Officers Jim Broussard and Tania Seagrove were sipping their coffees when their radio cackled "Drive by shooting, black car identified speeding toward....". Even as they listened, a black car whizzed past. John and Tania sped away behind it. As they followed, the black car turned into an alley and they followed suit. The car had stopped at the dead end of the alley. The occupants must have climbed the chainlink fence to the other side. Jim and Tania got out with guns drawn, checked out the black car, saw nobody inside, then climbed the fence, landing on the other side. They entered the abandoned building a little beyond the fence, where Jim suggested they seperate and fan out in opposite directions.
Jim was to check out the northern side of the building and Tania the southern side. They had patrolled the streets of Montreal together for 2 years now and complemented each other very well. Their minds were connected. Jim barged into a door that was slightly ajar. It was dark inside. He called out for any occupants to surrender. Just then, a change came over him...
Tania heard Jim cry out for help and came running. She had just reached the door when Jim, or something which used to be Jim, staggerd out. He had an equine muzzle instead of his human face, his hands and feet were turning into hooves. Tania stood transfixed at the change coming over her partner. She snapped out of her trance to radio for help. Jim's clothes were tearing off as his human torso took on equine shape. His cries turned into equine whinnies. He plopped down to all fours. Tania stood transfixed as he turned into a horse and then fainted...
She woke up in hospital where she was being treated for shock. She was told jim had been taken to a facility where animal morphs were treated. After her discharge from hospital, her superior Brendan Walsh recommended she take a fortnight off.
As she reported back for duty 2 weeks later, Brendan told her she had been assigned another job to prevent any recurrence of trauma. "Oh, I am being transferred to a desk job now" Tania soghed to herself but reluctantly agreed.
Surprise, she was driven to Mountie HQ and taken to the stables. Her new superior Jeremy Brown received her. "I want you to meet your mount now. Be ready for another surprise" he told her and motioned for the horse to be brought out. So she was a Mountie now, not a file pusher. She was immensely relieved. Her mount-to-be was brought out. To her pleasant surprise, It was Jim! She went over to him, petted his face, stroked his mane and broad back. "Would you like to saddle him yourself"? asked Jeremy. She readily agreed. The riding tack was soon handed over and she placed the saddle on Jim's back. "Have you been traned for riding"? she enquired of Jim. The horse nodded. "Did they say what changed him? Can he change back"? she asked turning to Jeremy. "We tried but could not get him to change back. As for the cause, we believe it to be voodoo". As he spoke, Tania placed the bridle on Jim's muzzle, inserting the bit in his mouth. "He has been trained by Clarissa Heilbrun, an expert rider and trainer. He's fast adjusting to his horse form. But his human intelligence exists, which makes him an exciting mount" Jeremy assured her. Jim nodded.
Riding tack in place, Tania held the reins in her hands and mounted Jim's back. She sat comfortably astride his back. "You can take him for a ride today and get used to him. Take the day off. You'll get your Mountie uniform tomorrow. You already seem comfortable on his back" jeremy piped up. Tania thanked him and turned to her mount. "Okay partner, let's get a move on". She nudged her horse into motion. Jim soon broke into a trot and they got of Mountie HQ. Tania urged him on to a canter. Soon his hooves were clip-clopping on the cobbled streets. Tania felt this would be the beginning of a long, fruitful partnership. The difference now? She was the controlling partner.