Experiment 261 Chapter 11
Story and characters © Lavabat
Chapter 11 : Bitter Sweet Reunion
Jana was bored. There were no more new updates on her favourite internet sites, and nearly everything on the news sites was about the Experiment 261 Scandal as the media had dubbed the saga that she had unwittingly become the central character in. She began to think about how being a Hyena would affect her life. Naturally she could expect everyone to want to know what it was like being a Hyena, or Chimera to use the term that a number of reporters and scientists were using. She could expect negative stereotyping due to her being a Hyena. Being herself would not stop her being stereotypes, but that was no reason for her to passively accept it. Would there be prejudice against her for being an 'animal' which didn't evolve to be bipedal and sapient? What were the chances that animal right activists would want to recruit her? Would she experience new instincts? Spotted Hyenas were matriarchal. Did that mean there was a chance that she would expect to lead others and be in control simply because of her gender? These and many other questions went through her mind. It caused her some deal of concern.
Jana did what she could to clear her mind. She decided that it was time to get out of the ugly grey flight suit that she had been wearing for most of the day. It was late at night, and she now felt that pyjamas would be not merely acceptable, but appropriate. She grabbed the bag that they were in, unzipped the top and pulled them out. A smile crossed Jana's muzzle as she remembered the hunky Lion had given them to her when he had set up the bed for her. Her smile became wider as she held the pyjamas over her body. They were made from synthetic silk. The top was short sleeved, scarlet red and trimmed with black material. The shorts matched the top. Jana happily walked to the women's change room and changed into her new pyjamas. They were a little tight, but nothing to complain about. She was glad to be out of the flight suit. Although the police station was air conditioned, it had been hot and uncomfortable in the flight suit. Her fur was wavy from her sweat. Jana would have liked to take a shower, but it was too late at night. If she did she would never get to sleep later on.
While walking back to the lobby she heard a male's voice. "That was unpleasant"
Jana's ears pricked up with excitement as soon as she heard the voice. It was her dad! Then she heard her mother's voice "I would call them vultures, but that would be offensive to the vultures."
Jana couldn't contain her excitement any more. She ran off towards the voices while shouting in her native Afrikaans "Ma! Pa!" An officer who Jana had not met before was escorting her parents to the lobby. The Eagle was startled by the site of the Hyena running towards him, and could only watch as the male Wolf he was leading to the lobby ran towards his daughter. Normally he would have been the one to pick his daughter up and spin her around. But this time she picked him up and spun him around.
Jacobus was amazed. "Jana! You've grown!"
And he was right. She was now head and shoulders above him. She hadn't really noticed before, but she was taller now. He mother passed for a moment. She watched her daughter and her husband. Jana's eyes locked on her mother's eyes. Tears began to well in the Hyenas eyes. Then something clicked into place in Jacoba's mind. It was her daughter! She sprinted over and hugged Jana. Her parents were whining. And Jana was giggling like only a hyena could.
The Hawk stood and watched. He did not want to interrupt the reunion too soon. Once the tears had begun to slow, and the whining and giggling began to quieten down, he stepped forwards. He carefully observed the demeanour of Jana and her parents. After a few moments he felt comfortable enough to interrupt the three.
"I will go and let Major Carter know that your parents have arrived" he said.
Major Cater replied "Thank you, but that won't be necessary."
The startled Hawk spun around. He hadn't noticed the feline approach him from behind.
"Sorry to startle you. Jana, would you like to talk to your parents...somewhere quieter? The briefing room next to my office is available."
Jana thought it was odd that William wanted them somewhere 'quieter' considering that they were the only people in the room. Never the less, she asked the Major "could you show us the way please?"
"Sure" replied the Mau.
William led Jana and her parents back through the door she had come into the lobby from and down the corridor. He opened the door and gestured for Jana and her parents to enter. Once they were inside he flicked a switch on the wall. Jana became curious as she didn't notice that anything had been turned on or off. Major Carter explained that he turned on the 'in use' sign outside the room so that no one would enter while they were inside. Jana nodded, her curiosity satisfied.
