Through the Vortex
Part 12 - An Eventful Day
Warnings: Limey

The morning after taking the restorative elixir I awoke free of pain. My body was back to normal, as if the excruciating punishment had never happened. Frankly, I was astonished. After two days of abject misery I'd been completely restored to good health with the elixir Hildah had ordered Mueller to give me the night before. It was clear to me at that point that Erith's medical technology far exceeded Earth's, at least where drugs were concerned. I wondered if all the tasty drinks that society enjoyed were laced with some type of drug that caused a specific reaction: undisturbed sleep, prolonged sexual arousal, instant pain reliever, a sense of contentment, etc.

Though my curiosity was piqued, I couldn't help but wonder why, if the drug that had almost instantly cured all my pain had been available, hadn't I been given it sooner? I asked that very question to my caretaker and, in his usual patient manner, he explained that an important part of being corrected was to experience the lingering pain and disapproval of my Chooser. He more or less said that a punished Chosen was allowed to linger in that state of suffering because it gave him an opportunity for introspection. Apparently the standard length of time for this "introspection" was two full cycles before the restorative was given. The whole experience, beginning with Hildah's chastisement, initial punishment, the two cycles of residual pain, ending with instantaneous relief, also by the hand of my Chooser, was to serve as a lesson and lasting reminder to me not to step out of the bounds of my rank and contract. I hate to admit it, but that one shocking punishment effectively achieved its purpose because there was no way in hell I wanted to be punished like that again. The memory of that unbearable pain, caused by my simple looking collar, would have me on my toes from then on, as perfect a Purple as I was capable of being. With that resolve in mind, I decided to pay more attention to what Mueller was telling me in order to avoided any more unforseen pitfalls.

As the next few days passed, our routine back in place, I began to notice a change taking place in my body, which I guessed was due to the heramones. My skin felt softer and was extremely sensitive to touch. When Mueller bathed me, my nipples hurt when the cloth in his hand rubbed across them. I really didn't know what the drug was that I was being given, the heramones, only its purpose. I wondered if the soft and sensitive skin was just a side affect. When I asked Mueller, he assured me what I was experiencing was normal and that the infusions were necessary for the upcoming procedure.

Each night that week, Hildah called for me to share the evening meal with her. She appeared completely at ease with me and was always in control of herself, me and the entire evening. She never spoke of my infractions nor my punishment. However, they were never far from my mind. Knowing that she could give me a neck band a mark without lifting a hand, or worse, that horrific punishing pain with a glance of her eyes, had me feeling jumpy whenever her eyes lingered on me for more than a moment. I forced myself to appear calm, refusing to flinch or cower because that's just not my style. Despite my resolution to be strong, the memory of the pain she inflicted on me was still fresh and, subsequently, I found it hard to look her in the eyes. If she noticed the change in my behavior, she ignored it.

Most of our dining conversation centered around her excitement about the upcoming procedure: the removal, fertilizing and the implantation of her fertilized seedlings. With sincere concern she asked after my health and assured me that all would be well and not to be anxious. I became confused by her expressions of concern and her assurances and began to wonder what it was that I was supposed to be so nervous about. Sure, it had been quite a while since I'd had to rely on my hand for sexual release - Heero had made sure of that - but I was pretty sure I could produce the sperm required as long as I was left alone in a room. Maybe she was afraid I'd feel too pressured to produce on demand. I certainly hadn't experienced any problems in the past, but then again, I'd never been a sperm donor before.

Four cycles, or rather, days after Herron's last visit, he returned for another. Though I was initially reluctant to repeat my betrayal to Heero, Mueller convinced me to see him, telling me Herron wouldn't understand my refusal and would be hurt by my rejection. I told myself to be strong, that a visit didn't have to be a sexual one. I had every intention of sitting Herron down and having a conversation with him, hoping to get to know him better.

