Practice

If you could turn into any animal, what would it be? I remember playing this game in middle school.

Most said birds so they could fly. (And peep through windows.)

Lots said Dogs because they loved their furry 4-legged protector / snuggle mate.

Most of the girls said a Cat for the same reason so many boys said Dog.

I said a Horse, just to be different (No wonder I ended up a loaner.).

But now that I have a choice, I just don't know. My mind is drawing a blank. Letting logic dictate I should go with something I can move around with some familiarity, like a monkey but I wanted something bigger.

Remembering Garfield's trip to Eastern Africa with his mom to help at a new reserve starting up with the purpose of reintegrating circus animals into the wild. I picture a Silverback Gorilla.

I remember the slow cautious movement of the arms leading the huge body. The super shaggy arms and the short hair body rippling with muscle, the deep intelligent eyes almost hidden by a ridged forehead.

Leaning back, I let my butt settle on the ground with my short legs still providing balance. Opening my eyes, I see a massive forearm held in front of me with a paw that naturally curled my fingers in, almost to a fist. Green shaggy fur proving its mine, as I wave it around like a kid with a sparkler.

Turning to where Monkey was last, I tried to tell him excitedly that I did it, only to hear grunting and broken whooping with a deep gravely undertone.

Realizing that a Gorilla doesn't have a voice-box as refined as a human I reach out with my mind {I did it, I got it with my first try!} Not containing my excitement at all, I don't care what age I am supposed to be. This is cool.

Replying out loud Monkey says. "Yes, very impressive but you forget I already saw you turn into a Bear with pure emotion leading the way, so this doesn't seem like much of an accomplishment to me."

"For now, you will have to think of the animal you want to be but when you get really good with The Red you will change to the most optimal form with emotion and will alone. Visuals won't be necessary!"

"Now get up and move around, get familiar with this form and its strengths and weaknesses."

Moving to stand, I forgot to place my hands on the ground and naturally I face planted. Placing my fists on the ground I did a pushup and worked my legs to get a feel for the balance. Refusing to look at Monkey as he heard him lightly chuckle.

After about 15 minutes I started getting comfortable in this body and I have to say I am amazed with how strong it is.

Hearing that a Gorilla is 6 times stronger than a human is one thing but to feel the power is something you just can't imagine or put into words.

I have to admit I let loose a bit and did the chest thump and let me tell you, when a Gorilla is smacking his chest, it is an adrenalin rush. He is ready to cut loose on anything that is dumb enough to challenge him.

Feeling a little fuzzy around the edges I solidified my mind to make sure no impulses were coming from the body. After a brief thought I relaxed the image in my head and felt my body flow back to normal.

If you have ever driven or been a passenger on a trip with a lot of time on the freeway, then you know what it feels like to go from 70 mph to 35 mph after hitting a city street.

Everything feels slow, and my arms and back felt WEAK, like I barely had the strength to move around. I had to stretch my arms and move around again to get used to my base attributes.

Looking at Monkey I asked. "Was that the top strength for an average Silverback?"

"For the most part, yes. When you morph you will take on the near perfect specimen of what you change into, but your own base body strength translates."

"For example." Monkey continues "If you are of average human strength, you will be at top changed form strength." But the stronger your base body is the more it will translate in the Morphed form."

Wanting clarification. "So, if an average human changed, he would be at the peak 6 times stronger than a human as a gorilla. But if say Dwayne Johnson changed into a Gorilla it would be 9-12 times stronger as a Gorilla."

"Yes, that is a great example." Monkey replied. "Now pick some more forms to morph into."

Wanting my first 4-legged shape change to be one with good balance I went with an African Lion.

Once again, the sheer power of the animal surprised me, I felt like a compressed spring just waiting to be let go. I was amazed at how the tail helped balance me and the way my claws dug into the sandy ground for traction was just amazing.

Unfortunately, there were no trees for me to climb nearby.

After a time, I noticed Monkey staring at me as if analyzing something. Well, I think that's the look on his face. "What's up?" I asked

"You are having no trouble holding these shapes at all are you? I know I said it would be an easy start, but I wonder if it is because you are here with just your mind for your first changes or if this will continue when you take control of the body you are attached to?"

"Why don't you go ahead and push yourself with going from shape to shape, maybe throw in a few that are of significant size difference like and elephant then to a mouse."

It felt a lot like a rowboat to be honest, I would tense up with my grip on the Red then pull and then change to the first shape I imagined. When ready to change again I would revert to my natural shape by letting go and think of my next animal by tensing up to pull again. If the animal was of significant difference, then it seemed like I needed to pull harder and for longer before the change occurred.

After about 15 changes in a row, I had to stop and take deep breaths trying to recover.

I was both breathing hard and thinking slow, like I had a fog in my head reminiscent of a hangover.

"That was actually a rather impressive performance for your first session their young Gar. As I said earlier it may be because you are in a purely mental form for your first changes so keep in mind that doing rapid changes in an actual body may feel different."

With that reminder I realized I was still in a very bad position as far as my body goes. Locked up in a tube with drugs being pumped into my veins and a monster named Psimon in daily over watch.

Wondering if he could get a mental training arch, he asked Monkey.

"Hey Monkey, can you or The Red help me train my mental powers? I have a telepath watching over me that can probably stop me in my tracks and mentally force me to watch that She Hulk show until I lose my will to be a man or some other less obvious mind tricks that make him an evil master mind."

"Sorry Gar, The Red is not interested in the sentience of the life forms in the universe just the form itself. If you notice, when you take a shape that is the one you get of that race for all time. Just like you can't change your human form because it's the one you mentally have."

"If you change into a Silverback again it will look identical to the one you first used plus or minus some muscle mass your base form adds."

Monkey continues "The individuality is lost in The Red, left with only instinct. The Cosmic purpose is usually very focused on the specific aspect. Any animals with mental abilities have to train in them, they aren't instinctual."

Not too surprised with Monkey's answer, Gar pushes. "What about you Monkey? You are more than instinct, aren't you?"

"True but I am a portion of The Red, not its flow. My purpose required intelligence, so I was made aware of certain things to help my ward for lack of a better term. Now that I know you are separate from him, I assume The Red will address this issue. If it allows you to continue to have access to its flow that is."

Looking around, Monkey continues. "Not every individual that has access to The Red gets the attention of the Parliament of Limbs after all. Garfield Logan himself has lots of potential but his mental state is rather week stemming from loss in his early life. But I am hopeful I can help him overcome this weakness and he can then become the leader a representative of The Red needs."

Suddenly something Monkey said hits me. "What do you mean if I'm allowed continued access to The Red?" I say with a sinking feeling in my stomach.