Blaziken Me (Day Four)

We all walked through to a laboratory room.  A human sized vat was located at the far end.  The male scientist took us all to this container and then stopped us in front of it.  While the assistant headed over to a small office to get the necessary supplies ready, the professor asked us...

"Are there any questions you would like to ask me before we proceed?"

Riley raised his hand.

"Will we need to undress before we get transformed into our chosen Pokémon?"

"You shouldn't need to, as all of your clothes will be melted away when you're changing in the vat."

Roger raised his hand next.

"Will this procedure hurt?"

"We've designed it to be as painless as possible."

Then it was my turn to raise my hand.

"After we get transformed into these Pokémon of our choice.  Do we stay as them forever, or can we be changed back to humans after this disaster has ended."

The professor was perplexed by my question, but he answered it as best he could.

"We've transformed many people into Pokémon before.  And yes, this machine can transform people back if they want to.  But of all the people we've transformed, nobody has ever wanted to go back to normal afterwards."

I gulped, and started trembling.  In my mind, I was looking forward to feeling what it would be like to become a fire pokémon; but in my heart, I was petrified as to whether I would be unable to change back after it was all over.  I didn't want to be a Blaziken forever.

Riley and Roger both looked up at me with worrying looks on their faces as the assistant came over with the data cards.

"OK then."  Said the professor.  "Who would like to go first?"

Roger raised his hand first.

"I shall."

"Very good young man.  If you'd like to step in please."

The professor opened the door to the vat, and Roger stepped inside.  As the door was closed behind him the assistant placed a data card into the slot indicating a Charmeleon transformation.  Within seconds, the transformation was started.  Roger's skin began to turn red, and his clothes strained.  His face contorted, and a tail with a flame on the end of it ripped out of the bottocks of his jeans.  Claws broke from his boots as his transformation finished off very, very quickly.  Once it was over, the machine ripped all of Roger's clothes off of him, as he wouldn't be needing them anymore.  With the transformation complete, Roger came out of the vat.

"Wow, this feels fantastic!"  Roger said.

"That's what they all say eventually."  The professor teased.  "Who's going to be next?"

Riley raised his hand.

"In you go."

As Riley entered, the data card was changed over from a Charmeleon to a Flareon.  When Riley's transformation started, he began to shrink from his clothes.  He slipped his bare feet from his trainers as they were the first part to start shrinking.  His skin became red, white and fluffy, and his head contorted.  The rest of his body shrank down as well, allowing him to step out of his other clothes.  Once again, the transformation was over within ten seconds, and the vat vaporised Riley's clothes.  Out came Riley, feeling very excited about his new form.  Then the professor turned to me.

"Now it's your turn...Blaziken."

Roger and Riley looked up at me, as I was still trembling vigourously.

"Come on Christian.  It's not all that bad becoming a Pokémon."

"Yeah."  Riley added.  "Look how good it's made us feel."

With one gulp, I passed my Book of Mormon to Roger for safekeeping.  I entered the vat slowly, not calming down.  But before the professor started the transformation of a Blaziken on me, the sight of the Book of Mormon in Roger's hand caught his eye, and it made him tremble too.

"Good gracious!  Is that?"

"A Book of Mormon?"  Roger answered questioningly.

Riley looked at the cover.

"You're joking."

Now, the professor started to tremble like no man's business.  As the assistant placed the card in the machine to indiacate Blaziken, the professor began to step shakily away from the vat, and slumped down on the nearby rail.  The assistant came stright over to see to him.

"Sir?"

Roger and Riley came over too.

"Professor?"  Roger asked.  "Is something wrong?"

"It's no wonder he asked me that question about changing back.  I knew when I looked into his eyes that he was going to feel different about this compared to you two."

I couldn't help but get tears running down my eyes, because I felt sorry for how the professor was feeling for me.  Then, the assistant asked him.

"Shall I take over sir?"

The man pondered nervously for a moment.

"Yes."

She, Roger and Riley headed back to the vat.

"Christian, do this for us."  Riley said.

"It's for the safety of our entire planet after all."  Roger added.

I didn't answer.  I was still trembling like crazy.

"Please Christian."  Riley pleaded.

I took a moment of my own, before I nervously nodded my head once, and then said to the assistant...

"Please miss...proceed."

The assistant couldn't help but feel sorry for me as well.  She closed her eyes as she pressed the button to run the transformation sequence.  Even the machine couldn't calm my emotions and feelings as the transformation took its course.  My head contorted first, then my hands, followed by a small sharp tail that burts out of my buttocks.  My skin turned into red prickly hairs all over, apart from my feet when they exploded from my shoes and socks, as they were yellow.  With my transformation nearly over, all of my clothes were safely removed.  I was now a complete Blaziken.  I stepped out of the vat very slowly and approached Roger & Riley.

"How do you feel Christian?"

I didn't answer Roger's question.

"Don't you feel any better now that you're a Pokémon?"

I didn't answer Riley's question either.  Now that I was no longer human, my heart hit rock bottom.  I collapsed to the floor in floods of tears.  Apart from the professor, Everyone ran over to see to me.

"Christian?"  Roger asked me.  "Are you OK?"

The Professor couldn't help but be deeply moved by my feelings, and nearly started crying himself.  Then, he slowly walked over, and did his best to reassure me...

"Calm yourself down son.  Everything will be alright."

"I should have died in the lava floods."

Everybody froze.

"I should have sacrificed myself to the disaster."

"No you couldn't Christian!"  Roger shouted at me.

The professor was determined to keep my hopes high.  He could now understand how passionate I was about my human side.  And so with gutsy determination, he told me...

"If I promise you one thing, Christian...After this disaster ends, I will happily change you back to your original state."

I slowly raised my head up to look at the professor.

"May I have your sincere word on that sir?"

"My word as a professor is as clear as crystal.  If you're that passionate about your human side, I will change you back when the disaster ends."

After a moment, I wiped the tears from my eyes and stood up.  Having finally been able to regain my composure and mellow my mood.

"Thank you, professor."

"My pleasure."

Roger handed my Book of Mormon back to me, which I gladly accepted.

"We'll need to brief you all on how this disaster can be averted.  So, are you ready?"

Roger and Riley nodded confidently.  I took a little longer to answer, but I did eventually nod too.

"Well then, shall we?"

The professor began to lead us out of the lab.