He entered my bedroom looking even sexier than he had before - if that was even possible. I decided it really didn't matter what he wore, (and secretly I wondered if he had anything that wasn't see through) for it was his half-lidded, bedroom eyes that took my breath away and turned my libido into a traitorous bastard, foiling my plans to abstain from whatever intentions those devil eyes held in store for me. Pinching myself on the soft flesh of my underarm, I gained some control over myself and manage to sit Herron on the edge of my bed while I positioned myself next to him, at a safe distance. I then commenced telling him that I wanted to talk. He began to scoot over towards me with a wicked gleam in his eyes, so I stretched out my arm and gripped his shoulder, physically keeping him at arm's length. His eyes filled with confusion when I told him I was serious and that I wanted him to tell me something about himself.

He capitulated, reluctantly, began to speak of his progenitors and an older sib who was a blue. He had lived with them on the island of Japai far across the great waters of Olean. He spoke without emotion of his home while inching closer and closer to me as I unconsciously let my guard down. The tales of his youth were whispered against my ear with a talented tongue teased me every now and then, igniting a heated desire for him within me. He was good at seduction, very good. My resolve and ability to offer up any form of resistance to his overtures melted the moment the man, so closely resembling my lover, tilted my head up with his fingertips and tenderly kissed me. With his arms around me and his tongue gently coaxing my lips apart, I didn't have the strength to resist. In retrospect, I blame it on my traumatic punishment from Hildah just days before. I can only guess that being so out of control of my own life left me vulnerable, needy and wanting Heero, for you see I clung to his double with an embarrassing desperation that at the time I didn't have the presence of mind to try and understand. My eyes followed him as he leaned towards the bedside table and poured a minute amount of the recognizable amber elixir into the finger glass, then held the cool rim to my lips. It was only a swallow's worth, but once again the effects were immediate. After pouring a drink for himself and swallowing it down, he replaced the glass and turned his full attention back to me. Our love making was slower that night, with a bit more finesse and not as desperate as it had been the first time. Herron took my breath away.

I awoke the next morning to find myself alone once again. At first I felt hurt and disappointed by the other man's absence. I was suddenly hit with a sense of shame, horrified that I'd had those feelings of longing for someone other than Heero. It wasn't right, I scolded myself. It was wrong for me to transfer my feelings for Heero to someone who merely looked like him, someone who, while able making my toes curl with his tantalizing kisses, did not share a past with me like Heero had. Upset with myself and frustrated by the entire situation, I spent the rest of the day being cantankerous and moody, earning Mueller's scowl of disapproval several times.

Seven cycles passed from the time I'd visited Sallah and Wudon, and I rose from my bed that morning us usual with Mueller giving me my injection and then feeding me my rising repast. We bathed, he dried me and my hair, then dressed us both in our purple clothing. Odd as it seemed, all these activities had become a familiar routine that I no longer balked at.

I was informed that Hildah had left for the Life Center earlier, and that we had several hours until we were expected. Mueller planned a surprise excursion for us, a visit to a Physical Expression Center to help pass the time. At first I didn't know what that meant, but seeing as I didn't have anything else to do, I was game. I hadn't seem too much of Sangor to compare it with Earth, and most of the places I'd been in I'd seen only the interior.

The transport let us off just outside the building that Mueller said we'd be entering. With curiosity I studied the behemoth. The structure of the building he led me to was very different in design than what I was used to, consisting of random sharp angles and a material that looked like white sparkling granite, which jutted out at odd angles from the sides and roof. It vaguely reminded me of several museums I'd seen pictures of and read about on earth, buildings that had been designed by some famous, modernist architects trying to come up with a structure that would surpass the artistic creations stored within their own work of art.

Low and behold my observations were correct. The Physical Expression Center was an art museum. I can't tell you how many pictures or statues of posed, copulating or frolicking naked people we passed by. The so-called art vaguely reminded me of the art galleries I'd seen in Florence, Italy, but after about ten minutes of looking at nothing but naked bodies, they all started to look alike. I had to feign interest after a while, but that came to an end the moment I met up with Quatre and Trowa's lookalikes.

