Cat Fight! by Rose Redd

Sub-Saharan Tanzania,
1992

Lisa Stone comes out of a tent to see the reason for the commotion, Doctor Travis, her mentor, is arguing with someone. A paleontology dig, why would someone harass them?

“Trouble. That was Roderick Rhinehardt. Famed big game hunter, and pain in the ass to archaeologists and paleontologists everywhere. The sort that throws money around, doesn’t care for academics, and just wants to feed his own ego. He wants us out of here, despite our permits and permission from the government for this dig.”

Crud, someone like this wouldn't be above killing people to get his way and say some of the local wildlife did it.

Rhinehardt hired mercenaries to attack and murder them, he is completely unhinged.

Six months later.
Limbula Village, Tanzania.

Locals worried about the pride of lions who have attacked their livestock. But it is Lisa and...that monster Rhinehardt raped her! He needs to die now.

Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History - La Brea Tar Pits.
Los Angeles, CA
May 4th, 2007

Doctor Lisa Stone watching children on a tour of the museum, only one small brunette girl not paying attention, having heard it all thousands of times. Ah, Lisa's daughter. Overwhelming shyness, ouch, poor kid, I've lived through that, I hope she has some friends to help her shortly. Megan is not up to making friends or being more outgoing, don't push her, ease her into it. Blue eyes like her father, ouch.

Oh, good, Lisa killed the monster for what he did. Lunch at the beach with her mom sounds like fun. Beverly Ann McKensie, great, Megan has a bully who is popular for her looks and has hangers on. Illegal devisor medical clinics in the Caribbean, good grief, as if normal plastic surgeons aren't bad enough. Ouch, a figure like that, did Beverly go to a devisor medical clinic or did she manifest as a mutant with an Exemplar appearance like that?

Poor Megan, looking up to her mom, but 5'0" and underweight for her age, no wonder she is shy. Beverly physically assaulted Megan on more than one occasion and the school did nothing!?!

“Continental drift and the effects of genetic drift upon the Pleistocene era by Professor Miles Sundergaard.”

“And what do you think?” Lisa asked her precocious child.

“Complete hogwash. During the Pleistocene, the continents were largely in their current locations, with maybe less than 100km variance. To propose that drift occurred dramatically at that point totally discounts the fact that greater drift would occur with more geographic distance.”

Dang, Megan has a big brain and knowledge, which is impressive.

Ouch, Megan doesn't know who her father is and is better off not knowing, he was a monster. And ouch, maybe they should have Megan checked out by a doctor to see if she has a medical condition or metabolic issue that keeps her underweight like that. Back at the beach, no sign of Beverly, and Megan thinks she is safe.

Until the bitch and her squad pick up Megan and her things, then threw her into the water, these girls need to be in a juvie center. Getting her things back and going back for her towel, Beverly is standing on it and calls Megan a mouse, this girl needs a harsh lesson before she takes her stunts too far and kills someone. Okay, that many girls with the same figure, they all went to the illegal devisor clinic, that has to be the case.

Madison Tanner joins in and they rip Megan's towel in half, then Beverly kicks Megan in the stomach, a bunch of spoiled brats with no empathy at all. Patricia Hollings, the redhead, suggests they make Megan eat sand. *sees red* The lot of these girls need to be locked up away from others. Face forced into the sand and about to be again, the lifeguard blew his whistle for some other incident on the beach, but at least it scared the bullies off, a bunch of cowards. Her books and towel were lost, I really want to see these girls get their comeuppance.

Megan, don't blame yourself for the state of the world, survival of the fittest is only meant to happen with wild animals, not in civilization. Cute outfit, if Beverly and her group of thugs ruin it I hope Megan manifests and goes apeshit on them. All that and the school doesn't do anything to the bullies because of their rich parents, that is inexcusable. Ah, Caribbean trip for Christmas, mom comes back looking 10 years younger and Beverly with the new figure, sickening.

