Revenge in Black & White

Jennifer typed furiously on her computer's keyboard, her fingers barely able to keep up with her thoughts.  Even though her back, legs and fingers ached from the long hours of typing, she dared not stop.  The fact that all the other members of her team had left hours before, didn't deter her from her duties.  She knew that she was close to solving the most recent problem that has prevented her team from success.

To look around her small office, you'd think she wasn't one of the countries leading nanotech engineers.  The numerous degrees and diplomas that hung on the walls were over-shadowed by the pictures of various sea creatures.  And of all the pictures of sharks, dolphins and other sea creatures, the pictures of killer whales out numbered them by nearly three to one.

Even though Jennifer had an uncanny understand of engineering principles, something that even amazed her genius father, her one true love was the oceans and killer whales in particular.  So when the oppotunity arose to work on nanotechnology applications in deep sea exploration and rescue strategies, she literally jumped at the chance.

Of the five other members of her team, Jennifer was by far the most dedicated, innovative and respected.  The team consisted of three other nanotech engineers, Dr. Hans Skaard from Norway, Dr. Ling Tsao from Japan and Dr. Jane Swigert from M.I.T. as well as two marine biologists, Dr. Bruce Chapman and Dr. Diane Christiansen, both on loan from the Seatle Oceanagraphic Institute.

The team worked very well together, thanks in large part to Jennifer's drive and determination to succeed.  There was one exception however.  Jennifer and Dr. Chapman had formed a rather serious relationship, much to the disapproval of Dr. Swigert, who was after Dr. Chapman from the moment she first laid eyes on him.  Even though he never returned her attentions, Dr. Swigert felt that he was her property.

"How's it goin' boss lady?" Dr. Chapman asked with a smile as he walked into the office.  Per usual, Jennifer was too busy typing to even realize somebody had walked into the room.  "Earth to Jennifer, come in Jennifer.  Your pants are on fire."

"What?" Jennifer said as she realized that someone was talking to her.  "Oh Bruce, sorry I didn't hear you come in."

"You wouldn't have heard the space shuttle land in the hallway," he said with a laugh.  "But hey, don't sweat it.  I was just wondering how things were going."

Jennifer stretched her arms over her head and moved her head from side to side to work the kinks out before answering.  "Pretty much the same as earlier today.  I am confident that the nanites will be able to duplicate any form that we program into them as long as it isn't smaller than the subject's own size."

"Darn and I really thought there would be applications for a nanite shrimp suit," he said with smile.

Either not having heard or even gotten his joke, she continued, "Even though we haven't been able to get the nanites to act as a proper gill system, they should be able to handle anything else."

"So we won't have a shark suit right away, big deal," he said with a shrug.  "As I've said all along, we should start with a sea mammal like dolphins.  They're the right size and the subject won't have to adjust to breathing underwater without air tanks.  I don't know about you, but that would even freak me out."

Jennifer tousled her red hair to help ease away her tension before answering, "I know, I know, but the backers want unlimited submergance capabilities and we're just not ready for that.  I'm just worried that they'll pull the funding and we'll have wasted the last year."

Coming over and wrapping his tanned, muscular arms around Jennifer's neck, Bruce whispered, "I wouldn't say it was a total waste."  And then he kissed her tenderly on the cheek.

"Bruce I wouldn't trade the last year with you for anything," she said with a smile.  "But we've all worked so hard and come so far in such a relatively short time."

Bruce spun her chair around and looked deep into Jennifer's penetrating green eyes, "Will you quit worrying.  We're way ahead of schedule and when the backers see the demonstration next week, they'll be falling all over themselves to give us even more money.  I'd just worry about the test run tomorrow."

"I'm not worried about that," Jennifer said with a dismissive shake of her head.  "Since the first two failures with the mannequins, we've solved the problem with the nanites wanting to reprocess the test subject into the final form.  Every test since has been perfect.  And since this whole thing is my responsibility, I'm willing to take the risk."

"I really wish you'd let me or Diane take the first test drive," Bruce said seriously.  "We know better than anyone what to expect when we go in the water."

Jennifer smiled and put a hand lovingly on his cheek.  "I know that, but we need to be able to show the backers that you don't have to be part fish to operate the nanite suits successfully.  I need to be sure that with minimal instructions, anyone can pilot the suit.  Besides, we've got the best team on the planet.  I'm not worried a bit."

"Well, if its all the same to you, I think you need to get some rest," Bruce said with a smile as he lifted Jennifer from her chair.

