Army Shrinking

George had been in the army now going on four years. Being that he was
from Texas he had hoped that he would get the opportunity to 'see the
world'. All he had seen though was just Fort Bennett, 100 miles from
where George had grown up. But he was due orders for a new duty
station in the next two weeks so his hopes were up that something
exotic would come through. His buddy had just received orders for
Germany! George could only hope...
In the mean time, George had to remain busy doing the duties that were
expected of him at his current place of duty. His job was working the
post office on-base with ten other guys. George really liked this job
because of the joy people got when they received mail from loved ones.
Plus it was quite a responsibility helping to run the mail facility.
He also got along well, and was friends with, his co-workers.
One day while George and the others were sorting mail that had just
arrived a staff member from the base Commander's office came in to
tell George that he was to report to the Commander's office at 1400
hrs that afternoon. That made George excited because that could mean
that his new orders had come through. So when 1:45 PM came along
George was excused so he could report to the Commander's office.
All kinds of things were going through George's head while he walked
over the administration building where the Commander's office was.
Where could he be going to? When would he be leaving? Would he be
FINALLY leaving Texas? Among another thousand thoughts that George was
thinking about, even while he had to wait to be seen by the Commander
once George got there.
Finally, George was told that it was his turn to go inside. The
assistant outside the Commander's office was a good-looking young man
that gave George the once up-and-down. George knew he was handsome,
not in a stuck-up way, just aware that people thought that he was
handsome and didn't mind either sex letting him know it. Although
George was a virgin to both women and men he swung more towards the
women than he did the men, that was for sure.
George entered the Commander's office and shut the door and stood at
attention in front of the Commander's desk until he was told to be at
ease and to sit down.
Commander Washington is a tall, dark haired man of about 45 or 50. It
is obvious that he works out as his body is lean and trim for all the
office work he does. There is no grey hair on his head and for that he
is proud. He sports a moustache and is really quite a handsome man. He
was sitting when George had come in and had remained seated while
instructing George to also take a seat. The Commander had George's
file in front of him that he was paging through before speaking to
George.
George noticed that Commander Washington had his file and was paging
through it. Seemed like he was studying each and every page. George
was wondering why his file was here and not his new orders, he started
to get a little nervous, but he hadn't done anything to cause any
negative attention so maybe he was being considered for something
special.
Finally Commander Washington looked up from George's file and smiled
at the younger man. He noticed how George just tipped his head and
didn't really smile back. Washington liked to make them wonder and
sweat a little. Keep them guessing what was going on. Washington began
the meeting.
"So I can imagine that you are wondering why I called you here today.
Isn't that right Bentley?"
"Yes sir. I was thinking that you had my new orders. I'm due to
receive them soon, any day now, sir."
"Well, in a way you are going to have new orders, but not the way you
are probably thinking."
"Sir??"
"You have been selected to participate in a highly experimental
program. You are to report to building 300 at 0700 tomorrow morning.
Those are your new orders."
"Yes sir."
"You will leave your belongings where they are for now. You will bring
nothing with you when you report there. Any further information will
be told to you tomorrow. Do you understand your orders Bentley?"
"Yes sir. I understand and I will be at building 300 by 0700 tomorrow
morning, sir."
"Very good. You are dismissed."
"Thank you sir." With that George stood and snapped to attention and
saluted Commander Washington and then turned and went out the door and
closed it behind him.
Washington had a stack of files on the desk in front of him. Bentley
was the last one to see on this matter. There had been 20 men through
that door since 8:00 that morning. 20 men had been chosen from all
those currently on-base. They were all going to participate in the
experiment starting tomorrow. This was the third such experiment in
the last three years. The last two experiments had not gone well.
There had been much that had to be 'cleaned up' and 'taken care of'.
But Washington didn't mind, he liked these experiments. He would be
watching this one as well as he had the other two before.
George was very disappointed that his orders were for him to remain
here on this base until further notice. All his hopes and dreams of
somewhere other than Texas were dashed in a meeting that had taken
shorter than 15 minutes. When George got back to the barracks and told
his friends what was up they all decided to take George out for dinner
to help cheer him up. Before George went to bed that night he found
out about two others that he knew that were also to participate in the
experiment the next day. So George went to bed wondering what would
going on, just what kind of experiment would it be, and such until he
fell asleep.