Taunting Megan like that, I can't stand bullying. In a private school, no wonder the staff protects the students the richer parents, probably make donations just to make them 'forget' about any troubles their 'little angels' cause. History field trip to the museum, hopefully, the bullies won't be able to target her with her mother around.

Mr. Havershrire led the students into the building, please say they have more than one chaperone. Dr. Lisa Stone and Beverly is dismissive about her bachelor's degree in geology and Ph.D. in paleontology, that girl needs a swift kick in the rear already. No dinosaur fossils make sense for the area. Dire wolves, mastodons, giant ground sloths, and many more, that is a lot of interesting animals to have fossils of.

Ah, the saber-toothed tiger, now that would be scary to meet. The fact they can use their teeth to take down a Mammut, anyone who says they could take a saber-toothed tiger in a fight is a fool. Beverly, you lunatic! Those tarpits were deadly in the past and are still deadly, you can get someone killed by pushing them into one of those.

Beverly and her goons isolate Megan and then taunt her about no one around to save or help her. All because she is weak and Beverly believes that BS about survival of the fittest applies to humans. No! Sinking in, trying to get to the edge to get out, losing consciousness, Beverly and her goons better get punished for trying to murder Megan.

Cedars-Sinai Hospital,
Los Angeles California.

They had to pump her stomach to get the tar out, shave her head, bandages due to injuries, or something else. Good, security saw what happened on the security cameras, they have evidence of attempted murder. And Beverly and her goons are under arrest for just that, I hope their parents don't bail them out otherwise they will never learn and go on to actually murder people in the future.

Bandages off Megan's eyes and they have turned gold, she manifested as a mutant thanks to the stress of nearly dying. Eyes the same color as so many animals, but especially a saber-toothed tiger. No tar in her lungs, overnight for observation, then home. But Lisa is staying with Megan until they get home safely after what happened.

Back home and Megan can't focus to read, her mom talks to her, the doctor thinks she is undergoing a mutant manifestation. But Lisa will always love Megan as her special girl, even explaining becoming a mutant in her own way. The museum staff doing whatever they can to help due to the attack.

In the meantime, all those incident reports and notes from school helped convince a judge that despite their parents’ money, the girls are a serious threat to your safety and need to be held pending a proper bail hearing.”

Good, I hate crimes being treated as "I can pay my way out of it' by the rich.

Restless and when Lisa comes back saying she is going for a run Megan wants to go with her. Hhm, an avatar who got the spirit of a saber-toothed tiger me think. Megan feels like she needs to run, definitely sounds like a spirit influencing her. Only by half a block this, Megan's stamina and speed have already improved a lot. Not look quite as frail as usual, I bet her body is filling out, probably a lean, muscular runner's build.

May 9th, 2007
The home of Lisa and Megan Stone
Beverly Hills, CA

Just a couple days and already almost keeping up with her mother and more improvement in her physique. Ah, ravenous due to rapid physical changes and the needed calories to fuel them.

Megan was not fine. She was troubled and moody. She didn’t know why. She felt irritated and there was a building sense of… anger and aggression boiling below the surface. When she thought about Beverly McKensie and her tormentors, she wanted to hurt them.

Oh no, the spirit [my guess] is affecting her. Beverly and her goons got out on bail with a restraining order not to come within 500 ft. of Megan, like they will obey that. They will try to retaliate against her for getting them in trouble, not admitting their own actions brought this upon them.

Thank you, Megan tested out for the remainder of the school year, so no bumping into the bullies at school. Dark strips radiating up from her spine, great, Spirit Mismatch Syndrome or something else if it isn't a spirit. Ah, Lisa read up on avatars and thinks Megan is one.

“Sometimes the host manifests physical traits of the spirit, especially in situations where the spirit can’t adequately fit in the hallow. It’s a method of easing the strain on both parties… at least that’s what I read.”

So my guesses were right, I hope the physical changes don't go too far. Yeah, the spirit of something from the tar pits, got a chuckle of Megan, so she has calmed down. Go for a run and In-N-Out, dang, wish we had an In-N-Out around here. Ooo, good observation, and a good idea, push the changes to their finish so Megan doesn't have to keep stressing out about it. A trip with her mom for a few days sounds like fun.

