Submission in the Stars

Epilogue

The stars glittered across the vast expanse of space, an endless stretch of darkness and light that seemed to hum with untold secrets. Far from the palace Valentin had come to know as home, another ship drifted silently through the void. It was a ship of power, of wealth, and inside, something new stirred—a creation born of scientific ambition, yet touched by the remnants of humanity.

In the sterile, brightly lit chambers of the ship, two figures stood side by side, their bodies stiff and unyielding as they faced the mirrored wall before them. Their gazes were sharp, their movements graceful, but there was something undeniably familiar about them—an echo of someone long gone from the sterile labs that had crafted their forms.

They were not human, not truly, but they shared a lineage—a distant connection to a man named Valentin, whose DNA had been carefully spliced into their creation. These two beings, born from genetic manipulation and alien experimentation, were the newest additions to a wealthy merchant's collection. But they were more than pets; they were experiments, embodiments of the same defiant spirit that had once thrived in the human they were modeled after.

The taller of the two—lithe, with smooth, dark skin and sharp amber eyes—glanced sideways at his companion, whose silvered hair shimmered in the artificial light. Though they shared similar features, their individuality was clear. One was strong, the other quiet and calculating. Their bond was new, still tentative, but they were bound by their shared origin, their shared existence as creations of science, pets with no history of their own.

"Do you think he'll like us?" the silver-haired one asked softly, his voice barely audible above the quiet hum of the ship's engines.

His companion, the one with amber eyes, tilted his head thoughtfully. "That doesn't matter," he said, his voice more resolute, though a hint of uncertainty lingered in his tone. "We're not like the others. We're... different."

They both knew what he meant. They had been designed to be more than just decorative companions. They were weapons, crafted with purpose, forged from the DNA of someone who had survived unimaginable trials. Someone who had gone from nothing to something. And yet, despite their potential, they were being delivered to their new owner under the pretense of being companions—pets for a powerful alien whose wealth and influence stretched far across the galaxy.

The door behind them hissed open, and they both stiffened, turning in unison as the alien stepped into the room. He was tall, with skin the color of deep sapphire and eyes that shimmered like molten silver. His regal presence filled the room, a clear indication of his status, but it was the smaller figure trailing behind him that captured the two new creations' attention.

The pet—another humanoid, slender and delicate, with soft white skin and large, luminous eyes—hovered near the alien's side, watching them with a curious gaze. He was the true companion here, the favored one, the cherished one. And now, the two creations were meant to be companions to him.

The alien looked down at them, his expression unreadable, though there was a flicker of interest in his eyes. He stepped forward, inspecting them as one might inspect fine art, his hands clasped behind his back.

"These are the ones?" His voice was deep, resonating through the room.

The technician, a pale creature with multiple eyes and thin, elongated limbs, nodded eagerly. "Yes, Your Excellency. They were crafted with the finest DNA sample we had—Valentin's. We believe their abilities will be well-suited to your needs, and they will complement your current companion beautifully."

The alien's eyes flickered to his pet, who stood quietly beside him, observing the newcomers with an air of quiet curiosity. After a moment, the alien turned back to the two creations, his gaze appraising.

"They look... capable," he murmured, though his tone was tinged with satisfaction. "And you say they've been... conditioned?"

The technician nodded again, his voice reverent. "Yes, Your Excellency. They have been trained, and their loyalty will be unwavering."

The alien nodded, his gaze lingering on the taller of the two creations—the one with amber eyes. For a moment, their eyes met, and a strange tension filled the room. It was as if the alien could sense something deeper within them, something that went beyond their mere creation. He smiled, a slow, calculating smile, and finally spoke.

"They will do."

Turning to his pet, the alien's smile softened as he addressed him with a rare affection. "These two will accompany you from now on. They are yours to command, to protect you. Do you like them?"

The pet, who had remained quiet until now, stepped forward slowly, his large eyes flitting between the two new creations. A gentle smile touched his lips, and he nodded. "Yes," he said softly, his voice melodic. "They're perfect."

The two creations exchanged a brief glance. They had been created for this purpose, to serve, to obey. And yet, something within them—a spark of the same rebellious spirit that had once driven the human whose DNA they carried—stirred uneasily.

As they followed their new owner and his favored pet out of the sterile chamber and into the luxurious halls of the ship, they couldn't help but wonder what their future held. They had been created as pets, but what they could become remained uncertain.

They were no longer bound by the labs that had made them. The vastness of space stretched before them, and in that void, anything was possible.