So there was George the next morning with 19 other men in the
reception room of building 300. They were all different ranks and
jobs. All were different heights and colourings. All were wondering
what was to go on and what this was all about. Then at 0700 sharp the
door leading into the rest of the building opened and in walked two
men in lab coats and two MP's. Everyone stopped talking and looked at
the men in the lab coats.
"Good morning gentlemen. My name is Mr Erie. This is Mr Stone. We will
be leading this experiment. You will follow our instructions. Failure
to follow instructions will get you removed by these MP's here. They
are also here for your protection as well. This experiment will last
for several months. You will be housed and fed here in this building.
You will not leave this building without permission from myself or Mr
Stone. Because of the nature of this experiment we can not disclose
any information about it at this time except to say that it is already
beginning. You will be led from here and into the dinning hall for
breakfast after which there will be a meeting with all of you in
attendance. There will be no questions until that meeting is over. Now
follow the MP's to the dinning hall."
The men looked at each other and then followed the MP's to where
breakfast was ready for them. There was a table already set with food
on plates and drinks and utensils. 10 plates down one side and 10 down
the other. Name cards said where each person was to sit. There was
little confusion as those men found their name and sat at that place.
Once all were seated they heard a piped in voice of Mr Erie tell them
that they could start eating.
After breakfast was finished they were again escorted by the MP's to
where the meeting was to be held. Again there were chairs all set up.
10 down one side of the room and 10 down the other and in the same
order as the seating at breakfast had been. Mr Stone was in this room
and told the men not read the folders under their seats. They all took
their chairs and waited to be told what was next.
While this was going on and since eating breakfast, George noticed
that he felt a little strange somehow. He looked around to the others
and noticed a few others were sitting not as relaxed as they could
have been. Two even were rubbing their bellies a little. Then Mr Stone
was speaking.
"Look at the person across from you and remember that person. This man
will be your partner for the duration of this experiment. You may
communicate with others here, but your partner will be your roommate
and your caretaker and your assistant. Stand up and shake hands with
the man across from you and exchange names then sit back down."
George stood up and walked to the middle and met his partner. Fred
Durst from 'supply' was now George's partner. Fred was older than
George. George is 22 years old and Fred is 35 years old. George is 5ft
7inches while Fred is 6ft 5inches. George is a blond while Fred is a
redhead.
Everyone had stepped back after introductions were over and were all
told to sit down. Then a divider came down from the ceiling separating
one side of men from the other. They were told to take the folders up
and start reading them over. While reading them George was really
starting to feel strange in his stomach and all over. He snuck a look
around and saw others looking a little peaked too. The chair he was
sitting in was getting uncomfortable. Out of the corner of his eye
George noticed a few guys fall out of their seats to the floor in a
faint. George soon followed them to the floor blacking out.
When George came too he noticed that he was still on the floor. But
things looked different somehow. He looked around and saw his chair
but it was way up above his head! He looked around some more and saw
the others on his side of the divider looking around sort of in a daze
as well.
"Ok, the divider will lift up and I want you to find your partners
again please."
George stood up as the divider wall rose into the air into the
ceiling. Then there was screaming and confusion from all over the
room. The men on George's side of the room now saw what had happened.
They had been shrunk! Their partners were starting to come over and
saw the little men scurrying away from the now giant men coming after
them.
"STOP!"
"EVERYBODY FREEZE. STOP MOVING AND STOP RUNNING AND SCREAMING!"
"FREEZE AND SHUT UP!"
Most everyone stopped in their tracks at the loud command from Mr
Stone. Some of the little men ran to be under their chairs where they
felt safer somehow. All turned to look at Mr Stone.
"I want everyone to CALMLY find your partner. There is nothing to be
afraid of. Tall ones, just stand there where you are, let your littles
find you themselves. Come on little ones, find your partners and stand
at their feet. Come on, we don't have all day."
As fearful as George felt right now he still looked for Fred and found
him and tentatively stood at his feet. It was hard to look way up to
Fred, hurt his neck. George guessed that he was now around 3 to 5
inches high. He was taller than Fred's shoe, about one inch higher
than Fred's ankle. Fred's shoes were so shiny that George could see
himself in them, George saw the look of fear on his own face.