May 11th, 2007
San Bernadino National Forest
San Bernadino, CA

4 am, yikes, waking up that early is brutal. Aww, didn't inherit her mother's Costa Rican skin tone. Patterns not just on the fur, but also on the skin of many animals, I knew that about zebras and tigers, didn't know it applied to many animals besides. Gah! Please don't give the poor girl fur while living in Los Angeles.

A week passed of strength training, running, and hunting. Megan passed her mother up, able to out-run her, outlast her, out jump her.

Dang, I wonder what her effective Exemplar rating will be.

Ouch, ears moving to the top of her head, fingernails and toenails turning into claws, cat-like night vision is cool. Six-and-a-half-inch tail, ouch for that growing in fast. Inch-and-a-half canine teeth from her upper jaw, able to grow to the length of her pinky when needed, but revert back to their smaller default size, good.

Lisa's clothes fit Megan and in a few places are actually a little snug, I wonder what her figure is like now. Dang, she is going to get some looks at Whateley, especially from the boys and girls who like a girl with muscles. I pity Beverly and her goons if they dare to try and mess with Megan again.

May 21st, 2007
The home of Lisa and Megan Stone
Beverly Hills, CA

Darn it, the spirit is making her need to move, if she gets annoyed at it the spirit just makes her angry in general. Have to go somewhere, is it time for powers testing, please not an MCO facility. Darn, sandals for Megan from now on. Domingo, custodial services at the museum, and her mom treats everyone equally there, I knew I liked her from the start. Ah, his son Jon manifested last year and the Los Angeles MCO is one of the horrible branches. Venice Beach for testing with the Crusaders, yay, road trip and she gets to meet local heroes.

Sunburst greets them, and Lisa teases Megan, hehe. Hidden wall panel into a hidden elevator to take them to the testing area, cool. The base is like something out of the X-Men, now that is more like it. Oof, the testing suit with micro-circuitry and headband, those are never comfortable no matter who makes them.

The hydraulic weight bar with adjustable weight, one of my favorites. She cleared 1300 lbs., whoa. 50 mph, Megan is shaping up to be pretty powerful. No gadgeteer or devisor ability; Green Brujah in a costume only someone like Megan would notice the mismatched elements of testing her for magical potential. No magical potential, though I'm not sure I fully trust Green Brujah's testing method for it.

Bwahahaha, Megan has never seen Ghostbusters, she prefers reading over TV and movies. The old Zener card test, if it works, it works.

Megan grinned. “You aren't going to wire me up to receive a shock... like in the movie, are you?”

*rolling on the floor laughing* I can't believe she played Sunburst like that. No psychic ability either, oh well. Eep, the regeneration test, the one that some students probably faint at.

Yikes, Megan's reaction when Sunburst cut her forearm to demonstrate, the cat in her is strong. Darn it! Marvel has a trademark on Sabertooth, so unfair. Saber, good a codename as any.

Megan hadn’t realized before, but from what her mother and the heroine said, she gathered that the LA branch of the MCO was considered one of the worst when it came to mutant rights and treatment violations.

Are we sure some of the Boston branch didn't get shuffled over to the LA branch? Avatar 2, Exemplar 4, Regen 3, I knew she was going to be powerful.

May 28th, 2007.
The home of Lisa and Megan Stone

A week cooped up indoors, yikes, that spirit is going to go nuts soon if she isn't allowed outside. Megan, you wish to read, I can understand that, but if you don't give in to the urges of your spirit it might cause more physical changes to get a response. Oh boy, the Smilodon's mating urge might be messing with Megan, not good. Great, nightmares like that and her thoughts on them, talk to your mom about this already!

She has the appetite for a Smilodon as well, there goes the food budget. At least some of your clothes still fit and can hide your more unusual traits and the figure you don't want stared at. Ah, preferring physical books over all else because of the sensory input involved. Aww, blaming herself for her mom spending so much on her in a short amount of time, is what parents who care do for their kids, Megan.

