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The AdvAnTAGE Project: A Gift Of Spite

By Mantrid Brizon

(06/29/2021)

Making their way downstairs, Donnie carries a milk crate in his hands. It’s filled nearly to overflowing with electrical components. As they don’t yet have a dedicated space, Dr. Jose Chavez and his AdvAnimal companion, Audrey, have begun using a corner of the basement as a temporary lab. Until they can find a new facility for him, this will have to do. With her hooves clopping on the wooden steps directly behind him, Victoria carries three egg crates in a stack, also filled with components.

“Hey, doc! Where do you want this stuff?”

“Over there is fine.” Jose points to a far corner. “And I keep telling you to call me ‘Jose’.”

“Yeah, I know.” Donnie replies, setting down the milk crate. “But I think ‘doc’ sounds cooler and a bit more dignified.”

“Alright. Suit yourself.” Jose sighs.

“Over here, hot stuff.” Donnie turns toward the mare.

“Hmm-AHH!” She first coos and then shrieks.

With a hoof slipping off the edge of the final step, Donnie hastily dives out of the way as Victoria slams the egg crates into the wall, opposite the staircase. Stumbling backward, she drops the crates, the contents rattling loudly as the top crate falls over. Donnie turns and braces himself. He catches her as she falls backward, his arms around her body and smooshing into the underside of her very large bust. It takes her a moment to regain her balance, the mare AdvAnimal’s bulk briefly held up by her smaller and physically weaker human lover.

“Easy, sweetheart... Nngh!” He grunts as he helps her stand to her hooves.

“Mmrrmm...” She whimpers, glancing back at him.

“It’s alright, Vicky. No harm, no foul.” He says with a warm smile, a hand stroking her muzzle very tenderly.

Looking past Audrey, who stands beside him, Jose watches Donnie and his mare AdvAnimal embrace and share a series of passionate kisses. It wasn’t that long ago that a sight like that would’ve made him shudder, but turning his brown orbs toward Audrey, who adjusts a ribbon on one of her pigtails, he’s in no position to judge. In fact, his relationship with her has gone a long way to soften him, and if he were being honest with himself, he finds the men and their interactions with their mates to be rather sweet and romantic, even downright heartwarming. Unable to help himself, Jose leans in and sneaks a kiss on Audrey’s snout.

“Hmm?!”

With her back against the workbench, also watching Donnie and Victoria, she’s caught by surprise. Turning to him, she flashes a toothy smile as she gazes up at him. Throwing her arms around his neck, he slips his around her waist and gives her a gentle squeeze as the pair share their own series of passionate kisses. Meanwhile, Donnie and Victoria have since cleaned up the mess and placed her egg crates in the corner, alongside the other components. As they head back upstairs, Donnie gives the mare’s taut buttocks a firm smack.

“Oh! Hehehe!” She giggles, giving him a familiar and lustful gaze.

“Up we go, sweetheart.”

Following after his mate, Donnie walks up several steps, only to pause and glance toward Jose and his lover. With the red panda’s back facing him, he watches Audrey’s long and bushy tail swaying from side to side, her arms around her older lover as they share kiss after kiss. Pressing his cheek against the side of Audrey’s head, he sways with her, moving in a slow and methodical manner, as if they were dancing to music that only they could hear.

“I love you, pumpkin. What would I do without you?”

“Aww!” She coos, nuzzling his face.

“Ahem... Hey, doc?”

“Yes, Donnie?”

“I was wondering... How did you two... ... I mean, last I saw you, I didn’t think you were the type, and after you got picked up... I just can’t help but be curious.”

“It’s alright.”

Jose pulls back so that he can look Audrey in the eyes. With a warm smile on his face, he caresses her furry cheek, causing her to coo and nuzzle his palm, before kissing his wrist.

“It’s not a very interesting story.”

“I doubt that.” Donnie murmurs.

“And in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t really matter. I have my pumpkin, and that’s all I care about.” Jose continues.

“Aww!”

“Fine then. Keep your secrets.” Donnie smirks. “Catch you later, doc.”

“See you around.” Jose waves.

Standing halfway up the stairs and looking back at her lover, Victoria waits until Donnie follows her before continuing up the stares. Her hooves clop and his boots thud as they make their way to the door, leaving Jose and Audrey alone in the basement. As he collects a series of components from one of the crates, preparing to begin his work on an important device, he glances at Audrey and smiles. Now that he dwells on it, his opinion of AdvAnimals has changed rather quickly, almost immediately following her entrance into his life. Indeed, it was a remarkable series of events that led him to this moment.

“You know...”

“Hmm?” She turns to him.

“It wasn’t all that long ago, we were both alone.”

“Mmrrmm...” She turns her eyes away, remember her life before.

“Don’t worry, pumpkin...” He coos, caressing her furry chin with the tips of his fingers. “I won’t ever let you go.”

“Mmm!” She grins from cheek to cheek.

“That time has passed. We’re together now... And we always will be.”

After a few kisses, Jose returns to his work, but his mind continues to wander. Glancing over to his mate, she smiles up at him and watches him work, eager to help him. Though she has no technical expertise, she’s always at hand, whenever he needs her.

“Always...” He murmurs, his mind wandering.

Opening his weary eyes, Jose struggles to adjust to the artificial glow permanently beaming down from the ceiling. All day and night, the lights are unyielding. He’s fairly certain they do that not to keep an eye on him but to torture him. Slowly sitting upright, his neck is quite stiff. Wincing from the pain, he cranes his neck and tries, in vain, to get the knots out of his muscles. He’d rub it, if only his arms weren’t so confined. Ever since a violent outburst, he’s been forced into a straightjacket.

The straps are too tight for him to wriggle free. It’s quite maddening, not being able to use your hands to eat or drink, or even scratch your nose, let alone having the freedom to find a comfortable sleeping position. The fact that the room is padded somehow doesn’t make it any easier. All of this isn’t because he’s crazy. Oh, no! Poor Dr. Jose Chavez is, in fact, a prisoner. After being caught going against Sovereign Six, the architects of the new world, one which he’d inadvertently created, Jose has spent untold days in his padded cell, tucked away in the bowels of Telivima’s hospital, where he’s now forced to work.

It’s only when they require his expertise, aiding other doctors in the care of sick or pregnant AdvAnimals, that he sees proper daylight. Those are the only moments when he can be sure of the time of day. He no longer has a sleep schedule, and on some days, he cannot sleep at all. The only thing worse than the lack of sleep is the isolation. He doesn’t even have meaningful contact with anyone, except for when he’s made to work, serving the very creatures he’d helped create.

