man. This is awesome. I can't wait to read the next part! If Les were real, he'd be the luckiest man on earth to have Tet-chan interested in him 😛

[JimmyDimples]

"Sonya?  Dr. Green?" said Tetsuko.  "I think you'd better — ow!"  Rubbing her head where she'd hit a fire sprinkler, she ducked and sidestepped through the door.

"Took you long enough," said Dr. Green, still checking at his clipboard.  He looked up to her breastbone.  "Did you get stuck in ther– mlam… glah!"
 
Sonya closed in.  She'd never been this thunderstruck since she saw her serum's effects for the first time ever.

"Tet-chan? What happened?!"  She adjusted her glasses over her agape eyes.  "Well, I see what happened, but… WHAT HAPPENED?!?"

"I think it's official," Les said, peering around her hip.  "Water does make her grow."  And he told about the greenhouse sprinkler incident, after which Tetsuko recounted her time in the shower, and confessed the mouthful from the washroom's tap. 

When she finished, Dr. Green scratched his temple with a pencil.  Then he slowly stepped up to her.

"Stick out your arm, please," he said.  She did reluctantly, expecting to get her hand smacked like a naughty child. 

Instead, he took a beaker of water and said, "Now hold it steady.  Dr. Gannon, watch closely."  Sonya drew closer, as did Les.  The botanist then gently poured a small stream atop Tetsuko's massive ham-sized forearm, and let it bead.

After a few moments, all four of them saw the water seep into her pores and disappear quickly without even leaving the skin damp.

"I knew it!" he said.  "Her body is soaking up the water like a leaf!"

"So that's why she'd dried off in a hurry all this time," said Sonya.  "Her cells are letting the water in via direct osmosis like a plant!"

"And evenly distributing it among themselves, no doubt."

Tetsuko grimaced.  "Does this mean I can't even touch water now?"

"Well that depends," Dr. Green remarked.

"On?"

"On whether or not you want to be able to slamdunk a basketball without your feet leaving the court."

The golden-haired girl Goliath grimaced.  "But what if I get thirsty again?! I need water!"

"We'll look for signs of wilting and browning first!" he huffed impatiently. 

Sonya looked back and forth between the two.  "I wish we could have caught the growth spurt so we could monitor it while it was happening."

"Well, doctor," said Dr. Green, "we'll simply have to stay closer to her this time."  And he narrowed his eyes at Tetsuko.  "And no more sneaky bathroom breaks without Sonya coming along."

Tetsuko shot him back a nastier look.  "I'm not a child, buddy." 

Les stepped in.  "Hey, I saw how super-strong she was when, er, she unloaded the SUV.  Any chance we can see if your samples made her any stronger?"

Dr. Green snorted.  "Sure.  Have any tanks or warships in your hip pocket?"

"Well, there's that old rusted-out bus in the back lot–"

"Which weighs only 17 tons.  Last I heard, Dr. Gannon said that Tetsuko could lift up to 100.  No test of strength at all to someone who could lift a Honda Accord like a pound of butter.  Now go make yourself useful and tend to the plants and fetch the data from the SUV."

Without even a sigh, much less a "yes, doctor," Les turned back toward the nursery.

"Hey, wait, Les.  Actually," Tetsuko spoke up, "that's not a bad idea.  I could see whether or not I have an easier time lifting that."

"But that would be totally anecdotal and subjective information," Dr. Green countered. 

Dr. Gannon crossed her arms.  Tetsuko put her massive yet daintily curved hands on her wide-load hips.  Dr. Green could tell they were wearying from his lip.

"Er, then again, I could get some cell samples and see how our formulas work under physical exertion.  And it'd keep her away from the faucets."

Tetsuko nodded approvingly.  "Wanna watch, Les?"

"Uhh… you're not going out in THAT, are you?  What if you grow again?" 

Everybody looked at Tetsuko's tattered togs.  Her black shirt cloth draped over her chest hung on by four stitches and a prayer.  Dr. Green rolled his eyes. "Oh, grow up.  We're doctors, and haven't you ever seen a naked female before?"

Les turned beet red.  "In a medical encyclopedia… by mistake… but anyway, it's not me, what if someone else sees her outside?"

"Oh please.  This zone's virtually a ghost town.  I could walk out there with the Union Jack tied around my John Thomas and not get spotted.  Besides, where are we going to get something to fit her?"

***

Les turned off the old factory's industrial sewing machine.  "Well?"

Tetsuko stepped out with the light blue floral print boxer briefs and loose upper wrap for her torso.  "Well, it's not Lane Bryant," she remarked, "but it's pretty nice for a rush job.  What's with the navy blue patches by the hip and under the armpits, though?"

"Old stuff around the place," he said hurriedly.  "Does it feel okay?"

She nodded.  "Blue patches are a little clingy, but it's great.  Extra room, too."

"Fine, fine, fine," went Dr. Green.  "Let's hope you won't need it.  Now out to the bus.  Les, back to your duties." 