After 4 hours of running Megan has no idea where she is, uh oh. Compton, she made it all the way to Compton in that short amount of time, don't get distracted when running 30+ mph. Great, she attracted the attention of a bunch of gang members in a black sports car who are following her now. They call her a mutie, think she is part of El Gato's crew, whoever that is, and say to waste her, a bunch of trigger-happy nutbars.

The mutant leader of the Mexican gang was merciless, leaving calling cards in the form of slashed up rivals. Megan, a now Latina-looking catgirl, would surely be confused for one of his runners.

Wait, El Gato uses fellow mutants with feline-based GSD as drug runners, that is messed up. Shot 3 times, I think she is going to kill them and then break down afterward.

Three hours later.

Waking up in her backyard, with 6 bullet holes in her sweatshirt, don't look at the news, Megan, please don't. Wait, entry hole but no exit hole, does that mean there is a bullet stuck in Megan's shoulder? Dug out the bullet herself and under the shower as the wound closed, yikes.

Megan, no, don't just bury the clothes in a trash bag and toss them in the garbage can. A couple large meat lovers were brought home by her home for dinner, yum. Lisa turns on the TV and the news is reporting about the six gang members of the 'Ya Boys' gang being mauled, blamed on the El Gatos gang. Lisa explained what would happen if Megan were picked up by the police or MCO for questioning, the worst that could happen to her. Just relieved Megan was home all day, Megan says me too. But she is busted and told not to leave her bloody clothing on the top of the garbage next time. Peppermint chip ice cream in the freezer for Megan once she finishes the pizza. At least Lisa knew Megan wouldn't do something like this unless pushed too far, and it was a matter of life and death.

June 11th, 2007
The home of Lisa and Megan Stone
Beverly Hills, CA

At least you learned your lesson after one incident, Megan. Headaches from her spirit, hostility, and frustration if she tries to scale down her activity. Testify in Beverly and her friends' trial, if they try and use the fact she is a powerful mutant now to get the case thrown out or twist it against Megan I will be pissed.

Megan finally takes off to the public library to seek answers. Oh crap, the news about what Reinhardt did to Dr. Charles Travis and his crew, and Reinhardt's fate, but no clue as to who killed him. Long suspected, but with no formal charges for those horrific crimes, Reinhardt deserved to die. And a news article about how Lisa was found, how she refused to comment on anything, oh boy. Megan has anger and shame now, knowing who her father is and what he most likely did.

Several hours later.

Poor Lisa, broke down like that, not wishing for Megan to know until she was older. But Megan knows the full truth about the monster who was her biological father. Got me tearing up here, Lisa would pick going through all that over not having Megan in her life as her daughter. The tale of all Lisa went through back then, Megan cries and hugs her mom, all is forgiven.

June 19th, 2007
Los Angeles County Courthouse
Los Angeles, CA

Megan has to testify, upset over all the things she doesn't want to show. The lawyers and judge looking over at Megan, they better not do what I suspect they are going to do. The prosecutor asks all those questions, and Megan has to relive all that torture as she relates it to them. She is on the verge of a panic attack. Thank you, judge, for being observant and giving a 10-minute break for Megan's sake.

3 weeks of having to testify, 3 weeks to get this trial over with. Not guilty on all charges, the jury has been paid off, or are all anti-mutant bigots! The smirks from Beverly and the goons' parents, they got to the jury, that is jury tampering. Megan has to work out her frustration and anger in the basement workout room and is trashing the place in the process. Megan cried herself to sleep afterward in the corner, those girls, there needs to be justice for what they did.

July 10th, 2007
Crusaders HQ
Venice Beach, CA.

Re-enforced steel-walled room and Megan is trying to tear her way out, Megan is trapped in the mental landscape as the Smilodon spirit has taken over. A rager fugue, crud, if they didn't have her in there the spirit would hunt down Beverly and all the other girls, and their parents to slaughter them.