As soon as he shakes the sleep from his weary head, he slowly begins rocking back and forth. Sitting upright, he sets his forehead against his knees and murmurs to himself. It’s all he can do, and with no stimuli, all he has are his thoughts. That, quite possibly, is the worst torture of all.

“I never should’ve taken that job at Unifact. Fucking salary clouded my judgement. Should’ve prayed about it more. Should’ve went to Henry Ford or Johns Hopkins and done good work. Fucking AdvAnimals... Why am I even here? For being a decent person? For trying to stem the tide? Should’ve known I couldn’t do anything about it. I’m not Moses parting the Red Sea or Joseph saving his family from famine. Can’t even save myself... This damned jacket really chafes. How much longer must I be in here? Are they listening? I’m sure they are... That probably doesn’t help, talking to myself. What the hell else am I going to do?!”

On and on he rambles, reliving his decisions, his regrets. The thoughts swirl around him, swallowing his mind like a ship in a whirlpool. It helps him curtail the agony of loneliness, but only just. Interestingly, being alone never bothered him, until it was no longer by choice. The former leader of White Base, and one of the founding scientists responsible for creating the AdvAnimals, rocks back and forth on the floor of his padded cell, rambling to himself. Meanwhile, his doctor, a young but gifted psychiatrist named Timothy Blackwell, watches him from a small security camera mounted in a corner, hidden from view.

Unlike his older brother, Gregory, who’s also a trained psychiatrist working at Telivima’s hospital, Timothy is a cold and calculating man. Just about his only concern is his work, the experiments he can conduct and the orders he’s given. He feels no guilt and regret as he watches his latest patient, yet he genuinely worries for Jose’s sanity. If he continues to decline, that might leave a blemish on his record.

“Uh-oh... That’s not a good sign.” The young doctor says to himself.

The many weeks of solitary confinement have obviously begun affecting Jose, who never did have the strongest constitution; his mental fortitude leaves much to be desired. In fact, aside from his genius in the field of genetics, he’s rather unremarkable. Dr. Blackwell wonders if there’s a chance that Jose might discover a means of ending his life, something that directly obstructs his punishment, as ordered by his unseen superiors. Just then, he hears wheezing coming from Jose’s security camera!

“Oh, no... Staff!” He cries out, fleeing from his desk.

The young doctor and a few orderlies race through the complex and barge into Jose’s padded cell, where he seems to be suffering some kind of attack. He was in the middle of a plea to his God when he was abruptly stricken with what sounded like a cross between a heart attack and severe asthma. Jose lay still, huffing and puffing as his face discolors. Within moments it becomes clear that this is some sort of anxiety attack, possibly brought on by the severe mental stress they’ve caused him.

Dr. Blackwell doesn’t miss a beat. He knows that Jose needs to be placed in a conventional room for observation, however, that could threaten the integrity of his orders. In order to keep his social interactions at a minimum, as per his orders, poor Jose is first given a powerful sedative before being placed in a medically induced coma and intubated for a ventilator, all why still in his padded cell. With his straight jacket removed and his limbs strapped down to a gurney, he’s wheeled into the nearest observation room.

Leaving his patient lying unconscious in his bed, Dr. Blackwell paces the floor, trying to decide how to handle the situation. Asking for help might not look good on his record, but if Jose gets worse or even dies, what will Dr. Blackwell do then?! With a lump in his throat, he returns to his office, opens a new document and begins drafting a memo.

“Dr. Clara Hitchens,

I’m growing increasingly concerned for Patient H-435. As you know, I take my job very seriously, and I do not particularly enjoy failure. I’ve been tasked with monitoring the status of Patient H-435, and over the past six weeks, he’s been in steady decline. He’s had no outside stimuli, as per the orders, sans the five supervised visits he’s made in the past seven weeks of confinement, providing ultrasounds to the expectant mothers. Today, he suffered a panic attack. It was severe. I believe that without a course of psychotropic drugs to dampen the effects of his punishment or an outright removal to a ward where he can communicate with others, his mental and physical health will deteriorate until he is beyond help. Please forward this to whomever you feel may be an appropriate authority and let me know my course of action, and please respond swiftly, before he expires.

Dr. Timothy Blackwell.”

Leaning back in his chair, he sighs as he closes out the memo.

“Well... That’s not exactly the news I was expecting.” The Old Man begins, his boney fingers tapping on his desk.

“These things happen, sir.” Agent Sharpe remarks.

“I can’t very well torment that little bastard if he dies on me! What a weak-willed and sad little man... Oh, what to do with you, Dr. Chavez...” The Old Man grumbles, twiddling his thumbs as he rests his hands on his chest.

After a moment of silent pondering, he turns his cold eyes toward Agent Sharpe, who sits beside his partner and lover, Krystal. Scanning the snow-white husky AdvAnimal, he turns his attention back toward Agent Sharpe. They look to each other with love and longing. It’s rather unsettling. Perhaps now would be a good time to test his heir, to make sure he’s truly ready to take over Sovereign Six when the time comes?

“Mr. Sharpe!” The Old Man suddenly exclaims.

“Yes, sir?”

“I’m curious... Since you’re going to carry on my work once I’m gone, how would you handle this situation?”

Agent Sharpe feels an electric shock shooting up his spine, a chill creeping into his chest. He realizes right away that this is a test. Knowing what little he does about The Old Man, he wonders how he can please his master. Taking off his mirrored sunglasses, Agent Sharpe rubs his cleanly shaven chin as he glances toward the floor.

“Well?”

“I’m thinking... ... Alright... You’ve already used white torture and isolation for some time, but if you continue to keep him confined, without stimuli or social interaction, he could very well expire.” Agent Sharpe begins.

“Correct.”

“But you also don’t want to lessen his punishment.”

“That’s certainly true!” The Old Man chuckles.

“So, give him a reward.”

“... I don’t think you understand the concept of torture...” The Old Man narrows his cold eyes.

“Oh, but I do.” Agent Sharpe retorts, flashing a sinister grin. “A reward will help mold his clearly damaged psyche. It will give you greater leverage, as well. Torture is most effective when it’s purely psychological, as you no doubt are aware. The actual act of physical torture is often counterproductive, as most people reach a point where they’ll say or do anything to make it stop. I assume that, in the future, you’d like to mold him into a loyal drone?”

“As much as I hate to say it, that would be nice. He was such a brilliant geneticist. He did everything I asked of him and more!” The Old Man admits.

“Alright, then!”

“What should we reward him with?”

“Whatever he needs most, and I know just what that is. Here’s what I propose...”