Tears began to well in Jacoba's eyes. She wasn't happy about Jana no longer being a wolf, but she accepted it. What else could she do? It was an unpleasant shock, but she was still her daughter. Jacoba smiled as she wiped away the tears that were wetting her cheeks and snout.
Something made Jana turn towards her mother. She saw that her mother was upset. She didn't dwell on it for long. Instead, she hugged her mother, who now only stood up to her chest. Jana rocked her back and forth slightly. This made her mother chuckle. "I am supposed to that to you kid!"
Jana smiled and held her mother tight. It seemed to help. Jacoba soon stopped crying.
The room they were in would have struck them all as being impressive had their attention not been on each other. The room was large and spacious, with an oval shaped stained wood table and eight well padded leather office chairs. There were a few landscape paintings on the wall, each with a particular theme. One had a really nice waterfall. Another showed several brightly coloured birds dancing, and another was of fog covered mountains. The room was illuminated with LED light and had a soft carpet underfoot.
Jacobus moved over and put his hands on Jacoba's shoulders_. 'She will get over the shock of Jana being a Hyena soon enough'_ he thought to himself.
After a few moments, Jacoba asked in their native Afrikaans "How do you feel, Jana? Do you feel...different?"
Jana smiled. She had expected someone to ask that at some point. It took a lot longer than she thought it would, but she knew someone would ask it. She began speaking in Afrikaans. "No Ma. I feel like I am the same person I always was. I feel the same...but I know I am not the same anymore. I am a different species, my sense of smell is much better than it ever was...but I am still the same person."
But of her parents were comforted in knowing that Jana felt that she was the same person she always was. After an awkward moment of silence Jana asked "How is everyone else reacting to my being a hyena?" She was a little self conscious of her somewhat rusty Afrikaans.
"Like we are" replied Jacoba."Shocked, but relieved that you are alive. We had feared the worst." He spoke very quickly in Afrikaans, like he always did. Jana had a little trouble keeping up, but fortunately didn't need to ask him to repeat himself.
Jana felt sick in the stomach knowing that her family had feared she was dead, but she couldn't understand why. She was missing for over two weeks. They would have had no way of knowing what had happened. And if her memory had been wiped, they would never have known what had happened to her.
Jacoba continued where Jana's mother finished off. "Ilana is overjoyed that you are alive and well, and she is as protective as ever. I pity those who say you're not a person while Ilana is in ear shot. Louwrens has been stressed from the whole thing, but he is getting better now we know what happened to you. We haven't had a chance to have a proper talk to your grandparents. But they know what has happened."
Tears welled in Jana's eyes. She still had a family. She had feared how everyone would have reacted. She smiled and closed her eyes. Her father hugged her once again, as did her mother.
Jana tried to make light of the situation. "It's probably a good thing you haven't told grandma much at the moment."
Her father laughed, while her mother chuckled and choked back tears. Jacobus simply said "you know she can't keep a secret!"
Jana was happy, and felt a little nostalgic speaking in Afrikaans to her parents. It brought back memories of her childhood, and she enjoyed speaking in her native language. While most people in Johannesburg spoke English out of convenience, Jana did what she could to maintain her Afrikaans heritage and language. When her mother had regained her composure Jana let go of her and moved towards the leather seats. As she sat down on the well padded leather seats her mother sat in the chair next to hers. Her father got a seat from further down the table. He sat near to his wife, but a little further away from the table. The two Wolves and their Hyena daughter were enjoying their conversation, catching up on what had been happening, and what each member of the de la Rey family was up to. They didn't notice the shadow of someone packing up and down the waiting area outside the conference room. It was Major Carter. He was wondering how he was going to break the news to Jana. How he was going to tell her, and her parents...Jana hopefully would understand, but her parents might not take the news so well. Some unknown sixth sense, or perhaps intuition, told him that her father would not be happy about it at all.
He took several deep breaths before knocking on the door. Jana answered "Yes?"
"It's me Jana. May I come in?" replied William.
Jana switched back to English and replied "of course".
