Bursting from the tunnel, a neon urban skyline tumbles into view.

"Barbara, you need to send me those documents to my sat-chip immediately. I'm approaching the meet up location."

"On it Reese, stand by two minutes."

"Roger."

Reese is a woman dressed in a trim and proper suit. Business like, but with the stylized synthetic fringes that had become popular in recent years. Her build is defined, a square face with auburn hair and eyes.

Reese is not Reese.

Reese is also Yun. And Karthik. And Kristina, Diego, the walls, every plant.

But who is Reese really? It's forgotten itself. After the Rock of Transmogrification was unearthed during a routine drone sweep of a nearby moon nearly two decades ago, it has allowed the user to change into just about anything. It took some time to figure out, that's for sure. For the first five years, the discoverer had inadvertently turned into a book, laying on a shelf until a curious reader turned the pages and was shocked to see pleas for help written on the pages before their eyes. Because the discoverer had lost contact with the rock by dropping it when turning into a book, they had been trapped in their transmogrified state.

With this artifact in their control, the Federal Government has been able to effectively dominate all forms and espionage with their rivals, essentially securing the throne as the chief galactic power. The operator was chosen fifteen years ago. It was a rigorous process, and even after the "perfect" candidate was found and the rock surgically implanted, extensive cybernetic modifications were performed to ensure athleticism, longevity, and control.

However, in recent years, other regional players have become aware of the Rock of Transmogrification. It is a highly desirable tool.

"I've received and reviewed the files Barbara, thank you. My transportation will arrive at it's destination in thirty seconds."

"Understood Reese. Remember, you are to meet with these diplomats in room 17A. On your way out, you will move to the bathroom and transmogrify into a split: one umbilical decoy of yourself to walk out of the door, and one spider to spy on any further diplomatic proceedings."

If connected by an underground umbilical of any kind, the holder of the Rock, can split into as many entities as they would like, although research had shown that their is a total mass limit.

"Barbara, I have received and reviewed the files."

Barbara sighed. "Just doing my job Reese. Good luck."

Reese stepped off of the craft onto the landing platform. She was now in the mountains. The cream colored building resembled a church and was proportionately tall to it's width, with flying buttresses coated in gold supported it's weight. Large windows filtered light through the trees from the sunny day into the atrium. Reese walked inside.

"Good afternoon miss. Appointment?"

"Yes. I am to attend a diplomatic meeting in room 17A."

"Ms. Reese?"

"That is correct."

"Wonderful, down that hall, third door on your right."

"Thank you."

Exchanging pleasantries, Reese had an extensive discourse with the diplomats. One portly man in the room was stealing glances at her throughout the meeting. She had become used to the male gaze when she transmogrified into a woman.

"Gentlemen, thank you for your thoughts. It was a pleasure, yet our appointed time has run out. I must take my leave."

Reese walked confidently to the bathroom. She had performed this sort of information espionage countless times in her career. Inside a stall, she split into the spider and Reese. She felt something from the Rock implanted within, a sort of glowing happiness. Reese noticed that when performing anything from spying to assassinations, she could feel an almost devilish delight emanating from the Rock. It was like it reveled in the tribulations of man.

Now split into two, the spider crawled through the ductwork into the meeting room. Reese simultaneously shared a amicable goodbye with the receptionist.

Getting closer, the spider was able to assemble distant murmurings into coherent speech.

"We need to capture it! The Federal Government has oppressed us for- Ah, hello there. Ms. Reese was it? We've been expecting you."

The spider recoiled in shock. In rapid succession, a glass cup was placed over it, which was slipped into a dense plastic box, and a dense netting was tossed over it.

Outside, Reese was tackled and covered in the same netting.

Backing away, the portly diplomat laughed an evil laugh.

"Surprised? You arrogant fools at the Federal Government think you are invincible! But we knew better. Ever since we found out the about the existence of the Rock three years ago, our scientists have been perfecting methods to contain you... and extract the rock."

Screaming with terror, Reese changed. She changed into a trumpeting elephant, the spider changed into a bull. Every possible permutation of reality, the holder of the Rock morphed and cried out. But it was useless. In a brief moment of defeated stillness, what was once Reese felt a jab.

Looking up with reality fading to black, a masked and gowned scientist held a glowing blue saw. The Rock burned with delight.