Transcribed from the audio journal of Dr. Paul Ahearn, research scientist.

Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011

We have received approval to go forward with human testing of our experimental new virus.  This will mark a first as a way of addressing human health, and may be a real breakthrough in the treatment of obesity.

The virus, R-4572-B, has shown great promise in lab animals.  Overweight animals treated with the virus grew to the point that their weight was appropriate, the fat transformed into additional size, muscle and bone.  The tests also showed that animals of normal weight were immune.

The virus has been given a nickname, coined by my colleague Dr. Jessica Egolf:  the Undertall Virus.  The name stems from a joke that was popular in the 1990s, "I'm not overweight; I'm undertall."

Ironically, Jessica herself would seem at a glance, to those unfamiliar with the virus, to be an ideal candidate for the virus testing.  Dr. Egolf is four feet, eleven-and-a-half inches tall and well over 200 pounds in weight.

The problem for her is that her situation is as extreme as it is.  The virus' effects on more extreme obesity cases isn't where we are in testing.  Among the women, we're starting with those who are more than  five-foot -two and under 200 pounds in weight, but above their recommended weight by at least 10 percent.  More extreme and morbidly obese testing will come later.

We will select test subjects tomorrow.

***

Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011

The test subjects have been selected.  Fifty men and 50 women were chosen.

I was surprised to discover that Dr. Egolf had applied to be a test subject.  She was reminded that she was ineligible for the tests as a member of the team, and that her physical condition didn't meet the tests requirements.

The virus will be administered tomorrow.  From there, the gestation period has been six days in the analog animals;  we'll see if that pans out here.

***

Oct. 8, 2011

There was an accident during virus administration today -- only I'm not sure it was an accident.

A vial of the virus was dropped in a room with three of the subjects.  It landed on a corner of the table and aerosolized, exposing all three of the subjects to the virus, along with the team member administering it -- Dr. Egolf.

The subjects exposed included two women and one man.  Their data will still be included in the experiment, but not Dr. Egolf's since she wasn't part of the approved testing group.

Still, Jessica didn't seem overly upset by the development, and her condition will definitely need to be monitored.

I have to admit, I hope it helps Jessica.  She's very facially pretty -- beautiful, even -- but I don't think she gets much attention from men.  The truth is, I'd ask her out myself, but I've always been hesitant to date a colleague.

***

Friday, Oct. 14, 2011

We got a surprise from our initial data today.  The only people growing from the virus' effects appear to be those who were exposed to the aerosolized virus -- and only the women.

Even more surprising was that the woman who demonstrated the most growth after one day was Jessica. Where the other two only grew about a tenth of an inch, Jessica's height increased by 1 percent.  Growing more than half an inch overnight, she is now just over five feet tall.  She beamed at the news.  Her smile is really quite lovely.

***

Monday, Oct. 17, 2011

Our overall test results of the Undertall Virus have been very disappointing.  The two official test subjects who grew each stopped after gaining about an inch.  This is totally at odds with the testing on the animal subjects.

The only person exposed to the virus who is still growing is Jessica. She is five-foot-two-today, and indicated she is continuing to grow about one percent of her height each day.

I have to admit, I told her how glad I was for her and patted her hand as I did so.  She smiled back at me and said, "Thank you,"

***

Monday, Oct. 24, 2011

Jessica's growth is continuing.  She's now actually slightly taller than most of the other women on staff at five feet, six-and-a-half inches.

I've also noticed that she has begun to flirt with me more and more.  I haven't intentionally flirted back, but she is becoming more and more attractive every day, and I already thought she was pretty.  I suspect I've sent her some signals of interest;  it would be difficult for me not to do so.

***

Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011

Now standing nearly five-foot-eight, Jessica approached me this afternoon.  "Um, look, Paul," she said.  "I was wondering if I could interest you in a date Friday -- say, dinner and a movie?"

It was hard for me to resist the tall beauty, even if she is still a bit on the heavy side.  I agreed.  We'll see what happens Friday.

***
Friday, Oct. 28, 2011

Jessica surprised me when she arrived for our date.  She was wearing spiked heels that made her six feet tall.  She looked me in the eye when she arrived.

It appeared to startle Jessica, too.  Then I told her how lovely she looked -- which was the truth -- and she beamed at me.  That smile was hard to resist.

I noticed that Jessica ate what seemed like a lot of food, even for a woman of her weight, at the restaurant.  She also consumed a fair amoun t of popcarn at the movie.

Still, it was hard to concentrate on things scientific.  Jessica has become an amazon beauty, and she definitely seems to be as interested in me as I am in her.

When she dropped me at my house,. Jessica looked unsure of what to do.  "I really enjoyed myself tonight," she said.

"I did, too," I said.  "Can I see you again -- outside the lab, I mean?"

Jessica's eyes widened as she smiled.  "I'd like th"at," she said.  "Um, actually, I've been invited to a costume party Monday for Halloween.  I could use a date for that.  I know it's short notice for a costume, but would you be interested?"

"Very," I said.

"Um, … Paul, there's a problem, maybe.  Every indication is that I'm still growing.  That means that, in my costume's heels, I'll be taller than you.  Are you OK with that?"

I smiled and shrugged at the same time.  "I think most of the other guys there will be jealous of me being with the most beautiful woman in the room," I said.  "Besides, as long as I'm with you, that's what matters.  I don't care if I hurt my neck looking up at you, even."

Jessica's eyes were tearing up.  "You think I'm beautiful."

"Actually, I always have," I said.

Suddenly I was being kissed -- hard.  I didn't object.  It was both a solution to an awkward moment and what I'd wanted to do anyway.

***

Monday, Oct. 31, 2011

Jessica is now taller than most of the men here at just a little bit more than five-foot-eleven.  She's still shorter than me -- Today.  By tomorrow, she'll be about my height, and taller than me by Wednesday.

I had pieced together a costume as a street vendor using a cap, jacket and some watches I pinned to the jacket's lining.  I arrived at Jessica's home and rang the bell.

When  she opened the door, my eyes almost popped out o my head.  Jessica was dressed as Wonder Woman, and towered over me in her heels.

"What do you think?" she asked

I couldn't find words.  I just grinned in amazement.

"That good?" she said.

I nodded.

"So, you're a street hustler?"

I nodded. "And I think you just may have my heart under arrest."

Jessica placed a finger to my lips.  "Hold onto that thought for later," she said.

"Yes ma'am," I said.