Bear, does this work?
Karis woke with a headache. That was unusual because when she was Karis, she didn’t typically feel any kind of pain, not even of this variety. She scanned her body and saw that aside from extensive damage to her outfit, she was in good condition. She got to her feet and stumbled to a tree for support and her head started to spin. Something was wrong, different. She felt like someone had just kicked her in the gut.
She decided to try and fly to someplace familiar but when she tried to life off, nothing happened. She was grounded. Karis tried again with a jump, but that didn’t make a difference. She tried thinking to Diz, but she didn’t sense a response. A few moments later, Diz arrived dragging a cloud of dust behind him.
“There you are,” Diz scolded. “I’ve been looking all over for you. I even had to dodge a storm of bullets.”
“Can you hear my thoughts?” Karis asked ignoring his comments.
“Not since you called for help,” Diz admitted. “I could still sense where you were, but I haven’t heard anything.”
“I can’t fly,” Karis stated.
“You can’t fly?” Diz repeated.
“I was just trying, and it didn’t happen,” Karis related as she started to cry.
“That isn’t important right now,” Diz asserted. “We need to get you someplace safe where you can tell me what happened to you.”
“What if this is because of Mornigan?” Karis prodded.
“What did he do to you?” Diz asked.
“I’m not completely sure,” Karis admitted. “How long have I been gone?”
“Three days,” Diz related.
“”Three days?” Karis wondered. “I’ve been unconscious almost that entire time.”
“Mornigan could have done anything to you,” Diz realized.
“I had my powers before,” Karis explained. “I managed to survive reentry.”
“You were in outer space?” Diz asked.
“It was more than I ever expected,” Karis related.
“You can tell me all about it once we are home,” Diz insisted.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Karis said. “I’m not feeling well, at all. I just want a hot bath.”
“There is something going on here,” Diz grumbled. “I don’t like this at all.”
Diz took Karis by the hand. He could hear the sound of soldiers yelling behind them, and he knew they had to leave. He scooped Karis into his arms. The world slowed down, and Diz ran for home.
“Oh my God!” Diz heard Karis shouting from the bathroom.
“What’s going on?” he asked as he ran towards the door.
“This shouldn’t happen,” she continued, “I’m invulnerable, or at least I was.”
“What is wrong?” Diz yelled at the door.
“Go away!” Karis insisted.
“What is wrong with my body?” Diz demanded.
“It’s not your body right now,” Karis insisted.
“Talk to me,” Diz pleaded.
Karis didn’t reply. Diz could hear the sound of crying on the other side of the door.
“Do I need to speed through this door?” Diz threatened.
“I don’t want you to see me like this,” Karis replied.
“Talk to me, Gavin,” Diz whispered.
“I’m bleeding,” Karis wept.
“You’re bleeding?” Diz asked. “When did you get cut?”
“I didn’t,” Karis explained. “I sat down to pee, and I was just bleeding.”
“Oh, honey,” Diz said trying to suppress a laugh.
“What?” Karis demanded.
“You’re on your period,” Diz laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Karis shouted. “This is crazy.
“It’s your first time?” Diz wondered.
“Do you think I would have kept this to myself?” Karis insisted.
“I’m sorry,” Diz replied, “but you’re going to be in the record books.”
“This isn’t funny,” she wept. “What am I supposed to do with myself?”
“Don’t panic,” Diz counseled. “We can get through this together.”
“What do I do?” Karis asked.
“Climb in the shower and clean yourself up, and then we can talk about what happens next,” Diz advised.
“Can we switch back?” Karis pleaded.
“Of course we can,” Diz replied. “Get your shower first, though.”