An equally sinister smile spreads across The Old Man’s face, thoroughly impressed with his protégé. He certainly chose the right man to replace him! Opening up a new document, he drafts a response, which will be forwarded down the chain. It’ll first reach Dr. David Blackmore, the current head of the subterranean ‘Purple Base’ and the Mayor of the surface city, ‘Telivima’. It’ll then be forwarded to Dr. Clara Hitchens, who oversees the hospital, and will finally reach the younger Dr. Blackwell. Sitting at his desk and reading the response, a mere six hours after putting Dr. Jose Chavez into a medically induced coma, Dr. Blackwell sits back in his chair.

“Jesus... That seems like such a waste!” He sighs.

Shaking his head, the increasingly frustrated Dr. Blackwell takes a moment to collect himself. He rubs his brow, his head bowed as he prepares himself. There’s only one person he can think of who can help him now.

“Alright... Penny?” He begins, pressing a button on a desk-mounted intercom.

“Yes, doctor?”

“Send me a few guards. I need an escort.”

“Yes, doctor. To where?”

“Building G-3, office 1...”

“Oh... Should I send the appropriate guards or-”

“Please.”

Within short order, Dr. Blackwell and his entourage make their way toward G-3, the thirty-second complex in the heart of Telivima, and the last of the large structures, before reaching the very edge of the city. The ‘A’ buildings consist of four medical centers, the largest of which being A-2, the hospital where Dr. Blackwell and many others work. The other medical centers consist of a maternity clinic, which processes the expectant mothers before they’re forwarded to the hospital, a standard clinic, for any injuries and illnesses the inhabitants and their children might endure in their day-to-day lives, and a medical research center.

Buildings B, C and D consist of fifteen schools, five for each letter and for each stage of AdvAnimal development, younglings, juveniles between the ages of six and eleven, and pre-adults. Of these fifteen buildings, they’re further segmented into gender specific schools, twelve for females and three for males, to accommodate their skewed gender ratio. The buildings designated E and F consist of six civil service centers, three for each letter. A small, nuclear power plant, water works, sewage and waste management station, fire brigade, security patrol and the construction and maintenance offices are all accounted for.

The four ‘H’ buildings are military in nature, containing a barracks for each gender of AdvAnimal, a training facility and armory, as well as the testing grounds. The ‘G’ buildings, however, are all particularly unique facilities. They specialize in AdvAnimal research of all kinds. Entering the first office, on the first floor of the large, hospital-like compound, Dr. Blackwell and his guards meet a thoroughly surprised Dr. Evelynn Vyne.

“Timmy! What’re you doing here?!” She jumps up from her seat.

“Hello, Ivy.” The young Dr. Blackwell smiles warmly. “It’s so wonderful to see you.”

His guards, who stand outside, raise their eyebrows and clandestinely glance at each other. His tone is so warm, so welcoming.

“Yeah. You, too.”

Her cheeks flush. Slowly rising from her seat, she moves around her desk and stands before him. Reaching out a hand, she rests it on his bicep and tenderly strokes his arm.

“But you still didn’t answer my question.” She coos, leaning very close to his face.

“Ah... It seems I didn’t...” Dr. Blackwell murmurs, before kissing her softly on the lips.

A guard subdues a cough, clearing their throat as they stand just outside of the office.

“Who’s that?” Dr. Vyne glances past her colleague and lover.

“This time it’s not a personal call, Ivy.”

“Oh... Well, if this isn’t a personal call, then don’t call me ‘Ivy’, Timmy.” She smirks.

“Aww, don’t be like that, Ivy! I mean, ‘Dr. Vyne’.” He smirks back.

Though he’s as warm and flattering as he always is, at least with her, seeing the look on his face gives her pause. Something isn’t right and she grows increasingly concerned.

“What’s wrong, Timmy? How can I help you?” She asks, still stroking his bicep and reaching up with her other hand to stroke his cheek. “You know I’m always here for you.”

“I know...”

Taking a deep breath, he prepares himself before removing a neatly folded sheet of paper from a lab coat pocket. Dr. Vyne looks thoroughly perplexed as he presents it to her.

“Before you say anything, I want you to know that I came to you first because I trust you.”

Opening up the paper, her big, emerald eyes scan the parchment for a moment, only for her to blink and raise her brow in surprise.

“What?!” She asks with a shocked chuckle.

“I know...” Dr. Blackwell begins. “I don’t like it either, and I know how you are about your work. You and I, we’re cut from the same cloth. That’s probably why we get along so well.” He murmurs, taking a step closer and slipping an arm around her slender waist.

“Timmy, do you know what you’re asking?!” She looks up at him, their bodies pressed together.

“Yes.” He nuzzles her cheek and gives her a soft kiss.

“Don’t con me.” She tries to pull way.

“Ivy, I’m in a bind here. I need you.” He pleads, softly kissing her neck.

Pulling back and gazing into his eyes, Dr. Vyne is at a loss for words. It’s clear that her colleague and lover isn’t happy about the request, and she finds it flattering that he’d come to her first, even if it negatively impacts her own work. Considering the position he’s been placed in, and considering their exceeding close relationship, Dr. Vyne returns the paper to him, sighing as she rests her hands on his shoulders.

“Alright... I’ll help you, Timmy...” She coos, rubbing the tip of her nose against his.

“Thanks, Ivy.” He replies before giving her a soft kiss on her lips.

“But you owe me!” She exclaims, promptly pulling their lips apart.

“I know!”

“Make it up to me, tonight.” She flashes a sinister grin, her eyes narrowed with lust.

“Yes, Ivy.” He shares her twisted smile.

As they push his gurney back into his room, it bumps over the threshold. Jose’s eyes flutter as he finally comes out of his artificial sleep. He hears the strange sounds of leather rubbing and buckles clicking, then feels his legs thump and his body curl. His floppy arms feel a breeze before being shrouded in the warm but scratchy fabric of the straight jacket. More buckles tighten as he lifts his head.

“Huh... Wh-where am I? What’s going on?” The weakened Jose asks.

He turns his head and feels a soreness in his throat.

“Don’t move so much. You need to adjust, now that you don’t have a feeding tube.” An orderly casually remarks.

“Feeding tu-... How long have I been out?!” He growls in a hoarse voice.

“We put you under for five days...” A familiar voice begins.

Stepping into the padded cell, Dr. Blackwell crosses his arms as he leans against the doorframe.

“You had an episode. We needed the time to diagnose and treat you. It turns out it was a very severe panic attack. It nearly killed you!”

“I wish it did...”

“Well, I’m glad you’re alive, and so are my bosses.” Dr. Blackwell smirks. “And since you were such a good boy while under anesthesia, I’ve been allowed to reward you!”