***

Searching the tall grass and weeds for beer cans, broken bottles, and other unpleasant stuff she didn't want to step on, barefoot Tetsuko trodded through the overgrown lot with the scientists.  She didn't think the thing had seen a lawnmower since Reagan was president.  And the bus looked like it had been dropped there right after "The Honeymooners" had been canceled. 

Tetsuko smiled anyway.  It was a bright, clear day, with only one or two clouds up in the sky. "Wow.  This sunshine feels great."  She spread her arms out and let the rays wash over her even more colossal body.  "Feels like my body's been jonesing for this for the longest time."  As she soaked it all in, Dr. Green and Sonya plopped the electrode suction cups on her body, and connected the wires to Sonya's PDA. 

"Okay," her friend said, "let's get some data."

Crouching down, Tetsuko had a trickier time taking hold underneath, thanks to her even bulkier arms and blimped chest.  But she managed and got the feel.  She took hold.  And she waited.

Dr. Green glanced at her cock-eyed.  "Well?"

As quickly as a person could stand up, she hefted the rusting hulk up into the air.  Pieces of red metal flaked off and fell to the ground.  A family of raccoons scurried away from underneath. 

The flabberghasted plant professor flinched back away from the shade.  "Great Demeter," he whispered.  "This is impossible.  Physically, dynamically, quantum mechanically IMPOSSIBLE." He turned to Sonya. "Impossible!  I don't believe it!  Prove it to me and I STILL won't believe it!"

"Well," said Tetsuko casually, "normally I'd need to use 2 hands to balance the weight properly, but now…"  She centered herself under it, and put one howitzer arm down by her side, holding the wreck up with one hand.  "Doesn't feel much heavier than a value pack of ground beef did before Sonya stuck me."  And with a grin, she spun it around like a Trapper-Keeper notebook on her fingers. 

Dr. Green dove for cover as 34,000 pounds of Detroit steel swooped over his noggin.  "Cut that out!" he shrieked.  "What if you drop it on my head?!"

"Don't worry, doctor, I've got it!" she reassured.  And she caught it so neither the front or back was dangling over Eaton or Sonya.  "Just a ball park figure, but I think my strength's doubled now."  She tossed it lightly up, and caught it.  With a giggle, she tossed it again…

…and it catapulted up like a Mark McGuire pop fly ball.

"IIE!" Tetsuko shrieked.  "I threw it too hard!"

***

Darren looked over his patrol car's new computer screen.  State of the art, but it clashed horribly with the ancient dashboard, oversized fan (no AC), and the old rickety bubble-gum-machine light on roof.  He half expected Andy or Barney to come on the radio in that thing.  He swore one'd think that if they were gonna update the equipment, they'd get ENTIRE new cars.  But nope, they had to patch it piecemeal and make do.  Stupid economy.  Stupid plant closures.  Stupid budget.  Well, at least the thing still ran.

He checked out the video from the convenience mart of Tetsuko demolishing Clyde's truck in the parking lot next door.  After six months of dry-out lock-ups, he knew those three disorderly-even-when-stone-sober lunkheads probably had it coming, and he personally wanted to let it slide, but still the store made a report. 

Settling in behind the steering wheel, he sipped his coffee and munched on his Krispy Kreme chocolate iced creme-filled.  Maybe she simply moved on out of his jurisdiction and it wasn't really his problem anymore.  He turned onto Weddle Street.  Besides, her face didn't look like a typical blond bimbo's.  He figured she scatted once the damage was done.  Yep.  Don't worry about tomorrow, like his mama said.  Today's got enough headaches as is.  He decided to relax until and unless he actually spotted her. 

VOOM!  Right behind the shuttered toaster plant, he saw a bus catapult right up into the sky.  He nearly choked on his donut.  Then as it crested and began its plunge, he saw a brick-house-built blonde woman leap up, catch it in her arms, then sail right back down with it.  WHOOMP!  He heard a heavy thud. 

He got on the horn.  "Uh, dispatch, this TC-1 on Weddle, near the Old Industrial Zone.  You are not gonna believe this." 

***

Les grumbled as he stuck the spooned the compost from the disposal unit into the plants' pots. He mocked Dr. Green's voice.  "'I could walk out there with the Union Jack tied around my…' ergh.  I'd like to grab him and test that theory for myself."  Once he got the last shrub, he decided to head out into the parking lot and fetch the readings and data from the hybrid biofuel SUV.

But as he stepped out the side entrance, he saw somebody.  A denim vested, blue jean guy with black leather chaps.  And he was examining the SUV very closely.  Too closely.  The interloper rounded around to the passenger side door. 

And Les saw the guy had a tool box in his hand.

"Excuse me," he said sharply, "can I help you?"

The guy didn't even look at Les.  He just darted around behind the SUV.  Then a small but loud engine roared to life.  With a light skid, the guy peeled out on his motorcycle. 

