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In the south end of Acmetropolis, a laboratory station about 200 by 200 square feet sat in the middle of a busy intersection. The building bore the name ‘Ott-Tech Labs’ in LED lights. Inside the test tube lab in the building was Joe Otter, a friend of Tech E. Coyote of the Loonatics. His history with Tech has been well documented: Tech had accidentally swallowed a canister made for a jetpack and swelled to a 12-foot-wide orb, and shortly after, Joe accidentally got some blueberry juice in his mouth that was for a blueberry dart, which made him grow into a 12-foot blueberry.
There were tensions between the two, even as the Loonatics came out to help them return to normal size, but after a little while, things calmed down, and their friendship resumed, with Tech giving Joe new lab coats and Joe giving Tech a De-Juicer device. Some time had passed since then, but on this particular day, Joe had a visitor coming. He was working at his workbench, mixing chemicals and juices, when a doorbell echoed through the lab, and a monitor was lowered to him, showing Ace Bunny at the door.
Ace Bunny: “Hey, Joe. Glad to see ya. I'm here for the test today.”
Joe Otter: "Right on time, mate! Come on through. The lab is completely prepped and ready for you."
Joe pushes a button to turn off the monitor and let Ace into the building. The leader of the Loonatics walks up to Joe and offers a handshake.
Ace Bunny: “What's up, Doc? How's your day been?”
Joe Otter: "Can't complain, all things considered! Just wrapping up a few chemical mixtures. How was the trip over to the south end?"
Ace Bunny: “It was crazy, but we managed to pull through. Beautiful place though.”
Joe Otter: (Pivoting back to his workbench.) "Splendid. And how is the rest of the crew faring these days? Especially Tech?"
Ace Bunny: “Oh, they're alright. We've been having plenty of strange things happen lately, some of which, of course, involve your stuff. Not sure if you have heard, yet.”
Joe Otter: "Oh, I've heard! Tech actually sent over the data logs and the surveillance footage of Duck and Rev's little incidents. Growing into ten- and fifty-foot blueberries... honestly, it was remarkable data."
Ace Bunny: “He did? Huh. I'm going to need to talk to him, make sure you're the only one he sent them to. Speaking of Tech though, he is a bit jumpy whenever he hears balloons popping.”
Joe Otter: (Stopping his work, looking concerned.) "Jumpy, you say? Blimey... is he doing alright? I know our past mishaps left a bit of a lingering shadow."
Both Ace and Joe start walking to the door to exit the lab.
Ace Bunny: “Well, I'm not going to tell a long-term story. He's been having plenty of nightmares. Some of which we took care of, but he had a nightmare about his Kinetic Amplification Ray malfunctioning and working on its own, and inflated him until he outgrew his lab and then popped when his body touched the broken skylight.”
Joe Otter: "Goodness me, that sounds absolutely dreadful. Poor chap... please let him know I'm sending him my absolute best. But blimey, Ace, that brings me to a burning question—what exactly brings the fearless leader of the Loonatics to my testing lab today?”
Ace Bunny: “To tell you the truth, Doc, I've been curious about how this stuff works. After seeing Tech blimp up twice and you, Duck, and Rev ending up being blueberries, I figured I'd have a similar experience so I'd know what happens, basically see what all the fuss is about. Although something like this did happen to me before, but nothing like what happened to them.”
Joe Otter: (Raising an eyebrow, adjusting his goggles.) "Hold on a moment. What do you mean by 'something like this happened before'? You've expanded prior to this?”
Ace Bunny: “It's kinda embarrassing, but I'll tell you. Promise you won’t tell anyone else?”
Joe Otter: "Cross my heart and hope to float, mate. Your secret is entirely safe in this laboratory.”
Ace Bunny: “Okay, the truth is… I'm allergic to pineapples.”
Joe is shocked by Ace’s revelation.
Joe Otter: "Blimey, repeat that for me? A pineapple allergy?”
Ace Bunny: “Yeah, I'm allergic to pineapples. What happens is every time I eat even a piece on a pizza, my body just swells up into a 15-foot bowling ball, but I sometimes float. To this day, I still don't know why. It started when I was a kid, but I've tried my best to stay away from pineapples since.”
Joe Otter: "Ah, you have my utmost sympathy, mate. Sounds like a proper nightmare of a reaction! Rest assured, this test will have absolutely nothing to do with pineapples. It's an entirely controlled formula.”