"Why do I have the feeling that the last thing you want me to get in bed tonight is rest?" she said with a laugh.

Bruce and Jennifer laughed to themselves as they walked hand in hand out of the office, unaware that they were not alone.

"Look at her," Dr. Swigert said silently to herself as she moved out of the shadows.  "What could he possibly see in that wannabe scientist?  She isn't smart, she's just lucky.  With her around he'll never appreciate what a wonderful lover I would be.  I'll show him.  I'll show them both."

With that, Dr. Swigert walked with grim determination into the labs staging area.

---------------------------------

The labs staging area was a flutter of activity.  While Jennifer and the other nanotech engineers were busily setting up equipment and typing commands into the various computers located around the lab, the marine biologists made sure the facility's five hundred thousand gallon tank was ready for the test.

"I think everything is ready to go," Dr. Skaard said with his thickly accented english.

"Great," Jennifer said with a smile as the scientists all gathered around her.  "Is the orca profile loaded into the nanites?"

"Whoa, hold it," Bruce said, showing his deep concern.  "Hey I thought we agreed that the first profile tested on a human subject would be the dolphin system."

"I know," Jennifer said dismissively.  "But I still prefer the orca model.  It's bigger, safer and I just love the little guys.  Besides, the whole thing is safe and good to go."

The other scientists shared knowing chuckles as Jennifer removed her lab coat revealing her black and white dive suite.

"When were you gonna tell me about this?" Bruce asked.

"Will you quit worrying," Jennifer said with a smile as she placed her head set communicator on her head.  "Everything will be fine.  We are more than ready for this test.  You just sit back, enjoy the show and stop worrying."  

As she climbed the metal ladder to the tank's partially submerged platform, she turned and playfully added, "If you're good I'll give you a ride."

"You just be careful," Bruce said trying to sound confident.  Truth be told, he was more nervous than anyone.

Jennifer sat down on the partially submerged platform and let her feet dangle over the edge into the frigid water.  She was so excited about the test, in the next five minutes she will have helped to create a new means for exploring the ocean depths, recovering historic artifacts as well as a safe way to help rescue people at sea.

The nanite suit didn't resemble a suit at all.  To the casual observer it looked just like a square block of metal.  Once activated, the cube would slowly disappear as the nanites covered the subject to perform their assigned duties.

"Everything set down there?" Jennifer asked as she expectantly waited for the test to begin.

"All lights are green and everything is ready," Dr. Tsao said seriously.

"Then let's go," Jennifer said as she moved the cube of inactive nanites closer to her on the platform.

"Program commencing now," Dr. Tsao said as he hit the enter key which activated the nanite's programming.

A second later the solid cube seemed to melt into a moving wave that quickly moved and started to cover Jennifer's body.

"How's it going?" Bruce asked from the bottom of the ladder.

"It kinda tickles," Jennifer said supressing a laugh.

While the other scientists watched the progress of the nanites from the various telelvision monitors, Bruce simply climbed two steps up the tanks ladder and watched from there.

Jennifer could feel the nanites crawling over her body.  She was surprised that it didn't feel like millions of tiny bugs crawling over her, which was how she had invisioned it would feel.  Instead, it felt like someone was pulling a blanket all around her body.

"Test proceeding normally and within safety parameters," Dr. Skaard said to reassure everyone's tensions.

As the nanites completely covered her body, Jennifer laid down on her stomach on the platform.  She knew that as the nanites moved to stage two of their programming that she wouldn't be able to remain upright.  Even though surrounded by friends, the last thing she wanted to do was fall flat on her face.

"Stage two commencing," Dr. Skaard announced.

Everyone watched as Jennifer's prone form began to shift and move.  They all watched in silence as Jennifer's legs began to fuse together and her feet began to grow into a small whale's fluke.

"How're you feeling Jennifer?" Dr. Tsao asked into his head set communicator.

"Everything feels fine," Jennifer's voice said happily through the speakers.  "It still tickles a bit, but I'm sure its just from the nanites moving around."

Bruce, watching from the ladder, saw Jennifer's arms and hands lose all definition as they were slowly becoming pectoral fins.  He was amazed at how fast the microscopic robots moved.  "Incredible," he said silently to himself.

Seeing as this was the first time anyone had worn the nanosuit, Jennifer wasn't sure what to expect.  From all the earlier tests, the nanites simply formed around the test subject and by using compressed air and their own bodies, the nanites formed a replica of the final desired form.  So she just kept her eyes shut and tried to record in her mind everything she felt.