Les dashed out right away and examined the vehicle for signs of tampering.  It didn't look like the trespasser had touched or broken anything.  Still, Les figured he'd better call the others, if they had time.  He nearly went in to call the police first, but debated on whether he wanted them sniffing about with Tetsuko … in her current shape.

Then he heard a car approach.  Who was it this time?

***

Standing in the small crater she'd made, Tetsuko tilted the old bus up on one corner.  Then angling around, she put it back in the bare muddy patch where it had sat.  "Sorry about that," she said. 

"Why can't you be more careful?!" Dr. Green demanded. 

"I said, sorry," she repeated.  "Should we replug the electrodes into your computer?"

"We'll have to recalibrate, and record the data we picked up before we do that," said Sonya.

"All right," Tetsuko said.  "I wish I could take off these things, though.  I just want to lie down and work on my tan.  I know I said it before, but the sun has NEVER felt this good to me before.  Almost addicting." She felt her body.  "Any chance we can work on… more… stuff… outdoors?"  Then concern and alarm streaked across her face.

Gurgle gurgle gurgle gurgle…

The fabric stretched.  The little flowers on it distorted.  Each of her limb segments; calves, thighs, forearms, upper arms, breasts, abdomen, each half of her back:  each one expanded and puffed out even more like someone had injected a 5 pound tube of hamburger meat into it.  And all that beef made her bulk out and widen even more.  It made her bulk upward, too; she was only one inch short of nine feet tall.

She stared down at the equally concerned, furrow-browed Sonya and Dr. Green.

"I didn't touch a drop!" she pleaded.  "Honest!  You've been with me all this time!"

Dr. Eaton put a hand on his forehead.  "You didn't have to.  I just remembered:  sunlight's part of the photosynthesis process.  That's what probably did it."

"Great," groaned Sonya.  "Now we gotta keep her in a cool, dark, dry place, like a bag of Oreos.  What else can grow wrong… I mean, go wrong?!"

Just then, a digital rendition of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony began in Dr. Green's lab coat's pocket.  He fished his cell phone out of it, flipped it open, and read it.  With a disgusted sigh, he put it to his ear.  "If you're burning my minutes, Les, it had better be pretty bloody important.  What is it?"

"Well, Mr., er, Doctor, um…"

"Spit it out!" he snapped. "Or hang up and see me face to face!" 

A beat.  Then Les squeaked, "Here, sir, maybe you'd better." 

A different, older, Southern twangy voice came on.  "Excuse me, sir, are you the proprieter here?" 

"I'm the main renter.  Dr. Eaton Green.  Who is this?"

"Uhm, look to your left.  In the parking lot by the white SUV."

He looked.  There was a white and brown Sheriff's cruiser sitting by it.  And standing by that was a very unhappy Les, and an officer dressed in brown.

"Well, sir, this is Deputy Darren Horne with the Taylor County Sheriff's Department.  We have some questions on something that happened last night at the Waffle House out on Highway 106.  Can you come by here promptly?"

To Be Continued

[Muscle Growth Nut]

Splendiferous. Simply splendiferous. One minor goof, though:

"All right," Sonya said.  "I wish I could take off these things, though.  I just want to lie down and work on my tan.

[JimmyDimples]

Noted and corrected, MGN.  Thanks.

And look, guys, that last post was supposed to be my big 500th.  But things got urpy with the counter, and… well… I'm not going to fiddle around with it anymore.

So let me simply say that I definitely wouldn't have gotten this far without a lot of support, encouragement, good pics, great writing from many people here, the chats, and lots of stuff that's been the REAL power source to my writing lately. 

For that, and all the virtual friendships I seem to have here, the very real inspirations, and all that everybody has generously contributed… a great big THANK YOU. 🙂

*sits Indian style, extends hands, and waits for the power-up*

[Muscle Growth Nut]

For that, and all the virtual friendships I seem to have here, the very real inspirations, and all that everybody has generously contributed… a great big THANK YOU. 🙂

*sits Indian style, extends hands, and waits for the power-up*

No, Jimmy. Thank you. (Corny, I know. I apologize.)

*hands Jimmy a Super Mushroom*

[The_Pimp_NeonBlack]

So let me simply say that I definitely wouldn't have gotten this far without a lot of support, encouragement, good pics, great writing from many people here, the chats, and lots of stuff that's been the REAL power source to my writing lately. 

For that, and all the virtual friendships I seem to have here, the very real inspirations, and all that everybody has generously contributed… a great big THANK YOU. 🙂

I's am most glad that our discussion in the chat room the other night was most helpful for you, dear James.

Thank you for this latest chapter and congradulations on your 500th post.

Peace
NeonBlack

[Fonk]

"Took you long enough," said Dr. Green, still checking at his clipboard.  He looked up to her breastbone.  "Did you get stuck in ther– mlam… glah!"

Cool! 8) Thank you, sir. You also, coincidentally, write a damned fine story. 😉

[David C. Matthews]

It's been hard to stick to my intention to wait until the story's finished before I comment on it. Let me just say that I am enjoying it!

[Author]

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