Bian High and Low 01

Personal Growth

Back at the Flying Squad HQ, Bian went to her locker to pick up her things. She bumped into Bridie, aka Ban Mor, who was changing out of her costume. Now, she looked like a hero: seven feet tall with a superhuman physique, long naturally-purple hair and an inspiring general air of confidence. In contrast, Bian was skinny and unprepossessing. When she was in costume she’d wear a mask, not to protect her identity, but as a superhero take on nerd chic. She kept her black hair short and practical and had never felt entirely comfortable with this version of herself.

‘Bian, I can’t believe you’re leaving. What gives?’ asked Bridie in her slightly exaggerated Highland accent.

Bian made sure she’d emptied everything from her locker into the large holdall she was carrying. She told Bridie:

‘This isn’t the life for me. I happened upon my powers by accident. I only joined because it was the done thing to do. When have I ever looked like I’m going to be hero material?’

‘So much for “with great power must also come great responsibility,” eh?’

Bridie struck a typically heroic pose, chin lifted, gaze meaningfully seeking out some new horizon. Bian laughed, and realised she wasn’t being judged. Better to leave than be a poor fit in this difficult lifestyle. They embraced, awkwardly at first, what with Bridie being a muscular powerhouse nearly two feet taller than her friend. But Bian apologetically broke away and held her finger up in a ‘just one second’ gesture. She closed her eyes and focussed.

Not too much. Bian gave an inward push in the odd little way she had discovered a few years ago. Without looking, she felt herself grow. In moments, her height had increased until she was eye-to-eye with her former colleague. They shared a laugh and hugged once more. Then Bridie, now dressed in what passed for civilian clothes for her – an outsize red designer tracksuit, with a crop top that showed off her superhuman abs – departed leaving Bian alone with her thoughts.

It was the right decision so there was no point in staying any longer. She shrunk back down to her everyday height, a good few inches taller than what she’d actually be without her powers. Bian switched off the light and went on her way.

As she trudged down the endless corridors of the Squad’s HQ, she passed the training room where members of the group could hone their powers and abilities to their best effectiveness for work in the field. Bian realised she’d never again be able to let loose with her powers, not in civilian life, not if she wanted any semblance of privacy. She unlocked the room, pleasantly surprised that her entry code had not yet been revoked. Inside, without the holographic projectors activated, the room was only a giant empty space.

That was all Bian needed.

She looked up at the ceiling., high up above. Then she stripped down to the specially-designed sports bra and shorts that she knew would be able to cope with that she was about to do.

And began to grow once more.

Bian made herself bigger. Her presence expanded and her body followed suit. Arms, legs, torso, Bian stretched in every direction becoming tall, towering, becoming a giantess. All the tensions fell out of her muscles as they grew to titanic size. Twenty feet, twenty-five, thirty. She passed her preferred combat height, still some way from the ceiling. This might be the last time, so on she went, throwing back her head and shrugging off the confines of her dimensions. Thirty-five feet, forty, fifty.

This was what it was all about. She’d never really wanted to get into punch-ups with supervillains or wrestle giant monsters. But apart from the construction business, there weren’t many opportunities for people who could be sixty feet tall if they wanted to. Joining a superhero Flying Squad had seemed like the only chance she’d get to be as big as she wanted to be. With a sigh, she realised she’d have to shrink back down soon and begin fitting in to the regular sized world.

Maybe in another ten minutes or so.