To the casual observer, it looked like they were blowing up a whale shaped balloon on the platform.  When in fact the nanites were simply following their programming.

As Jennifer laid on the platform waiting, she started to feel a strange pressure all over her body.  It wasn't painful, just odd.  "Hey guys, I'm feeling a bit of pressure in here," she said calmly.

"What kind of pressure?" Dr. Swigert asked casually into the microphone.

"It's hard to describe," Jennifer began.  "It sorta feels like suction.  But its very mild."

The three engineers discussed this new phenomenon between themselves for a moment when Dr. Swigert answered, "That could be from the compressed air that the nanites are using to fill out their programming guidelines.  I'm sure it's nothing to worry about."

"That sounds about right," Jennifer replied.  "I'm also feeling a little dry mouth.  Do you think that could be from the compressed air as well."

"That would be my guess," Dr. Swigert answered.

"Should we alter the programming to compensate?" Dr. Skaard asked.

"I'd rather not change anything while the test is in progress," Dr. Swigert said.

"I agree with Jane," Jennifer said from inside the nanite suit.  "Just make a note of it and we'll work on that later.  It's not bad, just different.  I'm not worried."

"Just keep us informed if you feel anything else," Dr. Tsao said.

"Okay," Jennifer replied as her thoughts drifted back to her immediate surroundings.  She tried to wiggle her fingers and toes, but she sensed only slight movement.  At first she was puzzled by the sensation, then she realized that killer whales don't have digits like humans and just dismissed the anxiety.

Jennifer then felt her chin being raised slightly so that it laid on the platform like the rest of her body.  "D'uh," she thought to herself, "I should have seen this coming a mile away.  Even though I'm in the suit, my body must be in the same position as a killer whales."  Having her head and neck at such an angle should have been at least mildly disconcerting, but it actually felt comfortable.  "Another one of the side effects from the compressed air," she thought again.  "This is actually quite relaxing."

The team of scientists watched as a large black dorsal fin started to rise from Jennifer's rapidly growing form.

"How are you doing?" Dr. Tsao asked.

"It still <ssshhhhkkktt> a little <ssshhkkkkttt> worried," her voice crackled from the speakers.

"What the hell is that?" Bruce asked over his shoulder.

"I think the nanites are interfering with her radio's transmission," Dr. Swigert said.  "I'm sure it's nothing to worry about."

"According to all readings, everything is proceeding within parameters," Dr. Skaard reassured.

"Is this what it feels like?" Jennifer asked herself silently.  She still felt the tingling sensation all over her body, but there was something else that she couldn't quite describe.  She felt no pain, so she just shook off the feeling as being normal and kept her eyes shut.

As Bruce turned his attention back to the tank, something seemed different.  Jennifer's rapidly growing size was to be expected.  The platform looked the same, except that it wasn't submerged in the water.  

"Excuse me, but who rasied the platform out of the water?" Bruce asked looking back over his shoulder.

The four other scientists looked at each other quizically before Dr. Tsao answered, "We didn't raise the platform."

"Then why is it out of the water?" Bruce asked turning his attention back to Jennifer, whose transformation was nearing completion.

With a loud splash, Jennifer's body fell crashing into the water, sending a torent of water splashing over the side of the tank.

In a flurry of motion the doctors began checking their monitors and equipment.  Bruce climbed to the top of the ladder and looked into the tank.  Dr. Christiansen rushed over and began to climb the ladder behind him.

"Jennifer! Jennifer are you okay?" Dr. Tsao asked frantically into the microphone.

The only noise from the speaker was the low hiss of static.

"What the hell was that?" Jennifer thought to herself as she only slightly felt the jolt from falling into the water.  "Did I roll off the platform or something."  

The process of the nanites doing their work had a rather disorienting sensation that confused Jennifer.  She couldn't really feel what was going on around her.  She did however feel like it had suddenly become a little colder.

"Hey you guys, what's going on up there?" Jennifer asked not knowing that the only sound her teammates heard was the hiss of static.

Looking down through the water at Jennifer's submerged form, Bruce thought he saw the jaw of the killer whale moving up and down.  "Jennifer!!!" he screamed helplessly.

"My god, look at the platform," Dr. Christensen said as she reached the top of the ladder.

Bruce looked over and nearly lost his balance on the edge of the tank.  Where Jennifer had been only moments before, there was a large gaping hole.

"Dr. Skaard get up here and take a look at this," Bruce yelled as he stepped onto what remained of the platform.