The two familiar looking men were sitting together at a table off to the side enjoying what looked to be a light refreshment. They smiled brightly when our eyes met and it was clear that they recognized me. I quickly reminded myself that those two weren't my friends recognizing and greeting me, but that they were strangers that knew Duwan. Mueller followed my line of sight to see the two men at the table. He looked at me a bit warily, then proceeded to lead me by the hand towards them, quickly whispering under his breath that they were Kattron and Tradell. Quatre's double sat straight backed, confidently carrying an air of authority that I'd seem my friend don in business meetings or negotiations. His smile was gauged to be pleasant but not too friendly. As he waved us closer, I noted that Kattron's hair appeared blonder than Quatre's and much longer, past his shoulders and board straight. It gave the handsome man an ethereal glow that was accentuated further by the ceiling lights shining down and reflecting off the silky strands. He was dressed in a deep burgundy tunic and pants, with one band on his bare, upper right arm, a vibrant blue color. Still whispering, Mueller quickly informed me that Kattron was as high in rank as a male in their society could be, having a mother that was a Blue and a father as the same rank as himself. He was committed to a Blue and Tradell was their Chosen.

My eyes drifted to Tradell, who was dressed in purple, a shade lighter than my own rank of color. He bore the purple band of a Chosen, plus two more above it: blue and deep red. Those two Chooser's tattoos were entwined, loosely weaving around his upper arm. At first glance, I think Tradell reminded me the least of my friends back home. His hair was shorter, the long bang that was Trowa's trademark was gone and its color was a beautiful red, not a brassy, carrot shade but one with blond strands woven through it. The shorter style revealed the other man's eyes which were softer in expression and a less intensely green than the former Heavyarms pilot's eyes were.

As we came to a stop in front of their table, Mueller bowed to Kattron and I followed his example, doing the same.

"Greetings, Chosen Duwan and Caretaker Mueller," Quatre's duplicate said, still smiling.

"Greetings to you also, Kattron Red, Chosen Tradell," Mueller replied formally. "You both appear well."

"Duwan." Tradell's voice was soft as he spoke my name, but there was something in his tone that spoke of neediness.

"Greetings, Tradell," I answered with a smile, unused to seeing the face identical to Trowa's showing so much emotion. It seemed to me as if the other man was trying to tell me something with his eyes, appealing to me for something I couldn't name.

"I have not had the enjoyment of your companionship," the redhead said, still looking at me with a slight blush growing on his cheeks. "Perhaps you will come for a visit soon."

"Duwan meant no slight, Chosen Tradell," Mueller interjected, probably trying to save my butt. "He experienced an unfortunate accident at the Life Center and his mind and body needed a period to regain its balance."

Both seated men focused their eyes on me and no doubt saw the bruise on my right cheek where I'd hit the coffee table after falling during my punishment.

"Are you well?" Kattron asked, concerned.

"He has been a bit unsettled but all will be well soon," Mueller jumped to answer for me again. "We go from here to the Life Center. The Insertion procedure will happen this cycle."

Both men's eyes lit up with excitement. "That is most excellent," Kattron said. "You must rely on Tradell to answer any questions you may have or for a word of comfort and understanding."

A hopeful look radiated from the redhead's eyes as he nodded in agreement.

"I will. My gratitude," I managed to say, a bit shaken at Trowa's twin looking at me in such an openly hopeful manner. There was a spark of excitement in his eyes that I found more than a little disconcerting. I suddenly realized that it was the same kind of spark that shined in Trowa's eyes whenever he greeted Quatre after an extended separation caused by the circus or Quatre's business. I was pretty sure I didn't like what that look, now aimed at me, suggested. Tradell's beaming smile - something I'd never seen from my former comrade - came in response to my simple words of agreement. I was left with a strong impression that the redhead had a thing for Duwan.

"I'll call Mistra Hildah to arrange for you to spend come to our abode to visit with Tradell. It would certainly be a pleasing distraction for him from each cycle's tedium," Kattron said, looking from me to the man at his side. The soft smile displayed on the blond's face as he gazed at Tradell spoke plainly of his affection for the other man. The redhead returned a loving grin of his own, and it warmed my heart that the two men shared a connection in this world as well as in my own.

