Today was one of the rare days that Dr. Rebecca Holiday was out on the field testing. Along with Rex, Six, Bobo, and an armed escort, they were chasing a group of Evos running through a field. “This group of Evos was deemed incurable by Providence, but we haven't had the resources to commence with full capture. However, that may change today: Dr. Holiday will now explain,” Six briefed the escort. Rex wasn't paying attention until Holiday cleared her throat. She wore standard-issue agent clothes with metallic gauntlets on her arms and boots on her legs. Wires trailed up her arms and legs to a battery pack covering her ample chest and around her back. “Thank you, Six; I'll keep the explanation brief. I've made modifications to the cure machine Brandon Moses originally invented. I've condensed his invention down to what I am wearing now. It is our only model, and it took considerable time to build this prototype. If mine and Caesar's math is correct, this should cure Evos as Rex can. The boots will help me move fast enough to keep up with Rex and Six,” Rebecca explained. The grunts awed and ohed hearing Holiday explain her invention.

Rex raised his hand, asking, “Uh Doc, if those gloves can cure Evos, why not test it at base? We have tons of incurables there, and I wouldn’t need to travel in the middle of nowhere.” Holiday knew he would ask this, so she responded with this. “Because Rex, these Evos have been getting too close to a small town, and we've been asked to deal with it. Besides, do you ever need an excuse to beat up Evos? If it does work, that means you get more free time,” Rebecca replied. “More free time means more taco time, kid. Seems like a good deal to me,” Bobo said, not looking up from a magazine he was reading. “Exactly. Now get ready; we’re almost on top of the herd.”

The convoy circled the herd, trapping them inside. The Evos screeched in defense, grouping together. “Remember people, pacify them. Rex, you're up,” Six said, jumping into action. “No need to tell me, Six. I got this”, Rex said, instantly building his own pair of mechanized legs. He launched himself at the herd, knocking 3 of them down while the rest scattered. “Boo-yeah! That’s how you do it!” he boasted. The grunts fired tranq darts as they closed in. Holiday joined in, sprinting to one of the Evos, shocking it with one punch. “Hey Doc, nice moves!” Rex shouted as he held off one of them with his mechanized fists. The herd was quickly dealt with and contained. Hold it right there, Rex! We don't want it thrashing around once this starts,” Rebecca said as she walked closer. Tapping a few buttons gauntlets, energy began to build up in both palms.

Electricity surged in both gauntlets as Dr. Holiday pressed her hands against the Evo. With a blinding light, an ostrich was left in the spot where the Evo was. “Seriously? We just cured an overgrown chicken? We sure are some saviors here,” Rex complained. “Come on Rex, we still have five more to go. I'll buy you and Bobo a pizza after this,” Holiday said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “It better be extra large with extra toppings,” he grumbled as he held another one down. Holiday zapped each one as she had done before, all of them reverting to being normal animals. “Alright, we'll head back to Providence base soon. Pack up and– get down!” Six said as an explosion destroyed one of the transports. 

Red swirling portals appeared out of thin air, Evos pouring out of them in droves. Behind them followed their leader, Van Kleiss, and the members of the Pack. Rex summoned his giant sword and pointed at the Evo mastermind. “Van Kleiss, finally coming to your senses and surrendering?” Rex joked. “Oh, come now, Rex,” his opponent said, “Do you really believe that I would surrender to you? No, I’ve been watching your little outing here since you left Providence. This… toy the good doctor invented could prove problematic in the future. Thus, we must halt this project and take your doctor for our own.” Their foe snapped his fingers, signaling his forces to attack.

The Providence grunts unloaded rounds into the opposing Evos as Rex and Six followed their leader and Biowolf. Scalamander waddled after Holiday but was cut off by blasts from Bobo's guns. The doctor rushed around, aiding who she could while avoiding capture. She contemplated attempting to cure some of the downed Evos but surmised it would leave her wide open and could leave civilians in danger. Breach rose up from a portal, giggling as she was about to save another grunt. “Little miss doctor, curing incurable. What’s wrong? Think you’re too good to be one of us?” she joked as she grabbed at Holiday. Rebecca managed to avoid being grabbed but caught a stray crystal shard in her energy pack. 

Electricity arked from her energy packs as she tried to take it off. Rex was sent flying and landed on one side of Holiday while Van Kleiss stood an equal distance from the other. Both leaped at the doctor, arms raised to cure/turn her. They each grabbed an arm and sent their nanites into Rebecca as the pack on her surged. Energy bubbled from Holiday's chest before exploding, sending everyone flying back. Rebecca writhed as the three powers fought within her body. Each group rushed to her before another explosion came from her, knocking out friend and foe. The aftermath of having been blown up twice drained the energy from Holiday, and she passed out in the field.

