Blueberry Feild Test

Blueberry Field Test.

Nora walked into the storage house, “How is our new project coming?”

The young woman turned around to reveal her blue face. “We are trying our best, but it is hard to work with these flowers. We have had three workers turned into berries just today.”

Nora sighed and gently touched the young lady's cheek. “And I think you should be taking the day off as well.”

“Oh, but I am feeling fine.” She turned around. “I can get a few more hours in.”

Nora put her hand on the woman’s shoulder. “No, I insist.” She smiled. “Just go and relax.”

“But I... Oh, my lord. My hands.” She stood up, twisted around, and grabbed Nora’s tunic. “It’s happening to me. What do I do?”

Nora slammed her hand down onto the table. “Calm down. It isn’t the end of the world. Do I look like I am still a giant blueberry?” She shook her blue head. “Then you have nothing to worry about other than a day off.” Nora slid her hand behind the woman’s back and ushered her to the door. “Now go out and enjoy the sun. Trust me, it will be your best friend for the next few hours.”

“But ma'am.”

“Get out of here before the swelling starts, and we have to roll you out.”

She gulped. “Of course.” She rushed out just as her waist began to expand.

Nora turned around and crossed her arms. “Well, is there someone here who hasn’t exposed themselves to our product that can give me an update?”

Rensin walked up and pulled off his gloves. “We are making slow but steady progress.” He snorted. “I still think that this is a stupid idea, though. We should be focusing on making actual weapons for the Lulvix Alliance, not this stupid pet project. If this goes south. . .”

Nora laughed. “This won’t go south. You have seen it work on me. Everything will be fine.”

Rensin crossed his arms. “Yes, I have seen this work, on you, on Alerik, Iveirn.” He shook his head. “And now poor Elverian is going to turn into another damn giant berry.”

Nora smiled. “Well, how do you doubt that this is a powerful weapon then?”

He slammed his hand down on the table. “I don’t. What I don’t think we can do is harness its power. Just one touch of the flower’s pollen on someone’s skin causes a chain reaction in the body. This stuff can even seep through clothing and our containers. That is what happened to Elverian. She took all of the safety precautions and still turned.” He threw his hands into the air. “I am starting to think you can inhale this stuff.”

“Inhale it?”

“Maybe. I don’t have a way to really figure it out. But it is making working on making a weaponized compound too dangerous.”

Nora grabbed him by the cheeks. “Rensin, you are a genius.”

“What are you talking about? Let go of me, Nora.”

She let go and twisted away. “I am saying that this might be a fun and exciting test.” She rubbed her pale boney hands together. “I can’t wait to get started. Get me four gallons of the blueberry powder at the edge of town in an hour.”

Rensin slammed his hand onto the table. “Are you crazy? Are you crazy? If we get you that much that fast someone is sure to turn into a blueberry. We have to take our time.”

She danced to the door. “No time. Just hurry. I will pay the people back for their berry break.” She opened the wooden door. “Now get cracking. It is you who put us into this situation in the first place, so I don’t want to hear any bellyaching.” She danced out of the room, the door slamming behind her.

***

An hour later, a young woman with blue hair approached Nora on the edge of town. “Rensin said you wanted this.” She set down a massive container with blue powder inside.

“Where is Rensin?”

She pointed a blue thumb behind her. “Had an accident getting you these supplies. He and half a dozen others are giant berries.”

Nora sighed. “Oh, I am sorry.” She gently patted the young lady on the shoulder. “Will you be alright?”

“I guess so? You have been through this already? Does it hurt?”

Nora smiled. “No, not at all. You will be alright.” Nora shrugged. “At most, it is an intense filling sensation.”

“Oh.”

Nora laughed. “And I would avoid hills, but still, it isn’t that bad. I mean, we did get those tasty blueberry cows right.”

“Ya.” She cracked a blue smile.

Nora picked up the blue container. “Now, I will be back in a few days. Tell the others to continue with the operation.” She walked down the trail. “And if anyone else turns blue, they get to take the rest of the day off.”

Nora carefully held the container in her arms and traveled down the road. The neighboring town of Cresthaven was her destination, a travel hub in Velstoria. Many different kinds of people from all over the land would come and trade, and she constantly went to sell meat and other goods in the town. So it would be easy to sneak in and test her blueberry powder without being noticed, or at the very least blame it on someone or something else.

The only challenge would be reaching Cresthaven without turning into a giant blueberry herself. The container in her hands was sealed, but the powder within was very, very volatile. She was unsure that it wouldn’t just seep through the wicker and cause her to bloat out of control again. “I just wish I knew of a way to harness this magical might. Then it would be so easy to not only get out of this deal with Luvix but turn the tables on them.” She spat. “Those jerks think that we are here to serve them on their crazed campaign. Well, I am not just going to stand around for it. Especially after they drove me out of my home in the first place trying to eradicate Sizerans.”

Sometime later, the town of Cresthaven appeared on the horizon. She set her baggage down in the dirt next to her and took a deep breath. “Almost there.” Nora looked down at her hands. “And no blue change in sight yet.” She smiled. “Looks like everything is working out.”