“...”

“What’s wrong? Wouldn’t you like to be rewarded, Jose? Good boys deserve rewards!”

“Don’t talk to me like I’m five!” Jose snarls.

“Ah-ah-ah!” Dr. Blackwell raises a hand and waves his index finger with disapproval. “You were doing so well! Now, if you promise to continue to behave, you can have your reward.”

Glancing over to the orderlies and motioning with his head, they swiftly leave the room. Now bound in the straight jacket, Jose wriggles about, making himself as comfortable as he can as he sits upon the floor. Once they’ve left, Dr. Blackwell reaches into a pocket of his lab coat, takes out a small, handheld radio transmitter and presses the button.

“Bring in his present.”

Dr. Blackwell steps into the room as a door at the far end of the corridor squeaks open. Jose can hear the shuffling of feet as his doctor slips into a corner, leaning against the padded walls of the cell and staying out of sight. Emerging from the hallway, a woman in a security officer’s uniform takes a position beside the door, just inside of the room, while two other women in identical uniforms enter after her. Between them is an AdvAnimal girl! She looks quite nervous, her eyes apprehensively scanning the room. Seeing Jose sitting on the floor, she turns her attention toward the bound man, a look of concern on her face.

At five-foot-two and one-hundred-and-thirty pounds, the AdvAnimal, derived from a Red Panda, stares at the pitiful human with her big, orange eyes. They glisten like polished citrine gemstones. The buxom female with a curvy figure cocks her head, curious about the stranger whom she’s there to meet. Lifting a clawed hand, she brushes her long bangs away from her eyes and short but somewhat broad snout. Her hair is as bright and fiery as autumn leaves, with natural, thin streaks of white throughout. Long and full, it’s pulled into a pair of thick pigtails, tied with ribbons near the bottom and which reach to the top of her ample bust. With a large, paw-like foot, she takes a step closer.

“What’s this?!” Jose snarls, startling the AdvAnimal, who immediately freezes. “What’s she doing here?!”

“Easy, Jose. You don’t want to scare your present, do you? Her name is Audrey.”

“My pres-?! That’s an AdvAnimal! What kind of sick-!”

“Relax. You don’t want to spook her, do you?”

“Look at me!” Jose yanks at his arms, showing off his straight jacket. “You’ve done everything but kill me! What is this?! What sort of sick games are you playing on me now?!”

The sorrow in Jose’s voice and in his eyes is evident. Broken and alone, he’s been at their mercy for untold days, and now they do this?! Presenting him with a gift of what he hates the most?! It’s almost too much; the forty-five-year-old doctor and former premier team member begins to whimper. Looking around the room at her all-female escorts, they glance toward Dr. Blackwell. Audrey turns her attention to him. She hadn’t noticed him standing silently in the corner. She can’t even smell him; something he’s wearing masks his scent.

Taking a hand from beneath his crossed arms, the doctor points at the bound man on the floor. Looking back at Jose, she slowly approaches the pitiful human. For the past several days, she’s been briefed and trained in her mission. If she performs well, she’ll be richly rewarded, or so they’ve said. Originally part of a special experiment conducted by Dr. Vyne, Audrey was chosen from her group for her great willingness to leave the facility. In truth, if she had the power of speech, it would’ve been very vocal.

She wasn’t the least bit fond of Dr. Vyne or her research, her participation in which was involuntary. Due to her unusually low scores in the Catechism, the final trial of AdvAnimal combat training, Audrey and the few others in her position were forced to endure the doctor’s immuno-boosting research. Upon gathering her test subjects and making the unusual offer, Audrey shoved her way to the front of the small group. They were all understandably skittish about accepting any gifts from the vivacious, young doctor, whose work is in stark contrast to her often chipper personality.

Pulling her aside, Dr. Vyne explained that upon accepting this mission she would no longer need to participate in her research. No more injections of viruses and bacteria only to watch Audrey suffer as her body, altered by a powerful retrovirus, combats the invading pathogens. By taking this opportunity, she may not only one day receive freedom from the institutions of Telivima, but have a mate of her own, an honor reserved for the Commandos. What a wonderful opportunity, indeed! However, looking upon the bound man with wild eyes and a scraggly beard, it becomes clear to her that this might not be the wonderful opportunity she’d hoped it was.

Still, she’d rather make due than go back to G-3. She steps closer, naturally quite curious about the human male, a creature she’s never been allowed in close proximity to. Due to their nature, unpaired female AdvAnimals are forbidden from interacting with human males, unless absolutely necessary; they’re cared for by female orderlies, guarded by female guards and overseen by female doctors and nurses. This is also true for the males, who never see a human female until it’s their time. Only the lucky few who’ve been taken to the now defunct Red Base or been Welcomed by civilians in Phases Zero and One have mates of their own.

Though she’s obviously curious about her potential mate, Audrey stays still, her stance guarded and her long, orange and black striped tail hanging low but partially extended. Glancing over to the female guards, Dr. Blackwell sighs with frustration and gives them a subtle hand gesture. They immediately respond.

“EEE!” Audrey yelps.

They violently shove her by the shoulders, forcing her much closer to the man in the straight jacket. Losing her balance, the AdvAnimal lifts up her arms and performs a diving roll, only to land on a knee and paw-like foot. Having turned forty-five degrees during her roll, her side faces Jose, while she turns her head and glares at the female guards. Spreading her fingers, she shows off her ebony claws, which gleam in the bright, artificial light of the room. She snarls, bearing her pearly white teeth, and slowly rises to her feet.

One guard responds, bringing up a terrifying weapon, the electron mace. Similar to a cattle prod, it has many more points of contact running along no less than twelve inches, covering the cylindrical head of the weapon. With the press of a button near the contoured handle, dozens of arcs of blue lightning snap, forming a net of radiant glow over the end of the twenty-four-inch long, high-tech mace. She gently swings the weapon, which ionizes the air around it, before holding it out in front of her. It frightens Audrey, who was unfortunate enough to feel its sting a time or two before.

“This is your present, Jose. Be good to her.” Dr. Blackwell begins.

Without uttering another word, Dr. Blackwell and his entourage of female security guards vacate the padded cell and promptly seal them in. After watching the door for a moment, Audrey’s rounded ears twitch. Glancing over to Jose, she cocks her head and furls her brow. With his arms bound around his body, locked tightly into the straight jacket, he shuffles his bare feet as he crawls away from her. He looks so afraid! Why does he appear so scared, now that they’ve left?! Moving closer, she’s eager to comfort him. With a smile on her face, she reaches out her hands, her long, fluffy tail swaying gracefully with each step.