Some time later:

Once Rebecca woke up, she saw that she was alone on the grass. Most of the transports were destroyed, but a few still stood. Unfortunately, there was still heavy damage done to them and none of them were the jets. She turned her earpiece on, trying to call for any of her allies. “Rex, are you there? Rex, can you hear me? Six, do you copy? Bobo? Does anyone copy? Hello?” she asked. The only sound she heard from the earpiece was static. “Providence base to Holiday. Van Kleiss attacked our convoy, and I found myself alone among the wreckage. Request immediate evac and search and rescue,” Holiday asked. “Evac and search and rescue request approved; stand by for pick up,” someone replied. She sighed, feeling relieved someone was coming. Rebecca took the time waiting to inspect herself and her surroundings. The explosions shredded a majority of her suit, along with her bra.

Holiday spotted a few pieces of clothing not too far away from where she was sitting. She stood up and walked to it. It was Rex’s jacket and, for some reason, his shirt, pants, and shoes. The doctor picked it up, put it on herself, and zipped it up. She was sure he wouldn’t mind, given the circumstances. Rebecca noticed movement under the black shirt Rex wore. She lifted the collar and saw a small human figure moving in the dark. It was an impossibility, but she asked anyway, “Rex, is that you?” The figure turned to face her, asking, “Doc? What the heck happened?! Why are you huge!? And why are your eyes glowing pink?”. The doctor reached inside the shirt and gently grabbed him, pulling him out into the light. He was left nude without his clothes, and he attempted to cover himself accordingly.

From a rough estimation, he seemed to be three inches tall. Holiday found a torn bit of cloth big enough to cover himself with. Rex could still construct his builds as he made his jet pack, flying near her. “Doc, as much as I want to look for Six and Bobo, Van Kleiss is still… crawling out of his shirt,” Rex said, flying over to him. Rebecca followed behind him, picking up a pistol that was on the ground. “Van Kleiss, stay there and don’t make any sudden moves. You’re coming with us whether you like it or not,” she said, pointing the gun at him. “Hmm, I have no clue as to what you or the doctor did Rex, but know that I will find a way to reverse this. I will have my revenge for this humiliation,” he said as he sank into a small red portal. Holiday and Rex were left there in the field, waiting for their evac.

Rebecca found Six and Bobo, along with what was left of the grunts that escorted them. Many were still unconscious, but Six was among the first to wake up. “Holiday, what happened? Why are we in this state?” he asked. “I'm not sure, Six, but I feel it might have to do with me. I won't be sure until we get to base,” she said, looking for any jets in the distance. Rex was still flying around close to the group, but he kept an eye out in case there were people Holiday didn't find or if they got attacked again. “Rex, do you see anything?” Rebecca asked. He landed next to Six, shaking his head. “Nada, no other agents or Evos anywhere. I guess all the noise from earlier scared anything living around here off. Hey, do you think any of the tanks have some water bottles or soda in them? All that flying around in the sun gave me some mondo thirst,” he said.

“Hm, let me look. Say with the group while I'm gone, Rex. Thankfully, you still have your powers; they'll need you to protect them. Use that earpiece to call me if something goes wrong,” Rebecca said, walking to one of the destroyed transports. “Aye, aye, doc,” he said, saluting her. She rolled her eyes as she walked to one of the wreckages. Holiday walked up to one that was relatively intact, except for the fact it was on its side and dented. She walked inside to a mess of small and large arms scattered across the floor. Fortunately, the emergency rations chest was still in its place. She pulled it off the wall and fished out a few water bottles, collapsible cups, and protein bars. Suddenly, there was chatter coming from her earpiece. “Holiday! Holiday, we're back to normal! Get back here, quick!” Rex said into the earpiece.

Holiday rushed back to where the group was but saw no normal-sized people there. The people who were gathered up were scattered on the ground rather than on the rock she left them on. “Rex, Six! What happened? I thought you said you were normal-sized?” Rebecca asked, placing them back on the rock. The group covered themselves with their hands once more as the cloth they had before shredded when they grew back. “I don't know. A minute or two after you left, we started to grow back,” Six explained. She looked down at the people on the rock and stared down at herself. “Then that explains it. Staying near me is what's causing you all to shrink. Rex, do you think you can cure me?” Rebecca asked. Rex approached the hand she placed on the rock and attempted to cure her. The glow of his nanites entering her body crawled up her hand. The glow quickly faded, and he stepped back, confused. 