Fred looked down at George and couldn't imagine what had happened. He
took a quick look around and saw the other guys. It was a really
strange sight. Guys his height all looking down at men about 4 inches
high. Fred just couldn't get over it, he was scared for George he had
just met a few minutes ago, his partner. What was this experiment
anyways? What were they going to do now? He wanted to say words of
encouragement to George so as not to scare him. Fred did catch
George's eye and tried a smile and a wink, it seemed to work a bit, at
least he got a smile back from George.
Tall men, Mr Erie will be coming around to you with a lined box. Take
a box from him and await my instructions. Do NOT take anything out of
the box, just leave it alone until I give you the next instructions.
Little men, please be assured that your safety is being looked after.
While you are in our presence you will be safe. So please just remain
where you are standing next to your partner."
Fred noticed Mr Erie moving carefully among the standing men handing
out the boxes as he went. Fred took the box from Mr Erie as he came to
him and looked at it. The box was one foot deep and was about one foot
across and two feet long. The box was lined with a soft cloth and was
padded. There was a draw-string white muslin bag inside the box. Of
course Fred wondered what was inside the bag but waited for
instructions. He looked down at George and saw him still there by his
foot looking around at the other small men around him. Fred was
certain that George was still a bit freaked but he did seem to be a
little more relaxed than he was earlier.
"I now want you to take the bag out from the box and set it carefully
on the floor near you for now. Do NOT open it now. Carefully set the
box on the floor and using your hand gently put your partner into the
box and stand up slowly."
Fred did as instructed. Fred had had his share of pets growing up and
was amazed how this reminded him of the hamsters and guinea pigs that
he had kept as a kid. But when he gently had his hand around George it
was as unlike anything he had experienced before. Fred did pause a
little before he put George into the box.
"George, please don't be afraid. I will be careful for you and take
care of you. Just be cool..." Fred smiled and winked at George again
and saw George smile back at him as he placed George into the box.
Fred then stood and waited to find out what the next instruction would
be.
"Tall ones, I want you to go to your seats now and sit down. Carefully
place your boxes on the floor at your feet and place the bag next to
it. Take your folders from under your seats and open to the first page
and wait."
Fred did as instructed. He opened his folder and saw on the first page
at the top his full name and rank and social security number. The next
line was George's full name and rank and social security number. Below
that information was a big black block number "6". That was all that
was on that page.
"Little ones, I will be talking to your partners now. Relax a bit but
pay attention as there will be some information needed from you at
times here shortly. Tall ones, you will see your names and ranks and
social numbers at the top of the page. Raise your hand if that
information is incorrect."
"The next line is the information of your partner. Please relay that
information to them and raise your hands if that information is
incorrect."
"The number you see is the number you have both been assigned for the
duration of this experiment. Your seat number is that number as is
your berthing compartment and so on. You will either be called by your
last name or your assigned number so pay attention for either. Now
turn the page and start reading. I will give you 20 minutes to read
this last bit of information."
Fred started reading. Basically this was information that described
when reveile (wake-up time) was, when taps (sleep time) was, when
meals were, general rules of order. There was no information about
just what this experiment was though. There was LOTS of time set aside
each day for non-disclosed reasons. There was also time set aside for
exercise.
In other words the day started at 0500 and ended at 2100 (9 PM). There
was time for 3 meals a day. They were on duty every day except Sunday,
but they couldn't leave the building unless instructed to do so. They
were allowed incoming mail, but ALL outgoing mail was screened before
being sent. Failure to adhere to the rules would get that person brig
time before being released to the general population on-base.
"Close your folders. You will be allowed to take them with you. You
are now going to your quarters. There you will find clothes for
yourself and for your partner. Inside the bag is furniture for your
partner's quarters. You will help him set-up his quarters and get them
squared away. There will be surprise inspections periodically. You are
responsible for keeping your quarters clean and ship-shape. Tall ones,
you are responsible for the care of your partners. You will keep them
clean and attend to their needs aside from medical attention. If any
medical attention is needed, day or night, the MP's will be around 24
hours a day and will attend to any situation that would arise."