Curiosity had gotten the better of her, so Jennifer opened her eyes.  At first she was disoriented, everything was blue and wavy.  "I must have fallen in the pool," she thought to herlself.  "Bruce is never  gonna let me live that down."  Then she realized that something wasn't right.

At first she thought the oddity was from seeing a large black snout extending in front of her face, but that wasn't quite it.  Then she realized there was a large blind spot right in front of her face.  "So this is how the world looks to a killer whale," she thought to herself, oblivious of the shouts and fevered activity going on just above her.

"Jennifer!!! Can you hear me?" Bruce yelled.  "What the hell is going on?"

"All indications show that everything is fine," Dr. Tsao said uncertainly as he checked and rechecked his equipment.

When Dr. Skaard reached the top of the ladder and saw the gaping whole in the platform, he gasped loudly.  "My God, the nanites converted the material of the platform into Jennifer."

"What does that mean?" Bruce asked.

Dr. Skaard thought for a moment before answering, "It could be nothing.  Seeing as the form of a killer whale is so much larger than Jennifer's body, it could have used the material to fill in the blanks.  But I thought that they were only going to use compressed air.  We'll have to recall the nanites and see what they actually did."  With that, he turned to Dr. Tsao and yelled.  "Ling, cancel the test.  Recall the nanites."

Dr. Tsao turned to his keyboard and was about to hit the abort sequence when a pop up window opened in the center of the screen.  "Sequence complete.  Probes returning to shut down mode."

"This doen't make any sense," Dr. Tsao said as he typed commands.

By this time, Jennifer was beginning to feel a burning sensation in her lungs.  "I gotta be more careful," she thought to herself.  "I still have to breathe.  After all, I'm not a fish."

At first, she tried to use her arms to help her rise to the surface, but that didn't do anything.  Jennifer then realized that a killer whale's pectoral fins were for steering and not motion.  

She then moved her legs, as best she could to imitate the motion of a whale swimming.  "This isn't so hard," she thought as she broke the surface of the water.

Jennifer opened her mouth to take a breath when several gallons of water rushed into her large mouth.  "Why did that happen?" she pondered silently.  Then it dawned on her that whales breathed through a blow hole and not their mouths.  Assuming that her nose activated the blow hole, she gave it a try.  To her relief it worked.  She could breathe easily.

Everything seemed to be a total success.  Then she noticed the flurry of activity on the platform and through the thick viewing window in the side of the tank.  Then she heard the shouts from Bruce on the platform.  She could also see Dr. Skaard examining a small cube on the platform.

"Is everything okay?" she said, but all everyone heard was a short series of whistles and clicks.  "Was that me?" Jennifer thought.

"Did you hear that?" Dr. Skaard said in disbelief as he turned away from the cube.

"Will somebody please tell me what is happening?" Bruce shouted.

Not sure what to say, Dr. Skaard quickly climbed back down the ladder and talked in hurried, hushed tones to Dr. Tsao and Dr. Swigert.

Dr. Swigert then stepped forward and said aloud what the others didn't want to admit.  "I'm afraid there has been a malfunction with the nanites."

"What the fuck does that mean?" Bruce shouted from the platform.

"We can't explain it," Dr. Swigert continued.  "According to all the instruments, everything worked within program parameters.  But it seems that the nanites actually did their job too well.  We don't know why, but the nanites actually transformed Jennifer's form to that of a killer whale and then returned to their inert mode of the cube you see on the platform."

Bruce struggled with the information that he had just heard.  "You mean they actually turned her into a killer whale?  Is that even possible?"

This time, Dr. Tsao stepped forward to answer his question.  "It is entirely possible, though I don't know why.  Matter is matter.  Everything around us is made of the same basic material on a sub-atomic level."

A low keening wail eminated from the tank which caused everyone to look at the large killer whale that was floating on the surface.  The sound was actually Jennifer asking, "What's going on?"

By moving her large fluke, Jennifer slowly swan over to the platform.  Not knowing exactly how to stop, her large snout bumped in the platform, causing it to shudder.

Bruce walked over and placed a hand on Jennifer's new nose.  "I don't know how it happened Jenn, but there has been a malfunction."

"What do you mean malfunction," she said.  "I feel fine.  It worked perfectly."  Unfortunately, all anyone heard were more clicks and whistles.

Then, like a camera coming into focus, Jennifer understood everything she had felt and heard.  The reason for her change in position on the platform, why she couldn't wiggle her fingers and toes, why her vision seemed odd and why the only sounds that she made were clicks and whistles.  Out of the corner of her eye she noticed the large gaping whole in the platform where she had laid only moment before and the inert cube that was in fact the nanites.