“D-don’t touch me.” He whimpers, wriggling away.

She stops in her tracks at the awful realization. He’s afraid of her! She was warned that he might have difficulty adjusting to her presence, but she never expected this. She drops to a knee and smiles, holding out a clawed hand and trying not to appear threatening, though she isn’t sure how she could. She’s not dressed like a Commando, who wear the skintight, black bodysuits. She doesn’t even look like a guard, wearing no belt of gear or possessing any weapons, beyond those her biology provides. Her facial features are softer than her fur. Combined with her modest muscle mass and feminine shape, her coloration gives her a regal, even delicate appearance.

Her black shorts, with two red pinstripes going up either side, are quite tight and very revealing, effectively a miniskirt sewn together at her groin. It’s made of a somewhat glossy, elastic material. Her matching t-shirt clings to her exquisite form, enveloping her ample breasts. The exceedingly short sleeves show off most of her furry arms, while the cropped belly reveals her slim waist, the black fur on her stomach and the orange fur on her sides. Her shapeliness alone should be more than enough to disarm any man, let alone one with such limited interactions, and yet Jose continues to wriggle away in fear.

“Mmrrmm!” She whimpers, her lips drooping into a visible frown.

Forcing another warm smile, she takes a knee and beckons to him, slowly coiling her fingers, again and again. Her hands and arms are covered in black fur, which reaches nearly to her shoulders, like long gloves. Her black nose gently twitches as she sniffs the air, and her orange and white face, with soft, somewhat bushy fur, hasn’t a single sharp angle. It’s as feminine and curvy as her body. Surely, if she cannot entice him, then there must be something wrong with him.

“Look, just... Just stay over there, alright?”

Pressing himself against a wall, he stares with fearful eyes. Something about how pitiful he looks tugs at her heartstrings. Though she’s eager to succeed in her mission and hopeful to have a mate of her own, she worries about the stranger named Jose Chavez, with whom she’s been abandoned. Lowering herself down, she sits and crosses her legs, her hands on her ankles. Unmoving and unspeaking, she watches him with her big, citrine eyes. After cowering near the corner for some time, the middle-aged doctor with salt and pepper hair glances over to her, prompting an immediate response; she smiles and waves.

“Hmm... I imagine you’d like it if I could hold you.” He suddenly begins.

Audrey’s smile widens and she slowly nods her head, her tail beginning to sway to the left and to the right.

“But you must be wondering to yourself, ‘Why did they wrap him up like a cheap gift? Is he dangerous?’ Don’t deny that the thought hasn’t crossed your mind.”

“Mmrrmm...” Her lips and brow contort to show her growing concern.

“Perhaps, but one this is certainly true... I cannot be trusted.”

Perplexed and curious, she lifts a clawed hand and grabs hold of one of her own breasts, giving her plump, feminine mound a firm squeeze before pulling down. As it jiggles in a most delightful way, her hand reaches up to grab her own throat.

“I would say the second one.” Jose smirks.

“Oh...”

“Yes, I’m sure you would’ve loved if it was the former!” He snickers.

The AdvAnimal girl flashes a strange grin, her eyes scanning his form.

“So, Audrey... Where are you from? The barracks, the schools or the labs?”

She holds up three fingers.

“I see... Figures they’d pair me with a test subject... ... I must be one of the first men you’ve ever seen.”

“Mhm!” She nods, her smile returning.

Leaning forward, she places herself on her hands and knees and crawls a little closer. Jose, however, slithers even further back, his anxious grimace returning. She stops, frowning as she sits on her shins, her perky buttocks resting on the ankles of her paw-like, digitigrade feet. Though he cannot help but scan her form, a testament to her body’s feminine beauty, he doesn’t speak a word. After a moment of awkward silence, he turns away and leans against the wall. She doesn’t force the issue, merely sitting there and watching him.

Both of them have a clear understanding; he’d rather not have her there. Fear begins creeping into Audrey, her heart beating a little faster. She’d considered many things after accepting this opportunity, but never thought that her prospective mate wouldn’t want her. What happens if she fails to please him?! Will she be punished?! Perhaps they’ll return her to Dr. Vyne or perhaps she’ll be forced to sit with the trembling mess of a man in this bland, padded cell for the rest of her life.

As they sit in silence, Jose glances back at her several times. Audrey cannot help but notice, sitting quietly and staring at him. He’d eyed her figure but now he stares into her orange orbs, appearing both intrigued and afraid. Should she approach him and try to make him feel better or stay where she is?

“Why would they do this to me?” He suddenly begins.

“Hmm?!”

“Stick a mute monster in my cage with me... What the hell are they up to?”

His words cut deep, as much as they instill her with fear. Though he’s looking directly at her, Jose begins speaking to himself, and his feelings are made perfectly clear. This isn’t going well...

“I never should’ve taken that job at Unifact and helped create these abominations of science. If I had any idea what was going to occur, if I had even the faintest inkling of what I’d see in those fucking labs, I’d have taken one of those jobs at Henry Ford or Johns Hopkins, but nooooo! I couldn’t be happy being a true doctor! I had to let my pride and greed get the better of me! I had to see that salary and the groundbreaking research above everything else and jump into bed with these damned HHHHH-!!!”

Caught mid-sentence, Jose begins to wheeze. His eyes bulge as he suffers another panic attack. Audrey, who’d been warned about his condition and trained to respond, races into action. Like nearly all of the other AdvAnimals, she’d endured military training, suffered through “The Catechism”, and has a certain degree of medical knowledge. She places herself on her hands and knees and vaults herself closer. Landing near him, she scrambles across the floor as he tries to wriggle away, only for her to grab onto his shoulders and pull him backward.

Rolling and falling onto his side, he still struggles to breathe, though now he also fights to escape her grasp. Kneeling over him, a hand resting gently on his back and another on his chest, she motions with her head, moving it up and down and expanding her chest as she coaches him, trying to get him to control his breathing. She hopes that he won’t lose consciousness. Thankfully, he seems to be paying attention and begins to manage the attack. After a few moments, it subsides, though the chest pain lingers for another minute or two.

Lifting his head, he winces as he struggles to sit up. Audrey is quick to assist him, grabbing his straight jacket by the buckles and pulling him up with surprising strength. Once he’s upright, she tenderly pets his head, her ebony claws weaving through his hair. She’s very careful not to scratch him, treating him as though he were made of glass.

“Thank you...” He grumbles.

“Mmm!” She coos, a warm smile on her face.

“So... Did you do that because they told you to or because you want a mate? Knowing your kind, I’m sure it was the latter. It’s what you do, after all... Do you even know why you want a human male so badly?!” He cannot help but rebuke her.