"Gently pick up your bags and boxes and follow the MP's to your
assigned quarters. Just for today you will have nothing to do until
dinner time. We will start early in the morning so get rest and
remember, reveile is at 0500 sharp."
One of the MP's barked out, "This way."
The 10 normal sized men all followed the MP's to the area that housed
the sleeping quarters. All the doors had numbers on them from 1 to 10.
So Fred went to door number 6 and opened it and went inside and put
the bag on the bed and gently put the box there next to it. He did a
quick glance around the room before turning to George in the box.
Quite a large room Fred noticed. But it had to be. Half of the room
was for his own bed and personal locker. There was a good sized desk
with a computer on it at the other end of the room. The other half of
the room was for what was to be 'housing' for George.
What was there was quite an elaborate contraption made of clear shiny
plastic that was comprised of several levels. On the ground floor was
what looked to be an exercise area. There was miniature workout
equipment there already.
Stairs went up to the second floor. This was the study area. A large
living room style area here and that is where Fred and George put the
sofa and chair and ottoman. There was already wall to wall carpet
there. There was a door that led to a shelf like porch thing that came
to the desk. It didn't connect to it, just came to six inches of the
edge of the desk. But from here George could see the computer screen
with no problem. This is where they put the desk and chair for George.
More stairs led to the third level where the bedroom was. More
carpeting and they put the bed and locker and other upholstered chair
here. There were curtains inside that George could draw for privacy
from Fred all along the wall facing inside the room.
Because there were doors George could control the temperature inside
his 'apartment'. There was a screened off area in the bedroom that was
for the 'bathroom' of sorts there. Just to take care of elimination
needs, no running water. That would have to emptied each morning and
Fred would have to take George to the main bathroom for his personal
cleaning perposes.
George was glad that Fred was so conscious of his where-abouts. Fred
never assumed anything without asking George's opinion first. George,
not Fred, would have to live in this glass house, so Fred told George
he wanted him to be as comfortable as he could be. George was also
aware that Fred was nervous about handling him. Fred had held George
only twice so far. Once to get him into the box, which Fred kept in
his locker for now. And again to get George out of the box and onto
the floor where George's 'front door' was to his new quarters. George
noticed that Fred's hand was very rough and callused from the work
that Fred did apparently. But he was still gentle in handling George.
Fred was having a lot of thoughts and emotions pass through his head
as this day was progressing. He was becoming more and more amazed by
George and his size. When they were furnishing George's quarters he
let George make the decisions where things would go. Fred found
himself watching George through the clear walls of the housing. He
observed how George moved around the place. Up and down the stairs,
packing his clothes into the personal locker in his bedroom. He never
felt this way when he had his hamster or guinea pig. It was more like
being a voyeur, spying on someone doing their private living. Fred was
feeling thrilled and was embarrassed for feeling that way, but
couldn't stop stealing glances just the same.
After they got all settled they started talking. Fred was propped on
his bed and George was in the chair on the study porch. They did the
usual questions, where you from, what do you do, and such like that.
But eventually the conversation came around to why they were there
talking to each other in the first place.
"I have to admit to you, Fred, that I am really scared what the out-
come of this experiment could be. I mean, they don't warn you about
this shrinking thing, what could they do next? That is what makes me
very nervous." George said.
"I can't imagine what I would do in your place, George. You seem to be
keeping yourself together fine. I don't know what to expect either,
but we will have to count on each other. I want you to know that
whatever I can do I will do to protect you, George. I expect that you
would say and do the same if the shoe was on the other foot. But I
really mean it." Fred declared to George.
"Thank you, Fred. I could tell how you handle me that you are as
nervous about all this as I am. Well, it will certainly be a huge
learning experience for us, huh? Who would have ever thought that I
would be living as a rat for three months of my life?" George
surprised himself by snickering at that comment.
Fred smiled back at George's try at levity. "Well, you need anything
you just let me know. I'm going to try to connect with some of the
others here. Strength in numbers you know. It didn't say anything
about not having others in your quarters. I'll ask the MP's at dinner
what the rules are about that."
"That would be cool to make friends with the others here. I know two
others here already. One got shrunk and the other is your size."
They talked about other things and before they knew it was time for
dinner.


To be continued....