Danguard2020 t1_it5q5i1 wrote on October 21, 2022 at 3:05 AM

Being a shifter normally sucks.

Here's how it's supposed to work. You get powers. You go out and fight crime. The Stratospheric Guard invites you to fight the invading aliens. You take down alien invaders, the Guard pays you, you take your money and get rich.

(Seriously, the Guard pays $10k per hour, minimum, for heroes who can duke it out with aliens. That's sweet, sweet cash right there.)

Here's how it works in real life. Also known as 'when your power is to shapeshift into a medium-sized furry animal'.

The Stratospheric Guard only hires those ultras who can go head-to-head with aliens. Who are stronger than elephants.

When the largest form you can take is of a German Shepherd, that's not much.

Also, alien attacks happen once a month and they target the major cities. There's nearly 3,000 cities across the world, which means if you live in a major urban are your chances of being targeted are about one in 250 each year. Six years since I got my power would put it at 2.4%.

Fighting crime?

Egbert the Supersniffer is a kids cartoon about an ultra dog who sniffs put criminals. Wish I had his power. Detecting evil with a sniff. Huh.

Real world criminals smell much the same as other people. Maybe more soap. Lady MacBeth and all the perfumes of Arabia, after all.

Real world criminals also don't do their dark deeds in easy to patrol places. A dog isn't going to be attending a Goldman Sachs meeting.

Employment prospects for a teen who dropped out of high school aren’t great. Employment prospects for a dog who knows high school math aren’t much better.

Really, though, I'm more comfortable in doggy form. When you're human you have to worry about things like soap. And clothes. And what you can safely eat.

Doggy stomachs can digest stuff a lot better.

It's also less awkward when you have to tell people you're allergic to chocolate.

One of my friends at school was Timmy. Timmy knew pretty early on who he was. Told me he liked boys.

Not me, but some boys. Nice to be sure of who you are when you're thirteen.

Coming out meant Timmy could be safe in his own skin. Nice. Made him calmer, better, safer.

Sadly ultras don't have that option. Have to say Timmy tried. He could tell I wasn't comfortable being the 'me' people saw in school. Tried to talk me into coming out.

Thought I was like him. What a hoot.

Timmy, I can't come out because when you're a publicly declared ultra, other ultras try to kill you.

Yeah, that's something we have in common, but at least the cops can stop the guys who come after YOU. I have no illusions about my chances in a fight with Grumman or Tigerstrike.

(Comtinued in comments)

Danguard2020 t1_it5t1h4 wrote on October 21, 2022 at 3:29 AM

Anyway. Long story short.

I was in school the day the aliens attacked.

Yeah. That happened in my city. So much for 2.4%.

Didn't even realize we were being attacked. Got swept up in the school evacuation. No time to shapeshift. No place.

Considering what we were up against, no sense to it either.

After the aliens left - or were driven away, depending on who you asked - went home.

Home was an apartment with Mom. Dad.

It wasn't much, until it wasn't there.

Alien ship blasted it to bits. Ash and char, that's all that was left.

It hurt.

Knew that it could happen but it still hurt.

Dealing with pain's hard as a human. Hurts bad. We're smart enough to love. To want. To believe we control our lives.

Doggy life is easier. Less pain.

Doggy me is simple. Human me is a mess of pain and sorrow.

Doggy me just wants to find a place to eat, sleep, and play.

And poop. Less of an issue when you don't have to worry about finding a big white room to hide yourself in. People accept that dogs poop where they want, it's part of life. Humans doing that tends to draw a bit too much attention.

Doggy me took over. Was nice.

Doggy me had many shapes and sizes. The Jack Russell terrier for daily roaming. In case I got threatened by a bigger dog - and there were no humans around - I'd shift into German Shepherd. More energy consuming but got me out of a few confrontations.

I also do a Boston Terrier form, a Rottweiler, a Great Dane, a Chihuahua, a St. Bernard and a poodle. And a few others. Don't ask where the

The Jack Russell's the most convenient, though. Energy efficient, which matters when you have to hunt for what you eat.