Though offended by the downright mean tone of his voice, she still listens. Lifting a hand and bringing an index finger to her bottom lip, she gently rubs her furry chin as she ponders his question.

“Heh... Well, perhaps if I don’t succumb to another attack and die, God willing, I just might tell you.”

After sitting in silence for what feels like an eternity, Audrey swiftly turns her head. Her focus on the door gives Jose advanced warning, and moments later he can hear the familiar squeaking of the door at the end of the hall. A short time later, his padded cell is unlocked; Dr. Blackwell and his staff have returned. This time, they’re here to feed them. With two white plates of rice, white beans and white bread in his hands, and a couple of Styrofoam cups of water with clear plastic straws tucked in his arms, Dr. Blackwell strolls into the cell without a care in the world.

“Hello, again, Jose! Ready for your-... What’s this?! Why are you still in that getup?! You were a good boy! She could’ve released you! ... Where you mean to her?! Were you a naughty boy?!” Dr. Blackwell speaks in a deliberately condescending tone.

“Don’t you talk to me like I’m an intern! I was running a facility when you were still taking your final exams!” Jose snaps.

“Perhaps you misunderstood? Audrey’s presence is meant to comfort you, to keep you going! Don’t you want that, Jose? Don’t you want some relief? Hmm?! Doesn’t that sound nice?!”

“What did I just say?!”

“... I have orders, too, Jose...” Dr. Blackwell’s tone abruptly changes. “I was hoping that you’d let her help you. If you won’t accept her, then I only have one recourse.”

“Good! Kill me, already!” Jose snarls.

“I’m sorry... I truly am... Take her!”

Jose watches in shock and horror as the female guards spring into action. Before Audrey knows what’s happening, one woman raises a special pistol. Similar in form to an old, Crosman CO2 pellet gun, she fires a small dart with bushy red fletching from the bolt-action, single-shot weapon. Striking Audrey in her upper-left chest, just above her full and perky breasts, she glances down at the dart and removes it, only to quickly lose her grip and drop it to the ground. Her eyes begin to close, one after the other, as her head slumps backward from its own weight.

Falling against the wall, Jose is left in stunned silence as two other female guards dash up to her and grab the AdvAnimal by her ankles. Rolling forward as they yank her away from the wall, Audrey is pulled by her legs, face down, and dragged away. Her limp tail sits by her side, her arms raised above her head and her pigtails just past her elbows. Her limbs bump against the doorframe, moving like a ragdoll’s as they take her out of the room. They’re so cold, dragging her away as if she wasn’t even a sentient being, but an overly heavy mannequin.

Meanwhile, a familiar looking male guard enters the padded cell as soon as the women leave with Audrey, but this guard’s sole job is to take Jose’s food away. He turns to Dr. Blackwell, who allows him to collect the plates though he leaves the water. As quickly as he came, the guard departs, leaving the doctor alone with the bound and helpless Jose Chavez.

“I hope you realize what you’re doing... I really do.” Dr. Blackwell says with a heavy sigh.

“Oh, boo-hoo! I won’t play your games and be some plaything for an AdvAnimal needing a dick!” Jose snickers.

“Jose, Jose, Jose...” Dr. Blackwell murmurs and slowly shakes his head. “You have no idea... She was given the chance to have a mate, and you were given the chance to not rot in isolation, in a cell where the lights never turn off. Because of your refusal, she’ll be punished... Severely...”

“Oh, bullshit! He’d never abuse his monstrosities like that! The sick bastard needs them too much!”

“Oh, no?!” Dr. Blackwell scoffs. “Look at what they’re doing to you! You were Sovereign Six’s golden boy! I’m not going to make your mistake. Unlike you, I have a sense of self preservation. Besides, I have aspirations. A man like you isn’t worthy of such a lofty position, but I am... Now, you either play ball or it’s only going to get worse for you... And her.”

“Fuck you.”

“... For a man with a plus 200 I.Q., you’re the stupidest person I’ve ever met! Do you think I want to do this?! I don’t! I don’t want to do this... I mean, I’ve effectively been asked to waste a perfectly good AdvAnimal on some ungrateful bastard who let his conscience overrule his logic. She’s your life’s work! A physical embodiment of the greatness you’ve squandered! I could never do to one of my subjects what they’re asking me to do to you or her. I don’t want to abuse her anymore than I want to abuse you - she could be advancing science right now, and you’re simply not worth the effort - but you pissed off someone with real power!

They actually gave me a mandate to harm her in order to punish you... Let that sink in. The one thing we could never do was grievously injure an AdvAnimal, whether it be by accident, for scientific study or even during the course of medical treatment. Do you know how hard it is to perform even the most basic surgery when your patient’s death might get you killed?! If you don’t quit being so contumacious, I’ll be forced to act. She didn’t do anything to deserve this. She could be doing so much more in advancing our knowledge of AdvAnimals right now, but she volunteered to come here!” Dr. Blackwell exclaims, overcome with rage.

“... Volunteered?” Jose raises a brow.

“Yes! From building G-3!”

“G-3? No wonder she volunteered...” Jose snickers.

“Listen to me, you son of a bitch!” Dr. Blackwell takes a few steps closer. “At this point, I could give two shits about you, but she’s an AdvAnimal! Her kind are the very reason we’re here today, the very reason they built an entire, hidden city! We exist to learn from and rear these wonderful creatures of science! They’re our life’s work! God damn you to Hell if your stubbornness forces my hand on Audrey...” He snarls.

“You sound upset.”

“I am!”

“Oh... Better not let them hear that. Evil shadow governments don’t like it when their pawns show weaknesses such as ‘feelings’.” Jose rather callously remarks.

“Then maybe they’d like to hear this? ... I’d rather flay you alive and dunk your skinless body in a vat of acid. I’d happily stand there and watch, listening to you scream your last as I take notes, logging how long you survived the process. I could actually learn something from you, then! I’d rather do that than torment a confused, innocent creature because they want to punish you. If they give me that chance...” Dr. Blackwell glares.

“With an attitude like that, you’ll go far, here. Certainly further than Gregory!” Jose quips.

“My brother has nothing to do with this.”

“I wonder how he feels, being overshadowed by his baby brother?”

“...”

“I’m just saying, maybe if he hadn’t survived the incident at White Base back in ‘95, he wouldn’t have suffered PTSD and lost his standing to a sycophantic lunatic masquerading as a doc-”

Dr. Blackwell smacks Jose across the face, silencing his prisoner before turning and storming out of the room. As he begins to pull the door closed, he stops and looks back, peering over his shoulder.