She noticed that William seems a little anxious as he stepped inside the room, and walked towards the head of the table. He started by introducing himself. "I am Major William Carter. You must be Jabobus and Jacoba de la Rey, correct?"
Jacobus simply answered "that's right." The pleasant tone of the old Wolf's voice put the Mau at ease.
"We need to talk about a few things...specifically the media conference that we are being forced to give tomorrow..."
Jana's father frowned and sat forwards in the chair he was sitting in. "We_have been _forced to give a media conference?" He knew something was amiss. And William realised that the Wolf knew something was afoot. He held the wrist of one arm with the hand of his other and subtly shifted his weight to his rear foot. "Yeah...My superiors have caved into political and media pressure. I havegive a media conference to explain the facts...and I have been told that Jana will be part of the conference."
Jacobus was incensed by the idea of that horde of reporters gawking at his daughter. "Hasn't she suffered enough!?" he snarled as he stood up.
Jana stood up even quicker than her father had, and very deliberately blocked his path to William. His wife scolded him in Afrikaans. "Jacobus! Don't you dare!"
After a moment, his anger subsided. "I'm sorry" he said as he sat down. His ears were flat against his head.
William thanked him for his apology and reassured him that he had not taken offence to his being protective of his daughter.
William continued "I'm sorry as well. I wish I didn't have to put Jana through this."
He was happy to see that Jana was taking it in her stride. She didn't appear particularly fazed by the idea of having to confront the media, a little nervous perhaps, but nothing in her facial expression or body language suggested that it was going to freak her out. The same couldn't be said for her parents. Her father was clearly unhappy with the idea of the media gawking at his daughter, and her mother wasn't particularly thrilled either.
The Mau did what he could to defuse the situation. "She only has to be at the conference. She doesn't need to answer any questions if she doesn't want to. We will not be announcing the conference until tomorrow, and I am thinking that the conference can take place the day after that. That way we will have plenty of time to prepare for it. And you will be welcome to attend the conference, Mr and Ms de la Rey."
Jacobus nodded. He seemed more concerned and depressed than angry now. He didn't like the idea of Jana being made a spectacle of, especially for the want of public curiosity. But he couldn't do anything about it. He nodded. Jana felt comfortable enough to sit down again. She was surprised by how unfazed she was. When she was a Wolf, this would have freaked her out. She knew that for a fact. But now that she was a Hyena, she felt very confident and sure of herself. Perhaps this was because animal hyenas were matriarchal, and the female were 'large and in charge' so to speak. Regardless, she already loved her new confidence. 'Being a Hyena certainly has its advantages' thought Jana.
She was also secretly relieved that she would not be expected to answer any questions.
William then spoken in Afrikaans. "Well, since I have nothing else that I need to explain to you, I will leave you three to continue your conversation. I will be next door if you need me."
Jana replied "thanks!" in her native tongue.
The two Wolves and their Hyena daughter continued their Afrikaans conversation where it had left off. After a few hours of talking, they had caught up on all that they wanted to. And they had learned many things about their daughter's new form. Jacoba was even starting to become comfortable with the fact that her daughter was no longer a Wolf.
"Well, I guess we should think about going back to the motel for the night" said Jacobus as he stood up. It was getting late, and he was starting to become tired like Jacoba.
Jacoba stretched as she stood up from the chair she had commandeered. "It was lovely to see you again Jana."
Jana hugged her mother and father before leading them from the room. She knocked on the door of Major Carter's office. When the Mau opened the door she smiled and asked "Could you show my parents the way out?"
"Certainly; we will use the side entrance. That way we can avoid the media."
Jana's mother yawned as she tried to say something. What came out was unintelligible. When she finished yawing she said "Translation, I like that idea."
Jacobus jokingly replied "I am glad you provided a translation."
As Major William lead her parents towards the stations second entrance Jana waves goodbye to her parents before retiring to bed for the night. She flopped down on the bed, not even bothering to get under the sleeping bag that she had earlier unzipped to form a blanket. She soon felt herself relaxing and closed her eyes. Not long after that she was asleep.