“If a person with a timid or passive personality hosts a dominant spirit, they can sometimes be overwhelmed by the spirit, or the more dominant spirit’s emotions can bleed into their own psyche, influencing their emotions and responses. In cases of extreme emotional stress, the avatar’s psyche can actually be brushed aside by the more dominant spirit’s will.”

Arrgggh! This shouldn't have happened, I hate our justice system and how easily it can be corrupted by money and influence.

I’m sorry. I should have phrased it better. She’s fine, mentally. Emotionally, I’m not so sure. Think of it like locking yourself in your room, but having a fierce guard dog blocking the door. She’s in there, but nobody can interact with her while the stronger will is in the way. I was going to contact you about perhaps sending her to Whateley Academy in the fall, but with this new development, for her own welfare, it may be best to consider sending her sooner than later.”

She is going to need Fubar's help to get control over her spirit to keep this from happening. Ah, she brings up Nacht going to Whateley and explains what the school is, and its purpose.

July 15th, 2007
Whateley Academy
The helipad on the roof of Doyle

Sending her to Doyle by airlift, I hope they can help her.

“She’s tranq’ed up on enough sedative to knock out a rhinoceros, she’s not going anywhere.”

Yeah, never say that about a mutant until their full capabilities have been tested. Ophelia Tenant, Megan is in good hands.

One week later
Doyle Medical Center

A week, it took a week to get her out of that state, that is terrifying. A man in a bowler hat sounds like Fubar in one of his psychic guises again. Lisa tells Megan what happened, Mrs. Carson introduces herself and Dr. Tenant. Louis's psychic projection is there and Megan can tell it due to her senses.

“I’m a telepath. I only distracted the spirit so that you could retake your rightful place. However, I feel that you would best be served by having regular therapy sessions, and also working on your confidence. If you build up your mental fortitude, the tiger will be less likely to overwhelm you in situations of stress or fear.”

Good, they have a plan to help her so this will be less likely to happen in the future. Enrolled in the next semester, but stuck in Doyle for now under the care of Louis and the head of Psychiatry, then released into Hawthorne for the time being. Poor kid, she has been through a lot.

The next day.
Doyle Medical Center.
Whateley Academy

Hoodie, sweatshirt, and sweatpants from the campus store, her mother has left but is going to send her clothing and necessities. Dr. Tenant is there and she brought Fire Forge along to take her to Hawthorne, that is one way to get her used to the unusual elements of Whateley. They forgot to tell her she is in New Hampshire now, good grief.

I hope Mary and Megan become friends. 10' tall, I know more than a few guys who would love to date Mary.

“It may sound strange to some people that a school for mutants would have special needs students, but mutation is a bitch. We have people here that need special aid. One of the students here produces deadly toxins in her body. Sadly, she isn’t immune to them, so she has to be kept on special support machines that flush her system, and keep her alive. Some students are here to protect others from them, or their powers. Some people don’t have sufficient contr… oh, I’m sorry.”

Being a mutant is like poker, and can suck even if you don't get a crap hand. Ah, Mary is filling in for the RA over the summer vacation, I was wondering.

Oh god, that poor 11-year-old girl, having the body of a supermodel at her age, no wonder she is in Hawthorne. Never give Peeper detention in Hawthorne! At last, Megan can sleep without the spirit messing it up.

July 24th, 2007
The Quad
Whateley Academy

At least you don't have to deal with a lot of pervs staring at you yet, Megan. Crud, I take that back. Springbuck, leave her alone if you know what is good for you. Nope, he is a creep who has no idea how to talk to a girl, why he isn't already in Doyle from another girl clobbering him is beyond me. She attacked her, the way he talked to her he deserved it imo.

An hour later, in the office of Chief of Security

Samantha Everhart is there, along with Dr. Bellows, Louis Geintz, and Mrs. Carson. Oh, good, they have the audio of the creep and Megan isn't in trouble. And she is being put on the UV list, oh boy, it is for the best even if Megan fears it singling her out. Trust me, no one on the UV list is a laughing stock, most people know to leave them alone or not to piss them off.