“Just remember... You did this to her...”

Unable to sleep from the lights and the hunger pains, as much as from his conscience, Jose sits in a corner of the room. He’d stood on shaky legs and moved toward the opposite end, toward where they dragged Audrey. To his consternation, he discovers that they’d placed the AdvAnimal girl in the very next padded cell, alone. Within hours, she’s awoken from her drug-induced sleep. Pacing the floor, he can hear her wailing and whimpering through the wall. She sounds so afraid. Perhaps he was wrong about her and wrong to treat her so badly?

Perhaps she only wanted an escape from Building G-3, and perhaps she was eager for a mate, but if he were in her place, would he have done things any differently? After a time, the squeaky door at the end of the hall draws his attention. Is it the next day already?! Faint footfalls move beyond his door and toward hers. With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, he races toward the tiny, circular window in his cell door. It’s made too small for him to properly harm himself. He peers out of his cell, barely able to see Dr. Blackwell standing in the hallway.

Several female guards pass him, entering the adjacent room. Two of them hold electron maces, their tips glowing with blue beams of electrical current. Audrey falls silent. However, a moment later, her cries grow louder. From the sounds of her wailing, they may even be pained. Though he cannot see or hear whatever it is they’re doing to the poor creature, his imagination runs wild. The guilt creeps in, slithering ever deeper as his moral compass spins wildly. Was he right or wrong? Good or bad? Is there even a difference anymore?

As he listens to Audrey’s cries, Jose comes to only one conclusion. He just needs to focus on survival, both his and hers. He feels a swelling in his chest, however, and a now familiar shortness of breath. This time, there’s no one to comfort or guide him. He’s all by himself. His doctor isn’t even in his office to watch from the hidden cameras, to send help, should he need it. Recalling how Audrey had coached him, he tries to control his own breathing. Slowly sitting down, he leans against the wall that’s closest to her cell.

As he manages his own attack, he listens to her wails, which only decrease in intensity when the female guards finally leave her room, their shadows moving past his little window. During and even after the shocking event, he wishes that he could pull out his arms and cover his ears. Unfortunately, the straps are pulled far too tight; even Houdini couldn’t escape. As the exhaustion finally overwhelms him, he lies down in the bright, padded cell, facing the corner and struggling to fall asleep.

“Jose... Jose...”

Looking around the room, Jose finds himself standing in a beautiful cathedral, with walls of pink marble and lit with countless flaming torches. Their pink and blue fires are unfed and yet strong, sitting atop small sconces of pure gold. Crystalline beads seem woven into the gold, and precious gems of every size, shape and color form striking patterns in the domed ceiling of the massive structure. It’s breathtaking.

“Jose.” The bellowing voice becomes more focused.

“Yes?”

“Why doth thee refuseth His gift?”

The voice of the hovering angel fills the cathedral, one thousand times more imposing than the creature itself. Slender, tall and cleanly shaven, with long, golden hair and piercing eyes, it’s two pairs of wings flutter in a constant back and forth motion, keeping it fixed in the air as though it were standing on an invisible pedestal. Though it’s difficult to tell exactly what gender it is, if it be any at all, in many ways, it reminds him of a young Fabio. With a cruciform sword in-hand, covered in golden flames which dance like the surface of the sun, the angel looks at him with a strange gaze. Is it sorrow, disappointment or pity?

“What gift?”

“He hath given thee a gift and thou art unwilling to accept.” The angel reiterates.

“What gift?! I’m in prison! I have no gifts!” Jose replies.

“Doth thee doubteth His power? Satan gaveth thee a gift of spite, but He hath intended it for good. His plan carrieth on, Jose. Why, then, doth thee spit in His hand, when thou art only spitting in thine own hand? Why doth thee refuseth His charity?”

Startled awake, Jose stares at the ceiling for a moment. He doesn’t need to dwell on the angel’s message; he knows exactly what it meant. Slowly sitting up, he can only bow his head and weep. Some time passes, and though it feels like an eternity, the guards eventually return. They take Jose for a supervised bathroom break, then leave him in his cell. The only words they speak?

“Breakfast in ten.”

They must be curt with him, as they’re forbidden from giving him too much stimulation. When the guards return, he finds that they’re female. Dr. Blackwell accompanies the women, who not only bring in food and water, but Audrey as well. Upon seeing Jose sitting in his cell, Audrey glares at him, only to cross her arms, turn toward the furthest corner and sit as far away from his as possible. Whatever they did to her, she’s still very upset about it.

Meanwhile, the doctor’s goons place the food and water on the floor, in the center of the room. White rice and light-colored beans on thin paper plates with no utensils, with a side of white bread and large, Styrofoam cups of water, just as before. Hopefully, this isn’t the exact same food.

“Well, I see we’re off to a great start.” Dr. Blackwell facetiously remarks, glancing between his prisoner and the AdvAnimal girl. “If we don’t see an improvement... Well...”

With that, the doctor and his goons leave the room, sealing the pair inside their padded cell. Jose sits for some time, trying to work up the nerve to act. He eyes the AdvAnimal, completely ignoring the food, something she notices and finds odd. Thinking back on his dream, he knows what he needs to do. If only it wasn’t so difficult. He sighs, turns his body to face her and clears his throat.

“Audrey, I...”

“Hmm?”

“I feel the need to explain myself... My behavior... You see, I’ve done many things, things that I wish I could undo. I was one of the first who made your kind all those years ago, and when I found myself in charge, I oversaw the AdvAnimals’ final development. You are what you are because of me... You didn’t ask to be born, er... Created... Neither did I. Despite my reaction yesterday, I don’t hate you. The truth is, I hate myself...”

As he speaks, her eyes widen, her arms slowly fall to her sides and she shifts her body, giving him her undivided attention.

“I’m sorry... I’m sorry for being so unkind to you. You didn’t do anything to deserve it. After all, it’s clear that you’re a prisoner, as much as I am. Whatever they did to you, that was my fault, too. It shouldn’t have happened... I don’t expect anything, least of all forgiveness, as I don’t quite feel I deserve it, but...” He sighs and gulps. “Do you think... I mean... Perhaps if... ... Could we start over?”

Audrey is flabbergasted by his brief but heartfelt speech. Looking him over and seeing the look in his melancholy eyes, it’s clear to her that he’s sincere. After their first meeting, she was certain that this was a mistake, but perhaps not? The Red Panda girl slowly nods her head, a little smile spreading across her lips.

“Good. I was hoping you’d give me another chance... Uhm... You can release me, if you want. I won’t do anything to harm you, and I won’t be mean again.” He insists.

