Submission in the Stars

Chapter 23: Modifications

Valentin lay on the table, his body still tense from the lingering touches of the twins. Their hands had roamed over him with such unnerving familiarity, testing him, petting him, as if he were some prized creature. The soft voices, the occasional praise for his obedience, had left him feeling hollow, exposed in ways he couldn't quite comprehend. And yet, when they finally left, taking their light touches and gentle voices with them, a strange sense of loss crept over him.

It was ridiculous, he knew that, but the silence that followed their departure felt heavier, more isolating. He hated the way his mind clung to their presence, even though every touch had been against his will. But now, the cold reality of the empty room settled in like a weight pressing against his chest.

The door hissed open, pulling him from his spiraling thoughts. Two reptoid aliens entered, their movements brisk and efficient. Without a word, they unfastened the restraints that held him to the table. Valentin sat up cautiously, rubbing his wrists where the bindings had left faint marks on his skin. He looked toward the reptoids, trying to gauge their intentions, but they offered no explanation. They simply gestured for him to stand.

Valentin obeyed, his legs trembling slightly as he rose. His body still hummed with the strange sensations left behind by the twins, a mixture of residual tension and the unsettling calm that had washed over him during their touch. The reptoids flanked him, guiding him toward the door.

The walk through the unfamiliar halls felt surreal. The cold air brushed against his bare skin, a constant reminder of how vulnerable he was. He was acutely aware of the fact that he was being led somewhere new, somewhere unknown, and his mind raced with the possibilities. His body felt heavier with each step, as though he was walking toward something inevitable, something he couldn't avoid.

They soon arrived at another room, smaller and far more sterile than the lavish chamber where the twins had examined him. It resembled a clinic, stark and clinical in its design. The room was nearly vacant except for a single cold, metal table in the center, a small wheeled table to its side, and a row of metallic cabinets along the far wall. The only other feature was a large reflective surface on the wall to his left—a mirror that immediately set his nerves on edge.

Valentin's breath hitched. He didn't want to look at his reflection. The thought of seeing himself in this state—stripped bare, both physically and mentally—was too much. He quickly averted his gaze, refusing to let the image become any more real than it already was.

The reptoids gestured toward the table, their cold, reptilian eyes watching his every move. With a reluctant sigh, Valentin climbed onto the table, his skin prickling against the metal as he lay down. Almost immediately, the restraints were fastened around his wrists and ankles again, pulling him taut. His chest rose and fell rapidly as he lay there, bound and exposed, waiting.

The reptoids stepped back, disappearing through the door, leaving him alone in the room. He stared up at the ceiling, the cold metal pressing against his skin, and the silence that filled the room felt almost unbearable. But the strangest part, the part that disturbed him the most, was the lack of panic. He should have been terrified. He wanted to be terrified. But instead, all he felt was an unsettling calm that made everything seem distant, detached.

The door slid open again, and this time, a new alien entered the room. Its gray skin gleamed under the lights, and its slitted green eyes locked onto Valentin with a clinical curiosity. It approached the table, its long, delicate fingers tracing over the instruments on the wheeled table, selecting something before moving toward him.

Valentin's body tensed, instinctively pulling at the restraints, but he was trapped. The alien showed no sign of aggression, its movements slow and deliberate as it focused on his right bicep. He barely had time to register what was happening before a sharp pain pierced through his skin—a needle, followed by the sensation of something metallic being implanted beneath his flesh. His jaw clenched as the cold object slid into place, the skin stretching uncomfortably around it.

The alien's fingers worked with precision, stroking over his bicep as if admiring its work. Valentin's mind raced, thinking back to all the other pieces of alien technology that had been implanted in his body—the chunk of metal lodged near his jaw that allowed him to understand the strange clicks and growls of the reptoids and overseers, the serums and liquids they had pumped into his neck, changing him in ways he still couldn't fully understand.

How many more pieces of hardware are inside me? he wondered, his thoughts spiraling. His muscles tensed again, testing the restraints, but he found them as unyielding as ever.

Before he could dwell too much on his situation, that strange, artificial calm flooded his mind again, forcing him to relax. His heartbeat slowed, his thoughts quieted, and his body went limp against the table. The fear, the anxiety—it all faded into the background as if someone had flipped a switch in his brain. He blinked lazily, his eyelids growing heavy as the alien continued its work.

Through half-lidded eyes, Valentin saw the alien glance toward the reflective wall—the mirror, he realized. It had to be a one-way window. Someone—something—was watching him.

That realization should have sent a chill down his spine, should have filled him with dread, but instead, a wave of warmth spread through his body, settling into something far more disturbing—arousal. His breath hitched as his body responded in ways he couldn't control, his muscles twitching and straining against the bonds as he felt a surge of need.

What have they done to me? Valentin thought, his mind spinning as he struggled to understand the sudden, overwhelming sensations that flooded his body. He fought against it, tried to will himself back into control, but his body wouldn't listen.

A soft chuckle echoed through the room, the sound low and mocking. The gray-skinned alien watched him with a gleam of satisfaction in its green eyes, clearly enjoying the display. Valentin's face burned with shame as his body arched involuntarily, his breath quickening.

Another gesture toward the mirror, and Valentin's body convulsed, a powerful climax wracking through him. He gasped, the sound escaping his throat before he could stop it, his body shuddering with release.

The calm lingered for a moment longer before his muscles slackened, leaving him panting and trembling on the table. His eyes, wide with confusion and fear, locked onto the alien. He could barely process what had just happened, his thoughts still foggy from the artificial calm they had induced.

The alien didn't allow him long to recover. With another gesture, the restraints loosened, freeing his limbs. Valentin sat up shakily, his body still trembling as he tried to regain control. He looked up at the gray-skinned alien, almost desperate for some kind of explanation, but the alien's expression remained unreadable.

"Up!" the alien barked, its voice sharp and commanding.

Valentin scrambled to obey, his legs unsteady as he stood before the alien, the weight of his situation pressing down on him. He didn't want to move, didn't want to comply, but the memory of the overwhelming sensations kept him in line. He had no choice. He was trapped in his own body, bound to whatever control they had over him.

The alien circled him, inspecting him with a critical gaze. Valentin's breath caught in his throat as the creature moved closer, reminding him of how exposed he was, still completely nude. His hands instinctively moved to cover himself, but the alien's voice cut through the air again.

"Table."

Valentin hesitated, his body trembling with fear. He really didn't want to get back on that table. Nothing good ever came from lying down on that cold, metallic surface. But the alien quirked a spiny brow and raised a hand toward the mirror.

Reluctantly, with a sinking heart, Valentin lowered his eyes and climbed back onto the table.

Satisfied, the alien moved closer, and once again, the straps tightened around Valentin's body. He was bound, exposed, and helpless—just as he always was.

And this time, he feared he wouldn't get off that table without losing another piece of himself.