A young couple approached Nora, and she waved her hand. “Hello there.” They lowed their heads. “How are things in Cresthaven?”

“I would just go the other way if I were you.” The young man said. They rushed down the road as Nora scratched at her head.

“What in the world is going on?” She shrugged. “Well, no matter. I will figure it out when I get there, I guess.” She picked up her goods and walked down towards the town.

Nora found Cresthaven to be unusually empty. She looked back and forth down the muddy streets. “Hello?”

A pair of heavily armed figures stepped out to greet her. “You there. State your business.”

Nora gulped as she recognized the Lulvix crest on their breastplates. “Umm, I am here to trade at the marketplace.”

“You will have to wait until tonight. We are currently hunting for some fugitives.”

The taller man snorted. “Come with us. All citizens are to stay at the Rends Night Inn until our search is concluded.”

She took a deep breath. “Ok.”

The more diminutive guard held up his hand. “Wait.” He took a few steps towards her, the sound of his plate armor sending chills through Nora’s spine. “What exactly do you have in there?”

“Umm, it is a new recipe.” Nora gulped. “Some special new spices. Very very hot.”

He pulled back and stuck out his tongue. “Gross. I can’t stand hot food.” He waved his arms. “Move along and take your trash without.” Nora grabbed the barrel and hurried down the road. “What passes for taste around here?”

His partner laughed. “You say that about anything that isn’t steak.”

“Well, steak is such a refined food. You would know that if you ever tried it.”

“Why don’t you learn to broaden your horizons, you dolt.”

Nora ignored them and hurried onward. Soon the in came into view, and she ducked inside. There a half a dozen people were sitting around with sullen looks on their faces. They all looked at Nora as she entered for a moment but then returned to their drinks.

She set her container down by the door and then went to the bar. She slid onto one of the stools and tapped onto the table. “Hello?”

“Yes, can I get you a drink?”

Nora blinked. “Who? I don’t see anyone.”

“Down here.” She lowered her head to see a small dwarf staring up at her with an angry look on his face.

“Oh, I am so sorry. I thought that the bartender wasn’t here right now.”

“Well, I am. Do you want something, or don’t you?”

Nora sighed. “Yes. A cool water would be fine.”

He put his elbow onto the bar. “Look, lady. This is a bar. Either buy an ale or just walk away.”

Nora rolled her eyes. “Alright. A Terrondale special.”

He turned around and grunted. “Terrondale, huh? Don’t get many requests for one of those.”

“Well, it is where I live.” She shrugged. “If I have to drink something, I might as well have my home’s namesake.” The barkeep grunted again. Nora tapped her hands on the wooden bar as her drink was poured for her. “So, just what is going on out there?”

“Those Luvix creeps chased some poor lad into town.” He turned off the tap. “They started to herd us either into the inn or tell us to get out of town so we wouldn’t get in their way.” He turned around and handed her the drink. “Said they would have things handled in just a few hours so we could go back to our lives.” He snorted. “That blasted fool had to come and hide here of all places. It is always here.”

“What do you mean?”

He shrugged. “We had thugs just a few weeks ago. Oh, and that Sizeran shit a few months ago. Oh, was that a crazy mess.” He turned his head. “Yes, I see you.” He sighed. “Look, just sit tight, and everything will work out.” He walked down the bar. “What? I just filled your drink.”

Nora sipped from her drink. “So what do I do now? I need to test my berry powder, but everyone is stuck in this inn.” She set her drink down and rubbed her chin. “I can’t just do it in here. Everyone will know what I am up to. But if I go out there, I don’t think those Lulvix creeps will be as nice to me as they were before.” She sighed. “What am I going to do?”

She looked up the stairs. “Hey, barkeep.”

“What?” He slowly walked over.

“Do you have any rooms with a view over the street?”

“So what you already what to stay with us?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Just answer the question, darling.”

He waved his giant course hands. “Fine, fine. Yes, we have a room up on the top floor that overlooks the front of the inn.”

“How high up is the top floor?”

“Four floors.”

She looked up at the ceiling for a moment. “I will take the room.”

“That will be twenty silver for one night.”

She tossed the silver onto the counter. “There you go.” Nora jumped up. “Thank you so much.”

“Hey, wait. I need to get you your key.”

She smiled as she rushed back towards the entrance of the inn. “I will be right back.” Nora quickly grabbed the barrel full of blueberry flower powder and walked back towards the bar. The dwarf walked out to meet her and, without saying a word, set a silver key on her container. He then grunted and went back behind the counter.

Nora took a few steps towards the stairwell in the back. “Wait, what room did you give me?”

“Look on your key, genius.”

She looked down to see a big forty-seven. “Thank you.” She then regripped the barrel and walked up the steps. She rushed up the stairs and into a dimly light hallway with torn black carpet. “Ok, forty-seven. Looking for forty-seven.” She looked up and saw a room on her right with a big four and a fallen seven on the ground. “Ugh, this place is a dump. Good thing I don’t plan on staying here.” She slid the key into the hole and unlocked the door.