I think I spent a year or more as doggy me before I met Kendra.

‐-----------

Kendra was a kid. No doubts about that. Twelve year old who knew what she wanted.

What she wanted was made very, very clear to Daddy.

"He's so cute! Can we keep him? Please, Daddy, please?"

Daddy was a sucker. That argument shouldn't work after you're six. But he folded.

Then again, since Mommy wasn't around, it makes sense that Daddy would give in to anything.

So. One year of living on the streets. Then five years as a pampered pet.

(Continued)

Danguard2020 t1_it5upyi wrote on October 21, 2022 at 3:43 AM

Five years as a Jack Russell didn't mean I forgot my other forms. Which made it amusing when other larger dogs tried - once in a while - to bully me.

Showing off those teeth, my good Rottweiler? You have not yet seen my FINAL FORM.

Generally the big ones aren’t that brave. All you need to do is give them that STARE.

You know the Stare. It’s the one the Human gives when you're being naughty.

Dogs are conditioned to obey the Stare. Even if it comes from a thing half your size.

The Stare was enough to stop anybody bigger than me getting any ideas. You do NOT mess with the Stare.

That Stare belongs to the Alpha. The Great Hunter. The One who Leads the Pack.

So, I had a bit of a reputation among Kendra's friends.

"He's smart. Too smart."

"Doesn't get into fights! Kendra, I don't know how you do it!"

"He's really sweet!"

"Kendra, you are a genuis! How'd you get him so well trained? And he's not neutered, too!"

.... yeah, doggy me didn't need his balls cut off for temper issues. I had that part in the bag.

Things were just swell and dandy.

I respected Kendra's privacy, and she never noticed that I was pretty quick on the uptake.

Daddy tried, but then he met Step-Mommy.

Kendra didn't like Step-Mommy. I'd say the feeling was mutual.

Things went downhill from there. Words like 'spoilt' and 'gold-digger' were thrown around.

Daddy tried and failed to calm things down.

Step Mommy decided to make some rules.

Kendra, naturally, ignored them.

Step Mommy tried to convince Daddy to take her side. Even went on 'strike' for a few days, not that it worked.

Me, I was happy during the strike. Less noises and musky smells from their room, so a dog could sleep in peace.

A few days later he buys her a diamond pendant, and the strikers over. Back to our midnight disturbances.

What's a dog gotta do to get some peace around here.

(Continued)

Danguard2020 t1_it5vcsb wrote on October 21, 2022 at 3:49 AM

Kendra started dating.

Step Mommy objected yo the first guy she brought back home. "He dresses badly," she said.

Guy was the smart one among Kendra's friends. Straight A student. Better than I ever was in school.

Kendra decided to try different guys.

The next guy smelled of weed.

The one after that smelled worse.

Eventually Daddy stopped trying to object. Step-Mommy got madder and madder every time Kendra brought a new guy home. She forbade Kendra from bringing guys over.

Kendra brought them anyway.

I wasn't too concerned. Kendra could look after herself. Big girl. Long as she still gave me ear scritches, she can do what she wants.

She'd be going to college in the fall. I guess I'd tag along. Maybe pick up some useful stuff.

(Continued)

Danguard2020 t1_it5xs3d wrote on October 21, 2022 at 4:11 AM

The evening Kendra brought Marlin home was odd.

Lights had been going off across the block for days. Tonight, there was a blackout.

Some new ultra gang called 'The Snatchers' trying to rob jewelry stores. Power outs helped them get in and out before the cops could respond.

Daddy was in office and Step-Mommy had gone to the club.

The sound of Kendra's car in the driveway alerted me. I puttered my way over to the door for scritches.

The moment she stepped in, I could smell Marlin.

He smelled wrong.

Blood and darkness and death.

Wrong.

It took me a second to process, by which time he was already in the door.

