The Transformation: Briar

They have this machine that's supposed to quickly teach you everything you need to know about a new skill.

The little sprout was struggling, and I had the urge - I won't call it a compulsion - to ensure it grew up healthy.

Since I didn't know much about gardening, I figured I'd take the crash course on the subject. The science lab offered a class in the basics, and a book gave me a bit more insight. However, I finally decided that the best course of action would be to try the machine.

It took a total of eight sessions for me to learn everything I needed to know: three times I accidentally set my hair on fire, and had to put it out in the sink. But I finally knew enough to properly tend - whatever freakish mutant plant had become my responsibility.

I swear by everything you hold holy, the thing was alive, in a 'more than plantlike' sense. It moved slightly, here and there. It wilted when I cursed and ranted at the world, and it stood tall and proud when I praised it.

Imagine my horror to realize the plant bled. Human blood oozed from the cuts when I trimmed the excess growth away.

That was particularly horrifying.

It withered and died when I plucked the fruit of its labors. Its task was done, and I held a smallish ... organ ... in my hand. It was green, fading into red from the top and the bottom. It resembled nothing quite so much as a human heart.

"What is this?!"

Naturally, I took the plant to the recruiter, who smiled politely at me. "Eat it," he suggested.

For my part, I stared at him like he'd grown two extra heads.

"Are you crazy?"

His eyes changed colors as I fell into their depths, from a dull hazel to a luminescent green.

"Eat it," he repeated.

My hands brought the fruit to my lips, and my mouth opened, closed, chewed, swallowed - all without my input on the matter.

I was somewhere - else.

"Good. You'll be staying here for the next few hours. I am eager to reap the rewards of my - ah - our - research." He smiled as I doubled over in pain.

Tears streamed down my face. I'm not ashamed. There was something wriggling its way through my veins, and as I watched, my hands and arms developed green blemishes.

I don't remember all the details of my transformation. All I recall is the unimaginable pain. I think I threw up everything I had ever ingested and then some. All the while, those green, glowing eyes stared at me, fascinated. "Good," he murmured. "Good."