Ace Bunny: “Thanks. I'm sure this will be nothing compared to my allergic reactions. Let's do it.”
Joe brings Ace to a door that says “Testing Area - 200 feet to the ceiling.”
Joe Otter: "Right then, here we are. Welcome to the proving grounds!”
Beside it is a wordpad to unlock the door to the room. Joe types in the password ‘TechBalloon0507,’ and the door opens. The room is massive: 200 feet wide, 200 feet long, empty except for a self-propelled scissor lift in the corner.
Ace Bunny: “Wow. This place is so big. Though I have a feeling I know the reason.”
Joe Otter: "Spot on, Ace. We need every bit of this clearance. Now, if you wouldn't mind, please slide into this light blue spandex suit over here."
Ace Bunny: “Huh, why?”
Joe Otter: "Well, we certainly don't want to go ruining that pristine uniform of yours during the expansion, do we?”
Ace Bunny: “Oh, okay, that makes sense. You may want to turn around though.”
Joe Otter: "Ah! Quite right, quite right. Turning around now!”
As Joe turned away, Ace pressed the button on his wrist-comm, and a bright flash of yellow energy enveloped his body, instantly reverting Ace to his original fur color and leaving him with his boxers before taking off his wrist-comm and putting on the suit.
Ace Bunny: “Okay, I'm ready.”
Joe turned around to see Ace wearing the suit.
Joe Otter: "Perfect fit! Now, this suit is specially woven with high-elasticity polymers. It can expand massively without a single tear, keeping you entirely covered.”
Ace Bunny: “Oh, okay, cool. So, what's your plan for today?”
Joe Otter: "Well, after analyzing the footage Tech sent of Duck and Rev, I felt inspired to perfect the blueberry serum. Rev reached fifty feet after consuming the equivalent of five pie slices. This advanced formula doubles the potency to ten slices, aimed at reaching a magnificent one hundred feet—completely free of any structural body strain or explosive pressure. It should vastly exceed expectations!”
Ace Bunny: “Without any fear of strain and exploding?”
Joe Otter: "Exactly. The organic compounds within the juice ensure that the cellular walls expand with perfect elasticity. There's no pain or tightness—just a smooth, thoroughly enjoyable, and downright pleasurable experience... at least, that is the working theory.”
Ace Bunny: “What does that mean?”
Joe Otter: (Grinning.) "It means, my brave friend, that you are officially our very first vanguard test subject!”
Ace Bunny: “Ah, I see. Well, no time like the present. I'm here now, so there's no turning back. Let's jet… oh… I mean… let's do this. Sorry, forced habit.”
Joe laughs as he gives Ace the serum and brings him to the center of the room, pulling out his electronic notepad.
Ace Bunny: “Okay… down the hatch.” (He drinks the serum and hands the vial back.)
Joe Otter: "Fantastic! Now I get a proper front-row seat to the magic. Tell me, Ace, are you feeling any initial symptoms? Any tingling, a sense of fullness, or perhaps a sudden warm sensation?”
Ace Bunny: “Nah, nothing just yet. If I know medicine and I do, it doesn't jump-start right… (noticed his nose turning blue.) away.”
The serum took a bit, but it started to progress. Ace’s face was starting to turn. His white fur on his face turned light blue, while his grey fur turned dark blue.
Ace Bunny: “Okay, now I feel the tingling. Starting with my face… and now my body.”
The suit's color changed too, from light to dark blue. This made Joe think of his encounter with Tech, but at least this one was with consent. Suddenly, loud gurgling noises came from Ace’s stomach as it began to grow. He looked down and was in awe as his belly swelled. Then, he felt a swelling sensation behind him as he turned to watch his hips and butt cheeks begin to expand. Joe watched as Ace’s arms, legs, and pecs began to have the same effect of the body transformation.
Ace Bunny: “Whoa. (Tries to balance himself.) Oh, okay, this feels weird.”
Joe Otter: "Weird? Care to clarify, mate? Is it an unpleasant sort of weird?”
Ace Bunny: “No, like a really good kind of weird. I mean, despite the whole swelling and near immortality parts, it actually feels kinda nice.”
Joe Otter: "Magnificent! The cellular mapping is holding perfectly!" (Suddenly cut off by another massive stomach gurgle.) "Oh dear, hold on…”
Ace Bunny: Uh… oh… okay… I think the second surge that hit Duck and Rev is about to kick in.”