“That's… weird. It's like your nanites are active but already deactivated,” Rex said, looking up at her. “It's okay, Rex, you tried your best. I can properly examine my mutation once we get back to base,” Holiday reassured him. While they waited, she poured water into the shrunken group's cups. They drank their fill as she tore up more cloth for them to wear. “Holiday to Providence; what's the ETA on the evac?” she radioed. “Evac Team to Holiday, ETA: three minutes, over,” they responded. “Hey doc, who's gonna rescue our rescue? The second they come near ya, they’re gonna be the same size as us.” Bobo mentioned. Rex and SIx gathered around him, with Six saying, “The monkey has a point. Do you think we need to warn the others before they land too close?” Holiday admitted they had a point and radioed ahead to land around the convoy circle instead of in it. “They've got their instructions. Does everyone want to fly with me, or do you want to head back on separate jets?” she asked the group.

Most everyone looked away, avoiding answering. “Look doc, no offense, but Bobo don't do tiny. I'd rather get big as soon as possible if you don't mind”, Bobo said. The grunts agreed, grouping around him. The sound of jets landing nearby caught the attention of the group. “We'll go with you, Doc. You've done tons for us, so it's the least we can do.” “Count on it,” Six and Rex said, stepping closer. Thank you, two. Now, let's get out of here. The sooner we get back and examine me, the better”, Rebecca said, scooping them up.

One explanation and jet ride later:

Holiday sat on her examination table, waiting for whatever Caesar was building to come in. She still had the jacket she borrowed from Rex on. Caesar insisted that she should be examined as soon as possible. She had to admit waiting to be tested in her lab was strange. She placed some of the pads she usually put on Rex on herself as she waited. Her head turned, hearing one of the doors to the lab open. A small drone with arms and a screen hovered in, with Caesar's face on it. “Hello, Dr. Holiday; I hope you can tolerate this drone until I can construct an adequate proxy. If it helps, it was Rex’s idea to put the screen on. He said it would make feeling examined less clinical. Shall we get started?” he said. “We may as well. Start the exam, Caesar,” Rebecca said, lying on the table. The drone activated the machine, sliding the doctor inside the tube. 

The scan left an odd sensation as it passed over her body. It was as if someone was running a blanket with static over her body with each pass. The procedure took little time, with everything pre-set before the drone arrived. The table slid back out from the tube, and she sat up. The drone tapped a few keys on the machine, revealing a deep scan of her body. “Fascinating, simply fascinating. Rex’s earlier observation was correct. Because of the nanites both he and Van Kleiss sent inside you, they are in a constant state of flux. Constantly activating and deactivating themselves. This could lead to further mutations affecting your physical or mental state. What is curious, though, is that the nanites structure itself has changed. Even the color differs from Rex’s blue and the usual yellow to pink. Very curious,” he explained. “What about when Scalamander shot the energy pack we made for the curing gear? Could that have energized my nanites enough to change them?” Holiday questioned.

“A definite possibility. I'll start construction on a suppression device, so you should be able to interact with people normally. For now, I don't think you will be able to sleep in Providence base”, he said. A screen blipped on behind the drone, showing White Knight's face. “I can't have a scientist who shrinks people just by being around them. Dr. Holiday, I'll have special quarters constructed for you until you get your powers under control or cured. In the meantime, that doesn't mean you get a vacation from working. I expect you to work as if you weren't an Evo,” he said before the screen turned itself off. “As kind as he is cheerful, is he not?” Caesar said. Rebecca sighed, stood up, and said, “That's actually pretty generous, considering he could've shipped me off to some remote research facility. At least I'll be able to work in the lab.” She stood up from the table and stretched as the drone began to hover out of the room.

The jacket's zipper shot off it, hitting one of the monitors. Caesar turned the drone around to investigate the noise. “Did the zipper on Rex’s jacket break? It seems some physical changes are already in progress,” he said as the drone scanned her. “Hm, it appears that there has been a very slight increase in your height,” Caesar said, displaying the readout on the drone's screen. Holiday held the jacket together as she listened to him talk. “Caesar, this probably isn't the time for another exam. Are you going to need anything else before building your suppression device?” Rebecca asked. “Only one more thing, please, hold out your arm,” he asked. She rolled up a sleeve and held out her arm. One of the arms of the drone extended and pressed into her, extracting a blood sample. “So I can match it to your personal genetic and nanite signature. Have a good day, Dr. Holiday,” he said, leaving her alone in her lab.