The room's interior looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in months. Nora rolled her eyes and walked inside. “Well, I should get to work.” She shut and locked the door behind her. “A window perfect.” She rushed over and set the blueberry goods down. “Ok, let’s get you open. Ugh.” She groaned as the window screeched, moving only a few inches. “Move damnit.” Nora dug her heels in and pulled. Suddenly the window popped open, and she flew across the room, landing on the moldy bed. “Ugh. Disgusting.”

Nora jumped back to her feet and walked over to the window. “Ok.” She looked out over the street. “Now to get to work.”

Below her, she could see two Lulvix shoulders inspecting the shop across the street. One was a mountain of a man with a bald head and dark skin. The other soldier was almost half his size; she had long blonde hair and pale skin.

Nora took the lid off of the barrel. “Well, this will be perfect.” She lifted it onto the windowsill.” It is time for the test run.” She tilted the barrel over and gently blew into the wind. The blueberry flower pollen drifted out over the street and towards the soldiers.

“I am going to check in the inn. Maybe he slipped inside.” The giant man walked across the street and vanished from Nora’s sight.

“Fine. I guess I will just stay watch out here.” The woman guard put her hand on her sword as the blue mist descended on her. “What in the world?” She shook her arms and her head. “What is this stuff? Ughhh.” She used her plate gauntlets to wipe her face as she spat onto the ground. “Ugh, it tastes like blueberries.”

Her partner walked back out. “What happened to you, Gesibel?”

“Some strange blue mist just appeared out of nowhere, Gerald.” She wiped her hands on her breastplate. “I don’t know how to explain it.”

“Well, he wasn’t inside. Let’s check down the street, shall we?”

Gesibel held her hand up. “Hold on. I need to get this taste of blueberries out of my mouth.” She reached into her pouch and pulled out a flask of water, and then poured it into her mouth. Gerald turned around and tapped his plated boot on the ground.

“Hey, you know our orders. We have to search the town for that scum.”

She stuck her tongue out. “Something is wrong.” She shook her body, the powder falling from her body.

Gerald grabbed her arm. “It is all in your head. Now come—

“Hey, what is wrong? Why are you staring at me like that?”

Gerald let go of her. “Your face. It is turning blue.” He took a few steps back. “What are you?”

“What do you mean? I am Gesibel. You know me.” She suddenly burped. “Ugh, that tasted like fucking blueberries.”

Nora suddenly heard the sound of shifting metal.

Gesibel looked down at her chest and put her gauntlets on her belly. “Gerald. Something is filling up in me.” Her waistline began to expand outward. “You have to help me.”

He shook his head. “No way. I don’t want to catch you have.” Nora giggled.

She grabbed onto his arms. “You are not just going to walk away.” Gesibel fell to one knee. “My armor. I need to get it off. Arugh.” Gerald took the opportunity to slip out of her grasp and run into the inn. She shook her head as she slid her gauntlets off. “Come back.” She slammed her blue hands against her dented armor plates. “Ugh, my body feels like a damn water balloon. I need this stupid suit off now.” She fell into a sitting position as her armor slowly expanded outward, and her blonde hair turned blue. “Damnit, I can’t do anything with these fat fingers.”

Gesibel put her hands down in the mud and winced. “Someone, anyone help me.” Her leg armor snapped off her body and exposed her two swollen legs. She put her hands behind her and attempted to stand back up, falling onto her round back. “Someone, please help me. I feel so full.” She put her hands on her unnaturally round belly. “I feel like I am being squeezed to death.”

Suddenly the breastplate flew off her body, flying directly up into the air. Moments later, it landed in the mud just feet from her expanding body. “Phew.” She wiped the sweat from her brow. “That could have been bad.”

Gesibel then tried to rock herself to her feet. “Come on. You can do this.” Back and forth she went, but she couldn’t boost herself to her feet. “I am too heavy.” She took a deep breath. “So much juice.” Soon her feet left the ground, dangling in the air. “No!” She twisted her head as she started to take on a more circular shape, her legs melding together. “It just won’t stop.”

Her arms and legs began to shrink as her body inflated. Her chest rose up, and her neck shrank. Geisel twisted her head to the left and right, trying to figure out just what she could do. “Gerald. Please come back. Help me!”

Nora looked down at the now fully transformed blueberry below her and smiled. “Well, it works. You just have to inhale the powder for the effects to take place.” She took a few steps back into the room. “It could make this a bit easier for development.”

“Gerald. Please come out here and help me.” Nora walked to the window. There was a small crowd gathering now.

“Where did this giant blueberry come from?”

Gesibel narrowed her eyes. “I am a Lulvix guard, not a blueberry. I hate blueberries. Someone change me back. I can’t stand feeling all of this juice inside of me.” She rolled back and forth. “Who did this to me?”

Nora crossed her arms. “I better not stay too much longer.” A smirk appeared on her face. “The last thing I need is that precious berry down there to figure out that I did this to her for a little test of mine.” She giggled. “Though she should be happy. She looks better that way.” Nora turned around and walked out of the room. “I hope that the Lulvix Alliance will appreciate the weapon surprise we are making for them.”