This is the fourth part of a story that takes place in the "Tom & Mary" universe. While it's not needed, I do recommend reading both parts of "Tom & Mary", as well as the previous three parts to this story.
**********************************************
Thinking:
How the fuck do I put this into something that's remotely coherent? Fuck it. Just do it, Lee.
--Status Report--
Date: [redacted]
Transcriber: Lee Simmons, Security Chief, Institute for Advanced Medical Discovery, Clearance Level Gold 1A
Re: Current status of the Changed, et al.
Report:
Everything had gone to shit. The Changed, Mary (nee Tom) Kendricks, as well as family members and lovers of the Changed have all been affected. The meteorite brought in for research has turned to ash after an "explosion of light". This all began just over 2 weeks ago when all of the Changed underwent extreme alterations to their bodies after testing of the meteorite resulted in an apparent explosive shockwave....
**********************************************
Just over 2 weeks prior
"Allow me to formally and officially introduce myself, Josh. I'm Tom Kendricks."
Taken aback briefly, Josh recovered and asked with obvious frustration in his voice, "Kendricks? What the...? I'll ask you again, where the fuck is Mary?"
Tom smiled and said, "That's a long story. Lee? You want to tell him?"
Josh looked over at me and I said, "Josh... trust me when I say this... Tom and Mary they're.... well... they're the same person."
Josh's disbelief on his face caused Tom to chuckle a bit, but then he said, "Yes, I'm afraid it's true. Now let's sit. We have much to discuss and this will take awhile to explain. It started on February 9, 1913..."
After an hour, Tom finished and said, "Now then, you know all about me, Josh, and the reason behind this institute. For over a hundred years I thought I was a unique individual and that there was no one else who was like me. Then 4 months ago that all changed."
Josh looked back and forth between me and Tom, before asking, "Lee? Is he fucking serious?"
I slowly nodded my head and said, "I know it sounds like science fiction, but everything he told you is true. He's shown me proof."
"Look, fine, whatever. Now what the fuck is going on here with my great-grandmother and all the others, Kendricks?"
I looked over at Tom to see his reaction and all we got was nothing.
Finally Tom said, "I honestly don't know. But whatever is going on with them is also affecting me, though not as severely. I'm currently struggling to remain in one form at the moment and it's taking a lot out of me. Otherwise, you'd all be seeing me shifting back and forth between me and Mary. And doing it that quickly and numerous times would not be... uh.... optimal."
As I looked closer, I could see the strain on Tom's face. He was putting on a brave front, but I knew he was fighting a losing battle.
I finally said, "Tom, we need to get you out of here, maybe some distance will help."
He looked at me and said, "No. I doubt any amount... of.. uhhh.. distance would help. What's affecting me is not caused by proximity, it's some....uh....something else entirely. The scientists researching and testing the meteorite discovered it was giving off some sort of phasic wave. Something they had ne...."
And with that he collapsed, unconscious.
We all rushed to him and we all saw what he was trying to hold back. One moment he was Mary, the next he was Tom. I finally got clear headed enough and ran over to push the red emergency button. Within seconds a medical team was there taking over.
In short order he was taken to a private room and the doors shut.
Josh finally said, "Lee, what the fuck do we do?"
"I.... I don't know."
12 hours later...
I sat in Mary's office (it was always Mary's and never Tom's) contemplating as to what to do. This was so far out of my league, I had no idea what to do. Currently there were a dozen people being affected by whatever that meteorite did. Thankfully we were able to get Mary/Tom stabilized and staying in one form by inducing a coma and placing her into a cryogenic chamber. It was untested, but at this point we had little choice. It seemed to be working.
I look up when I hear a knock on the door and Josh enters.
Sitting down he says, "Lee, we have to do something here! I know whatever is going on is so fucking out there that there's no way we could ever hope to understand it, but don't any of the doctors or scientists have a clue of what's going on?"