First, there was excitement, as the adrenaline rushed to their heads. Then, there was dread, as the consequences of their minuscule stature sunk in. Finally, there was nothing but fear left, as the world shook and their eardrums shattered, from the sound of a gasp.
"- I cannot believe it! I give you one simple thing to do, for your own safety, and you think yourselves smart enough to go against my word? Where are you- Hey! Stop right there!
- M-me?
- Yes, you. Look at you stumbling around. You can't even stand up for yourself. Do you really feel like you could have gone far now? I'm trying my best to find a way to get you back to normal and this is how you repay me? By leaving your container and running around the lab? You know how dangerous it is for you and your little friends out there?
- Y-yes Madam...
- So why did you think running would be a good idea?
- I don't k-know...
- You what? Speak up!
- I don't know, Madam!
- You don't know... Of course you don't know. That's why big people like me make the rules for tiny people like you. Because clearly, if you can't obey the simplest rules, how on Earth could you think for yourselves?
- W-we're scared. We want to go home! It's been 3 months, you can't keep us like this forever! We have families, people looking for us.
- You still think you're here against your will? Remind me, did Overwatch shrink you during that heist?
-N-no...
- Then who did?
- The robbers...
- Then what did Overwatch do since then? What did I do for the past 3 months?
- K-kept us...
- KEPT YOU?!
- Tried to help us! I'm so s-sorry!
- Exactly. If you believe I've only had to worry about you and all the people who shrunk in that bank, then you're severely mistaken tiny one! And if you know how to reverse a physically impossible process, make sure to let me know, because I'm still working on it. But sure, I'm keeping you against your will. What a terrible jailor I have been these past 3 months. Feeding you, giving you all you need to be comfortable and working my ass off to grow you back!
- But you grew back the other hero who was there! I remember. I saw her get shrunk, and she's normal now! She walked in and shook our box the other day as if nothing happened! Why didn't grow us back too then?!
- Are your cells unattached to space and time like the Lieutenant?
- I... I don't know... No?
- No they aren't. So I can't just grow you back.
- I'm so sorry Madam... Me and the others... we didn't know. We thought you could grow us back but didn't want to. Especially since you gave us all those tasks... We thought...
- That I planned to keep you? Your bunch really isn't that interesting or useful. How self-centered. Now, you're gonna tell me where your little friends are so I can all pick you all up and put you back in the container like the nice giant that I am. If not...
- I'll tell you! We left this morning, Madam. Some of us went towards the window. However, a group wanted to find their way down to the floor to escape by going under the door. If you look you should-
- Right there! Hey! Stop right where you are and come here now. You better stop or I'll make you stop. Do you really think you can outrun me? I just have to take one step and I'll catch up... Oh no. Why is there so many of you down there!? Did I?
- ...
- Oh my. Are they?
-...
- Oh... Well, in that case. See what happens when you don't listen to me? See that? Now are you all going to listen like good tiny people should? Good. You're lucky I'm the one who found you, let me tell you. Well... except for these two I guess. If the Lt. Oxton was here, trust me, you wouldn't have it as good..."
And here it is! The first ever Community Commission on this Patreon! I've really tried to incorporate as much of your feedback as I could. Whether it was about riding the line between gentle and dominant, adding a good touch of footwear-focused stuff and even a pinch of abuse of power ;)
I hope you like it! It required 3 full days of work to get done (started Thursday afternoon, finished Monday afternoon), so I hope it's all worth it. Make sure to let me know :D