“One of our students in the computer studies department just happened to ‘stumble’ onto records of payments from the father of one of the girls that assaulted you in Los Angeles to several of the jurors. As such, Mr. McKensie’s assets have been frozen, furthermore his firm fired him, and his wife has left California with his children while filing for divorce. And a number of jurors from that panel are facing felony charges.

“Furthermore,” Carson continued “a retrial has been ordered by the prosecutor’s office. With young Miss McKensie out of state, she will be considered a fugitive, unless she returns to California for a bail hearing.”

Yes! There is justice, thank you, Mrs. Carson and the students and staff of Whateley. And thank you, Dr. Bellows, so that Megan doesn't have to go through the stress of a trial again. Tears of joy, I'm so happy to see Megan happy again.

July 25th, 2007
Office of Chief of Security
Whateley Academy

Springbuck attacked her in the quad when all she wanted to do was go shopping for essentials, what an idiot. Thank you, Everhart, I'm so glad the staff is going out of their way to help Megan. Melody Walker called to give Megan an escort to the campus store, good, only someone braindead would attack someone with security escorting them. An hour to complete her shopping sounds about right for shopping at a store that size. Meditation to commune with her spirit, I hope the spirit is open to it.

August 1st, 2007
Hawthorne Cottage

Ah, good, the relationship with the smilodon is improving. Oh no, a girl who wants to fight her, and only giving her a choice on location, Megan has met a fight nut.

Thirty minutes later
The office of Chief of Security

Megan wasn't given a choice, taking it outside was the responsible thing to do in that situation. Laugh Riot, not her.

“I suppose you have the right to know, since she will no doubt try to initiate a fight with you again. Amari has some… psychological issues related to her spirit.”

Great, a poor soul who has issues due to a spirit she hosts. Chief Delarose on summer vacation, no wonder Megan has gotten off easily so far, he would have lectured her each time on all the ways she could have done things better, seesh.

Aww, a letter home to mom. Progress with the Smilodon, got her luggage from home and cookies too, yum. Might be able to move her to a normal cottage if her sessions go well for the rest of the month, I wonder where she would be placed. Springbuck looks like that and thinks he has a chance with her, either he is very confident or arrogant.

I’m fairly sure she is the avatar for a spotted hyena. She seems to be bi-polar, going from manic laughing to anger to crying.

Laugh Riot has to deal with that, she needs help from Louis as well.

*wipes brow in relief* So glad Megan doesn't go into heat, that one can mess with mutants with animal spirits. Hhm, I wonder if Lisa will make it to Parent's Day.

A great story. At first, I felt for Megan a lot, her shyness reminded me of myself at that age. The bullying over her figure and size was a lot, to keep reading I had to restrain myself from smashing my computer monitor to try and hit Beverly and her goons. Almost murdering her in what they thought was a prank, they have been taught wealth can get you out of any trouble and I hope to hear they get sent to jail over what they did.

When Megan manifested I knew she would go through some changes, that Spirit Mismatch Syndrome could happen, but I'm glad she didn't grow fur or have any further changes than she did. I didn't expect her to get a figure like that, even with the UV band there are going to be more idiots hitting on her. I'm also glad her mom figured out the trigger for the changes and got done with them quickly instead of stretching it out, and stressing out Megan more as she wondered how she might change.

The gang members, that is on them for attacking someone without provocation and trying to murder her. If they had left her alone like reasonable people would have they would still be alive. I don't condone murder, but killing in self-defense when your life is threatened is another matter.

I knew one of Beverly's parents would pull something to prevent her from being called guilty. The fallout, the harm it did to Megan, I hated to see it, but I'm glad it happened when they could contain her and not when she went up to Whateley and some guy set her off. I'm so glad they are helping her out in every way that they can. Making sure Beverly and her cohorts see true justice and Beverly's father is punished for his actions, I'm so glad Whateley saw to that happening.

I can't wait to read more about Megan and her future adventures. I hope to see her making friends at Whateley, and keeping in touch with her mom.