And kick in it did. Ace’s body expanded even further; his belly, pecs, arms, legs, and rear were swelling even bigger. As Joe wrote in his notepad, he couldn't help but hear Ace moan and pant. The serum was indeed enjoyable and pleasurable… perhaps a little too much.
Joe Otter: (Looking up from his notepad, slightly worried) "Ace? You're expanding rapidly now. Are you doing alright up there?"
Ace Bunny: “I… aah… ooh… I think so… Ooh gosh, this feels so good. My body feels like it's on fire!”
Joe realized that he probably won't be able to talk to Ace, so he went to his scissor lift to be able to reach his head. As he stood on the platform of the lift, he realized that he may have overdone the pleasurable aspect of the serum. Ace looked as if he was lost in bliss. He moved his hands as much as he could, placing them on his chest to feel the juice in his pecs build inside, though at this point, his body started shifting more spherically as his arms began to sink into his body.
Ace Bunny: “Oh, here it comes! My limbs are sinking and… oh yeah! Don’t stop… don’t stop! Bigger… bigger!”
His feet left the ground, legs sinking too, making his feet look more like stubs. His rear and pecs sank to match the orb shape he was turning into. His body continued to swell, even going past Rev’s previous size… double in fact.
And then it stopped. Ace’s body, as hoped, had grown to 100 feet wide and tall. Using the lift, Joe moved closer to check on Ace to see if he was alright. But what Joe saw surprised him.
Upon reaching his full 100-foot size, the sheer pleasure of the formula left Ace temporarily dazed and cross-eyed, requiring a few gentle slaps from Joe to snap him out of his trance.
Joe Otter: "Blimey, Ace! Wakey-wakey, mate! Can you hear me?”
Once he snaps out of his trance, he shakes his head and looks around his now gigantic form.
Ace Bunny: “Ah… huh? Oh, Joe. Sorry, got lost for a minute. Wha… Whoa… is this… my body? Have I really grown so big?”
Joe Otter: "You certainly have! You've peaked at a magnificent one hundred feet, tall and wide. Though I must admit... I think I might have overcooked the 'pleasurable' aspect of the formula just a smidge. You were properly spaced out there!”
Ace Bunny: “Oh, yeah. No, it’s okay. I get it”. (Looks around the room, seeing his body was close to touching the walls, and the 200-foot ceiling was now 100 feet.) “Wow. It’s amazing how big this place really is if you go up so high. But I have to admit, despite the immobility, this was very enjoyable. I didn’t feel any pain at all.”
Joe Otter: "I am absolutely thrilled to hear that, Ace! These results are exquisite, truly a monumental success. Now, whenever you're ready, I can fetch the De-Juicer device and return you to your usual sleek self.”
Ace Bunny: “Oh, yeah, Tech mentioned you had one of your own, but um… actually, Joe, I’ve been thinking.”
Joe Otter: "Oh? What's on your mind, big guy?”
Ace Bunny: “I have a date with Lex, but that’s not for another three hours. Would it be alright if I chilled here until then?”
Joe Otter: (Blinking in surprise) "Chilled out here? As a hundred-foot berry? What's the reasoning behind that, then?"
Ace Bunny: “Kinda realized that I wanted to get to know Tech’s other friends more. Plus, you’re a really cool dude, and I don’t want to admit it, but when you settle down after becoming a blueberry, you just really don’t even want to get up and just get comfortable. This feels really nice, much nicer than my allergic reaction. Thanks for this, Joe.”
Joe Otter: "Well, I'll be. Thank you for being such a brilliant sport and a phenomenal first test subject, Ace! Tell you what—let's lower the big screen, and we can catch a proper film together. Dealer's choice on the program!”
Ace Bunny: “Yeah, sure. Sounds good. You want to sit on my body and get comfortable? I’m pretty sure I’d be like an overinflated waterbed.”
Joe stepped over the lift to sit on Ace’s now blueberry 100-foot orbed body to watch a big screen monitor being lowered by a crane. He turned on the TV and switched it to his favorite TV program. The room wasn’t exactly quiet, as Ace still had a bit of gurgling noises, but that didn't bother them. They just sat and watched as Joe’s 100-foot blueberry experiment was a success.
THE END