"Our viewing here has come to an end," Mueller interjected with a tone of regret, his hand squeezing mine. "We must take leave of you and make our way to the Life Center. Good cycle to you both." He bowed to first Kattron and then Tradell. I was quick to follow his example and left them with a last smile. After taking a few steps away, I turned my head for a last glimpse of the two men only to witness a much more sober Kattron putting his arm over Tradell's shoulder in a comforting manner. The redhead leaned into the embrace, looking sad. I couldn't help but wonder what had caused such a sudden downturn in their moods.

Brisk steps took us to the transport tube where Mueller summoned a capsule for us. When it came, he buckled me into my seat, then took his own. "I have sent ahead to the Life Center spare clothing in the event that you desire to change after the procedure."

I wondered if he was just thinking ahead, that if I got sloppy and my ejaculation got on my clothing, he'd be prepared. I'd gotten the idea that a Chosen never appeared in public in less than perfect form, so that explanation made sense. The rest of the short journey was made in silence, and the more I thought about what I was going to be asked to do, the more nervous I got. Maybe Hildah's worries had been justified. As edgy as I was becoming, I began to worry whether or not I'd be able to deliver the cup-of-goods expected. I looked up to Mueller sitting above from me in his seat with his eyes focused on the wall to his right, his lips pursed. His inattentive pose was unusual for him and I had the impression that something was bothering him. Maybe there was something he wasn't telling me. After the incident at the Correction Center, being blinded-sided by something I hadn't understood, my suspicions were easily aroused by things my caretaker did or said that didn't seem quite right. I reminded myself that Mueller had been kind to me, he'd served me, bathed, dressed and fed me. He even warned me of the consequences of my actions and advised me on how to behave in this strange and complicated world. He was my lifeline and I felt an almost desperate need to trust him, to believe that he had my best interests at heart, and so I tucked my suspicions deep down inside of me and decided to follow where he would lead.

We arrived at the Life Center shortly after leaving the museum and I noted that we were taking a different route than we had the week before. After a short walk we reach and then went through opening, red, double doors and were greeted by a man attired in what else but red, sitting behind a crescent-shaped desk. "Greetings," said the bald-headed, square-jawed man eyeing the both of us with an air of superiority that I'd always hated. He reminded me of a handful of people I'd met at Relena's mandatory attendance parties that were always filled with pompous people suffering from delusions of self importance and grandeur.

"Duwan, Chosen of Hildah of Red is here for removal and implantation." Mueller announced, taking on airs of formality himself. I had to keep myself from chuckling at his words to describe my jacking off into a cup in some back room and then inserting my sperm into Hildah's eggs. I guess on Erith there wasn't an easier way to say it.

The man's eyes widened and he stood from his chair looking anxiously at me. "Of course. Welcome once again, Chosen Duwan. I extend the center's regret for the unfortunate incident that befell you during your last visitation. Your Chooser has been compensated for the mishap and we will insure that your contract is fulfilled with no further delay."

I could only guess that the accident that had caused Duwan and I to switch places, if that's indeed what happened, shook the Life Center up a bit, for it wasn't an everyday occurrence for a Red to apologize to a Purple.

"We put our trust in the contract and in your care," Mueller said in response.

"We have not had a recurrence of that mishap since then," the Red said quickly. "We are all fortunate that neither the removal of your Chooser's seedlings nor your progeny fluid had taken place before that unexplained storm appeared. There is no saying what the damage to you or the seedlings might have been."

At that point I was nothing short of being confused. I figured out that this was where Duwan had been when we'd switched places in the vortex, but why would it have been worse after I'd jacked off in a cup? Before I could ask the questions popping up in my mind, Mueller began to speak.

"Mistra Hildah is anxious for us to begin," he said quickly.