".... they don't get me at all," Kendra was saying. "And she's just straight-up using him, you know?"

"I hear you," Marlin said. "Oh, is this your dog?"

"Yeah, he's Rufus," Kendra introduced me. "Rufus, say hi to Marlin! He's my friend."

I gave Marlin a wary look. Then barked.

Loudly.

"Rufus! What's gotten into you? Sorry, he's usually pretty friendly."

"That’s okay," Marlin laughed. "Most dogs take time to warm up to people."

"I know, it's just that Rufus gets comfortable pretty fast. We usually joke that if a burglar broke into the house he'd make friends with the guy while he took everything."

Marlin chuckled. "Is that right. So, we standing on the doorstep, or do you invite me in?"

"Oh, sorry! Come on in. We'll grab something from the fridge - ice cream? Better eat it before it melts, I suppose."

I kept a wary eye on Marlin throughout the dinner.

Man was smooth. And I do mean 'man'. Couldn't have been under twenty-five.

Which makes it a bit sleepy that he came over with a seventeen year old.

In fairness, not the first time Kendra did something dumb. Had that been it, I'd have let things be.

But blood and darkness and death.

The nose knows.

So I kept watch.

All was well at first. Kendra chatted about school stuff. Marlin listened.

Then he suggested they go up to the roof. Starry night and all that. Good for stargazing.

Kendra had a starry look in her eyes. Girl you can be extra dumb at times.

I followed.

Kendra gave me a weird look. Normally I nrespext her privacy. This time, not so much. Even her 'shoo!' motions I ignored.

They were on the roof when Marlin put his hand on Kendra's back.

She froze.

I don't mean froze with self-doubt, as most young ladies might in such a situation. I mean paralysis, as in she literally couldn't move.

And just like that, I realized what Marlin was.

Egbert the Supersniffer did an episode on Drainers once. Pretty well researched for a kids cartoon.

Drainers are ultrahumans who suck the life out of people, literally, to power their abilities. Technology related, usually.

The victims are usually young - more power per dose - and the process of draining kills them. As a first step they paralyze the victim, then begin to feed.

They need to maintain physical contact to feed. Break that and the paralysis breaks.

A terrier isn't going to stop a Drainer.

Nor is a Great Dane.

But a reasonably fit twenty year old?

That's a different story.

To say Marlin was surprised when I bodyslammed him would have been an understatement.

He reacted quickly. You don't stay a murderous ultra if you don't know the basics of how to fight.

I was weak, never trained in grappling, never been in a fistfight and spent five years as a lapdog.

Didn't matter.

When your pack is threatened, you give it all you have.

Spent a year on the street. Just because I could shapeshift didn't mean I never got into a fight. Sometimes doggy me took over when I was up against a half-starved Husky.

Dogs go for hamstring, then throat.

Humans don't expect they enemies to bite.

With Marlin's blood flowing doen my jaw, he couldn't do much. Choking on your own blood tends to limit your options.

All things considered, Kendra took the news well.

We had a long talk afterwards.

By the time Daddy got back, I'd shapeshifted again.

Kendra had a long, tearful discussion about how Marlin tried to take advantage of her, then kill her. She fought back and managed to beat him.

Cops were called. Turns out that Marlin had a rap sheet.

The power he used to fuel with Draining?

Plunging city blocks into darkness.

Marlin the mighty. Drainer. Criminal. Murderer. Leader of a gang of jewelry thieves. Nice resume you got there, buddy.

Defeated by a teenage girl with no powers, and her loyal dog.

Made local news for a bit. Dog bites ultrahuman to protect master. Good feelgood stories.

Also made for a great college application essay.

Kendra's going to Harvard next year on a full scholarship. Turns out they like courage. Daddy's proud. Step-Mommy brags about her 'incredibly brave daughter' to her circle of friends.

Rufus is going to Harvard, too.

And maybe, after some of the hubbub has died down, Rufus will pass gently into the night, and Richard will return.

We'll see.