You droop your tail, but realize you probably have little choice. The tech offers you a ride on his shoulder. He walks you into the lab you were in just a few hours previous. Mother and child are there, strapped into beds, both missing their clothes and with a light sheen of fur on their bodies. Timmy seems further along than his mother. The two beds are close enough for mother and child to grasp hands for the moment. You jump down onto a counter near the beds.
Timmy glances towards you, but his mother refuses to make eye contact. There are tears in his eyes. “I don’t wanna be a squirrel. I wanna go home.”
You grasp your tail in your paws in distress. “I’m sorry. I tried pleading for you with the boss. Once the change has started, it can’t be stopped. It seems your mother was to be targetted for this no matter what. I’d ask for you and your mom to forgive me, but I’ve been told that my bite had nothing to do with it. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. You got caught in this, Timmy, because you were here with your mother.”
The tears start to flow freely from from both child and mother. She finally looked over at him. “So, that’s it? Huh? And the ‘human’ behind this has to send you in to break this to us, ‘cause he’s not brave enough to face a mother trying to protect her child on his own?” She struggled against the restraints.
You bow your head. “Look, I’m a victim, too. In my case, it was ‘accidental’. They got me mixed-up with someone else. By the time they figured that out, it was too late for me. Look, you can try to fight back and it’ll make the change that much harder. Or you can cooperate and they’ll at least let you choose what you’re going to become. As for the boss, I’m sure Mr. Smith will see you before it’s all done.”
“I could change into anything?” Timmy asked.
“Yes, any animal, Timmy,” you answer. “However, if we’re to remain friends, please don’t choose a predator that likes to eat squirrels.” You twitch your tail nervously. You turn to his mother, “Mam, you never gave me your name as I tried to get you out of here. When this is all done, it won’t matter unless you choose to keep that name. They’ll ask you what name you wish to go by with the changed body when the time comes.”
You turn back to Timmy. “And you still need to obey your mother. Whatever you want to become, you’d best clear it with her and make sure she’s willing to change into the same thing. But the two of you had best make up your mind quickly, else they’ll choose for you.”