The man behind the desk nodded and looked down to an apparently blank panel in front of him. Red lights in odd shapes lit up, and the man nodded to his left. "Follow if you will and Tish will lead you to the process room."

A door to our right opened and a petite young woman with short blond hair and dressed in red came towards us. "Welcome, Chosen Duwan," she greeted me with a smile. "It pleases me to see you have recovered and have returned to fulfill your contract. If you will follow me." She motioned with her hand for me to follow her to the door she'd come out of then led the way through it to the hallway beyond. We didn't walk far before she turned into one of the many doors that lined the red-walled corridor.

Once inside the room, I took note of the exam table with a thick purple pad resting on top of it with a pillow and a light, purple blanket folded neatly at the nearest end.

Looking directly at Mueller, the blond woman directed his next movements. "Remove his garments completely, Caretaker Mueller, and have the Chosen lie upon the resting pad." Tish then looked to the wall and a section of it, adjacent to the top edge of the bed, opened. The inside of the cabinet appeared to be filled with medical supplies and tools. She immediately pulled out several shelves, making the items more accessible.

As Mueller began to unfasten my clothing, I looked nervously at the woman and under my breath I asked my caretaker, "She's not staying in here, is she?"

Mueller frowned at me as he continued his task. "She performs this task frequently every cycle, Duwan. There is no need for shyness."

"I don't think I can do it with an audience. In fact, I know I can't."

Muller pulled my shirt off and said, "You have nothing to do. All that is necessary will be done for you."

"What?" I blinked with confusion at what he'd just said.

Seeing my expression, Muller smiled. "You are not to become anxious, Duwan. This process is unproblematic."

"Can you explain just what is going to happen here?" I asked as I stepped out of my pants and then the g-string underwear. With the woman in the room, I wasn't sure if I should use my hands to cover the front of me or the bared cheeks of my behind.

Before the blond man could answer me, the woman said authoritatively, "On the resting pad if you please, Chosen." Red faced and embarrassed as all hell, I tried to angle my way to the place I'd been directed to, my hands covering the front of me while trying to keep my bare ass out of her direct line of sight. I couldn't help thinking at that moment that if my friends could see me in this predicament, they'd be on the floor laughing their heads off. Judiciously climbing up on the high-set pad was another logistical, modesty-keeping nightmare. As soon as my butt hit the bed, I quickly pulled the folded blanket up and over my exposed body.

"Do you have an enactment?" the woman asked.

"Yes," Mueller answered and dug into the shoulder-strapped satchel that he always wore on our outings and pulled out a small clear case with a two inch disc inside. The woman in red took it from him and slid it into a silver box that resembled a miniature DVD player. "You may go," she told my caretaker. "Your task will be ready for you to attend in un unit. I will come myself to the waiting area for you at that time and deliver you to him. You will attend him until the next phase commences."

Mueller nodded, gave her a slight bow then stepped to my side. Taking my hand in his, he looked deeply into my eyes. "This is all part of the contract, Duwan. Draw from your courage and sense of honor to see this through. I'll return to you before long." Then with a last smile to reassure me, he left me alone in the room with a virtual stranger, and to do the five finger tango on myself.

With little else to do, I turned wary eyes on the only other person present. From the area above the floating tray she removed several items and set them on the flat surface in front of her. Picking one of the items up, she turned her attention back to me and smiled sweetly. "Are you in readiness?"

I swallowed so loud that I was sure she could hear it. "Um... how is this done?"

"You will be placed and required to remain on your back, looking to the scene above. Focus on the images presented and when you are made ready I will attach the receptor to catch your progeny fluid." I was so nervous that I almost laughed out loud at hearing again the term they used to label sperm. My face must have twisted up while trying to hold it in because the woman began to reassure me. "This procedure in not painful, Chosen Duwan. In fact, every Purple I have extracted fluid from has reported this to be a most pleasurable experience."