"Is the process reversible?" Bruce asked frantically.

The doctors confered once more before Dr. Skaard tenatively answered.  "We don't know.  From what we are observing, the killer whale we see is actually Jennifer.  And like the nanites can not deminish a subjects size, we're not sure how to change her back without causing serious pain and possibly irrepairable damage to her physiology."

Even though she could hear and understand what everyone else was saying, she herself couldn't express her thoughts and feelings.  Not that a translation was necessary.  It was painfully obvious to everyone around the tank that the mournful cry they heard was Jennifer crying out in disbelief and pain.

"Don't you worry Jennifer," Bruce said as reassuringly as he could, "we're gonna do everything we can to change you back to normal."

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For the next sixteen hours straight, the scientists struggled to come up with a solution to Jennifer's situation.  But to no avail.  Everyone was exhausted and nerves were on end.

While the scientists struggled with their problems, Bruce and Diane spent all their time in the water with Jennifer, helping her to adjust to her surroundings.

It was a struggle, but eventually, Jennifer began to adjust to her surroundings.  For the better part of an hour, she struggled to breathe properly.  Once she got the hang of it, she was amazed at how long she could hold her breath under water.

The next several hours were spent learning how to move her new body around in the water.  More than once she painfully bumped her snout into the walls of the tank and the platform.  But eventually, she got the hang of it.

Seeing as how everyone was on the verge of collapse from the long hours trying to find a solution to Jennifer's predicament, it was decided that for the benefit of their success, they needed to get some food and some rest.

They agreed to take turns watching Jennifer throughout the night.  Seeing as she wasn't a real killer whale, there was the distict possibility that she could drown in her sleep.

Bruce took the first shift, even though he was more exhausted than he wanted to let on.  He spent almost the entire time asserting his love for her and reassuring Jennifer that he would do anything and everything to change her back to normal.  He fed her several filet's of salmon that they bought from the local supermarket.

At first the thought of eating raw fish disgusted her, but Jennifer soon realized that as killer whale, this is what she had to eat.  To her surprise it wasn't half bad.

Fortunately for Bruce, Dr. Skaard relieved him before he collapsed from the strain.

The rest of the night saw different members of the team coming to the tank and keeping a watchful eye on Jennifer.  Dr. Tsao was so concerned that she would drown in her sleep, that he stood on the ladder and watched her for his two hour shift.

Jennifer didn't know how to tell her friends that she was in no danger of drowning in her sleep.  Her natural boyancy kept her on top of the water unless she moved in a way that would cause her to sink.  But she appreciated their efforts anyway.

At four am, Dr. Swigert relieved Diane from her vigil.

As soon as she was sure that nobody else was around, Dr. Swigert approached the large viewing window in the side of the tank.  "Are you awake in there Jennifer?" she asked as she tapped on the glass.

Hearing a voice, Jennifer awoke from her sleep and glided to the window where she saw Dr. Swigert's smiling face.

"I just thought you'd like to know something," she said with a smile.  "It was no accident you becoming a killer whale.  Actually, I thought the nanites would have killed you in the process of their duties.  Was I surprised when this happened.  But I gotta admit, this is an even better punishment than what I had initially thought of for you."

"Did I hear her right?" Jennifer thought to herself in shocked silence.  "This was all Dr. Swigert's doing?"

"I can't wait to console poor Bruce in his time of need," she said with an evil smile.

Jennifer screamed angrily at Dr. Swigert for what she had done.  Her agitated motions were causing water to splash violently against the side of the tank.

"Take it easy in there Shamu," Dr. Swigert said with a laugh.  "You wouldn't want to be a fish out of water, would you?  Besides, how is such a lovely young lady like yourself to get a job at Sea World with such a bad attitude."

Dr. Swigert's laughter echoed around the lab as she walked out of the lab and into her office for a little nap.

Jennifer wanted desperately to kill Dr. Swigert.  If she could, she would have jumped out the tank and squashed her flat.  But she knew that she would probably miss and kill herself in the process.  Jennifer then vowed that regardless of what happened, she would make Dr. Swigert pay a terrible price.

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Days passed with no success in sight.  Regardless of what the scientists thought of, they kept coming back to the same problem.  It was impossible to change her back to normal without causing her severe bodily trauma from the nanites.  But they didn't stop trying.

To Jennifer's dismay, Dr. Swigert never came near her watery prison.  The closest she would come would be to the observation window to smile cruelly at her stricken rival.


To be continued?