She turned to gaze upon a silver pad inside the open cabinet, causing a red light to come on. Suddenly, the ceiling above me came to life. The first thing I heard was a low moan, followed by another. I was directed by gentle hands to lie down, and somehow managed to keep the blanket strategically in place as my eyes came to view the scene above me. Shocked, my gasp echoed slightly within the room as I recognized exactly what was being played on the full-sized ceiling monitor in vivid, embarrassing technicolor. It wasn't the film Hildah and I watched together, it was much worse. Displayed above me was Herron and myself on that first night we'd had sex together, when I'd swallowed the passion elixir like a man dying of thirst.

Frozen in a state of shock, I failed to react quickly when the blanket was abruptly removed from my hands and body. "Your eyes will remain on the images above you, Chosen," Tish told me in a no-nonsense voice. "Doing so will make this task easier to accomplish."

Shit, I swore to myself, and was glad that at least I managed to say that under my breath. There was no way I was going to be punished again for simply swearing. I couldn't help but look at the ceiling and only vaguely thought it was weird that I was laying down but viewing myself and Herron on a bed from a camera that had captured us from above. It was disconcerting, a bit disorientating, but I had something else to think about. All I can say is that I'm a healthy male, and as I watched Herron going down on me, my body went on automatic. The scene above me was titillating and damn erotic. My face was a picture of both torture and ecstasy as I clawed my fists into the sheets and arched up with sensations I remembered being so overpowering. I remembered I'd not lasted very long on that first go round, and I could feel myself heating up, probably turning bright red as I watched my recorded self cry out as that first powerful orgasm shook me to the depths of my soul. Herron then moved beside me, putting our naked bodies flush against each other as I recovered. He picked up a cloth from the tray and wiped me clean, then began to trace his fingers over my stomach. When it looked like I'd regained my senses, he placed himself between my splayed legs, spoke to me in a deep low voice, and then leaned over for the blue goo I had been quick to learn was their version of lubricant.

Again, I'm only human, and a man at that, and my body continued to respond to the scene above me. We were damn hot, if I do say so myself. I took the opportunity to look at Herron's body as he prepped me, noting the differences between his and Heero's, and through Herron was slender, trim and attractive, he couldn't come close to Heero's glorious body. I've always loved the feel of Heero's muscles rippling under his skin, especially when we made love. Sure, Herron had muscles, but they weren't the toned, strong ones that Heero had developed even further from regular workouts at the gym since the end of the second war.

Despite the moans and groans of pleasure coming from the recording, the woman next to me spoke quietly from just out of my line of vision, gently encouraging me as my lower regions came to stand-up-and-salute life. I jerked suddenly, feeling something being set around my erection. I looked down, startled to see the blond woman fastening a long, four- inch wide cylinder around my rigid length. "W..what?" My voice squeaked and I flushed deeper at the sound.

"The plector will give you pleasure and collect your fluids," she explained. "I will leave you until you have finished, then return promptly to remove it. We will then begin readying for the next procedure." She glanced again at the panel and several red lights appeared. Satisfied, she left the room.

The tool surrounding the most sensitive part of my body at that moment was light enough not to weigh me down and was snugly fitted but not too tight to be constrictive. And from the moment Tish had given a simple glance to the panel, the casing began to pulsate. I'd never felt anything like it. I experienced a sensation similar to thousands of soft, minute fingers touching me, stroking and teasing me from all directions. It was insanely, unbelievably erotic, and the pleasurable sensation shot up from my groin through my body to my stunned mind, which was already having a problem dealing with the scene above me. Herron had just positioned himself at my entrance while I wrapped my legs around him, locking my ankles together. Within a couple of moments I found myself nearing the edge as the tool and the scene above obliterated all other thoughts from my mind.

The back of my head sunk deeper into the pillow as I gasped for breath and I began to sweat as my hips instinctively jerked upward, mimicking Herron's movements above me. Gripping the pillow with both hands, I came and came hard. Arching my back and gasping from sheer overload, I felt a new sensation begin around my ejaculating member. There was a feeling of a pull, a suction, and going by feeling alone, I vaguely realized that my 'progeny fluid' was being gathered up into the head of the contraption that was designed for such a procedure. I can't even begin to tell you what it felt like to be coming and then have that suction turn on. All I can say is that as unusual was it was, it felt unbelievable and drew my climax out further, leaving me feeling completely drained when at last I slumped back onto the purple mattress.

My completion must have triggered the mechanism that I was done, for the tool around my softened member stopped working and fell limply against my stomach.

The door promptly opened and the woman, Tish, came in with a smile on her face. "Very good," she said, making me feel like a school boy who'd just added a couple of numbers together correctly, only I wasn't proud of my accomplishment but thoroughly embarrassed beyond words. She went to gaze at the panel and shut off the erotic scene being played out above me. I flinched as she reached for the device and quickly removed it. Stepping back from me, she released the rounded tip on the end of it and studied something on the flat bottom. "We have a good sampling," she said in a pleased voice. "I will deliver this to be introduced to your Chooser's seedlings. I will return promptly to cleanse you in preparation for the next stage."

"I can clean myself," I told her, silently praying she'd let me do it myself. I'd had enough humiliation for one day.

Still smiling at me in an unnerving way, she reached into her magic cabinet and pulled out two moistened, disposable cloths. "I will return presently," she said, handing them to me, and then, gratefully, she disappeared out the door.

Glad to be left alone, I busied myself with the cleanup, hoping to distract my thoughts from what had just happened. I was surprised at how little mess there was to clean up and finished the task quickly. Once again, I couldn't help but wonder how much money I could make back home with a gadget like that. Of course there could be a down side to that kind of sexual toy. Maybe men would stay at home every night, getting off with a magical tool instead of going out and making an effort to find a life companion. If I developed such a tool, I might be responsible for the decline in population, which might be considered with a good or a bad thing.

I left off my mental deliberations over the practical uses of the tool Tish had called a plector, and sat up to look around the room, trying to locate my clothing. Tish didn't say I could get dressed, but I wanted to, badly. After failing to see my clothing, I grabbed the blanket that had been set on the bottom of the resting space and placed it around my body. Feeling a bit more secure, I eased myself back down on the mattress and curled up on my side to wait for Mueller to come for me.

The door swished open several long moments later and Tish re-entered the room with another man. He had sandy-brown hair, handsome, classical features and wore a somewhat practiced smile on his face. He dressed in something similar to medical scrubs that were a deep red color. As the man came to stand next to me, my eyes widened with recognition. Though I'd never met this man's double in my life or time, I'd seen plenty of pictures of him and had heard more than enough of stories about my former enemy, Treize Kushrenada.

"Well this is certainly an exciting cycle, isn't it, Chosen Duwan? New life is about to be created."

"Ah, yeah, I... I guess so," I stumbled over my words, still kind of shocked. Added to that, I was feeling extremely self conscious, acutely aware that now there were two people in the room with me that were quite aware of the fact that I was naked under the blanket, and one of them looked like a man that had once been my enemy.

The aristocratic looking man's smile faltered. He seemed to be aware of my discomfort. Little did he know the real reason for it. "It is to be expected that you find yourself a bit timid and fearful about the next process, but I assure you that I have performed the implantation with utmost success. Rest your mind that you will receive only the best of care."

A slight pressure on my upper arm brought my confused mind back to Tish, seeing that she'd just used an infuser on me. Damn but their drugs worked fast. I was instantly drowsy and felt my face slacken and my limbs become too heavy to move. "Whaaat?" My one-word question came out slurred.

Kushrenada's double leaned over me, studying my closing eyes and his voice began fading as I drifted into unconsciousness. His sentences were choppy as I was overcome by the need to sleep. "... insertion will occur... unit before we receive the prepared egg. Before... close and seal the... the new life ... introduced... implantation within your body."

Almost unconscious, I managed to latch onto his last few words and mentally screamed as I was pulled closer to oblivion. Unfortunately, I was too far gone to scream or even try to move to get myself the hell out of there.

TBC

Author: Thanks for reviews and support. Both inspire me to keep writing.