Taking him at his word, Audrey crawls closer, moving slowly at first. As the black, orange and white AdvAnimal moves toward him on her hands and knees, he turns around, presenting his back to her. Jose waits, trying not to shake as his nerves rattle incessantly. He cannot deny the fear he feels, hearing the non-human creature creeping up behind him. Grabbing onto his straight jacket, she carefully begins unbuckling the thick, leather straps. Stopping after the first, she pauses, leans over his shoulder and stares at him for a moment, her big, orange eyes scanning his features.

“I’m not a threat. To be perfectly honest, I doubt I could hurt you, even if I tried. I know all about your training.”

“Heh.” She softly chuckles, her smile returning.

She soon removes his straight jacket, helping him pull it from his arms. He tosses it aside as he rubs the light brown flesh of his forearms. He hasn’t felt so free in a long time. Glancing back, he slowly turns around as he sits on the floor, shifting his body to face his savior. With her hands resting on a leg, she sits at a slight angle, her big, paw-like feet toward her left side. Audrey’s smile is unfading as her vibrant eyes scan his form. She cannot help but admire what little flesh she can see; she’s unaccustomed to seeing a human male’s skin.

Beneath the straight jacket, he wears similar short-sleeved smocks to those of the orderlies. The only difference being that his has the word “PRISONER” embroidered on the left breast, followed by a letter and a series of numbers. Bowing his head, he tries to think of something to say, anything to break the stillness in the air between the older human and the younger AdvAnimal girl.

“Thank you, Audrey... I’m glad we have this opportunity to do things differently. I... I felt horrible after the last time. I hope they didn’t hurt you.”

Her smile fades and her eyes turn away. Though she’s visibly upset by her mistreatment, she seems quick to forgive him for his part in it. She slowly and subtly shakes her head ‘no’. Is she sincere or merely trying to placate him? He cannot tell. Eager to move on, Jose leans over, stretching out his arms as he collects a cup and a plate.

“Here.” He begins, presenting her with food and drink. “Breakfast always makes me feel better, especially when I have company.”

Shifting her bright orange eyes toward him, her smile gradually returns, though it’s miniscule. Taking the plate and cup, she turns and sits beside him, while he reaches for the other. After he collects his own food and drink, they both slide backward and lean against the wall, sitting side by side as they eat together in relative silence. Hunger truly is the best spice; they scarf down the rice, beans and white bread in about a minute. After they finish their meal, they sit back and relax. Jose and Audrey both glance at each other, occasionally catching the other looking at them.

With the angel at the forefront of his mind, he somewhat reluctantly slides closer. Though she notices, she continues to wait, eager to see what he’s doing. He slowly moves his hand nearer to hers. It shakes as he reaches out for her. He’s immediately startled; her fur is so soft! He’d nearly forgotten, as he hasn’t touch an AdvAnimal without the protection of medical gloves in nearly a decade. Feeling his fingers creeping over the back of her hand, Audrey glances down.

“Hmm?!”

“I-I, uhm... J-just trying to make you feel better...” He nervously stammers.

Why is he suddenly so bashful?! With her smile widening, Audrey turns her hand over and grabs onto his, her claws tickling the back of his hand as she gives him a gentle squeeze. She slithers a little closer, their sides nearly touching. She leans against him. Slowly but surely, she rests her head on his shoulder. To Jose’s shock, it’s surprisingly comforting. In an effort to accept the Almighty’s gift, the companion he’s needed since the day they locked him in solitary confinement, Jose leans his head over and rests it against hers. Breathing through his nose, he cannot help but smell her hair, and though she uses no special shampoos or conditioners, it’s naturally soft and full, and it has such a pleasant aroma, too!

“Mmm...” Audrey coos, closing her eyes and nuzzling the air.

“Heh.”

“Hmm?” She opens her eyes and looks up at him.

“Your ears tickle my neck.” He remarks, his face flushing.

“Mmm!” She flashes a toothy grin, moving her head to tickle him more.

Reaching a hand across his body, he slows her movements by caressing her cheek. She responds by briefly nuzzling his palm. Once again, Audrey closes her eyes and makes herself comfortable. They remain like this for a moment, and yet the feeling of tension, of growing shyness, never leaves the older human.

“I, uhm... I feel like I should say something.” He suddenly remarks.

Tilting her head back and looking up at him with her big, citrine eyes, he’s struck by how beautiful they are. They seem more vibrant now that he’s begun to accept her.

“I mean, if you’re going to be here, I might as well get to know you!” He says with a nervous chuckle.

“Mmm!”

“Ahem... Er... You know, I, uhm... I haven’t been this close to an AdvAnimal in a long time. Years, perhaps. Maybe even a decade. Not since before I ran White Base.” He begins, unsure of what to talk about.

“Oh?!” Audrey lifts her head.

“Yes, I used to be the big cheese, as we’d say.”

“Hehe!” She giggles, bringing up a hand to cover her mouth.

“I took on an administrative role and spent most of my time overseeing the projects, rather than working on them myself. They originally wanted me to run this place, too, but... Well, that didn’t go so well, as you can see. David Blackmore took over, instead. He’s better for the job, anyway. He fits right in with these... People... Initially, they tried offering it to Kyle and Carol Burnheart. They were the ones who made your existence possible, after all. I just helped.”

She seems quite curious, cocking her head to one side and watching him intently.

“I guess you’ve never heard of them.”

“Mm-mm.” She shakes her head ‘no’.

“I guess I can’t be too surprised. They haven’t been very relevant these past few years, I’m sorry to say. I’m told that they offered them joint leadership roles, but they wanted to stay retired. They’re perfectly happy living in the house next to Harriet and her husband, helping to take care of their grandkids... You’ve probably never heard of her, either.”

Again, Audrey shakes her head.

“That’s alright. I don’t suppose it matters, anyway... ... This is nice, talking to you.” He suddenly adds, his little smile growing wider.

“Mmm!”

“You like it, too, huh?”

“Mhm!”

“Oh, good! ... You know, uhm... Ahem... If you’d like, you can, er... You can lean against me, again... Ih-if you want to, I mean!”

Making their way down the hall, Dr. Blackwell prepares himself for the worst. If he wasn’t so busy, he’d have been able to monitor them through the camera. It’s been several hours since he left Jose and Audrey alone, and if they’re not growing closer, he may have to do something drastic. Unlike Jose, who’s been a thorn in Timothy’s side since the day he was forced to care for him, Audrey is an AdvAnimal, a prized creation and a part of Dr. Vyne’s invaluable immuno-boosting research. It’d be a shame to waste her.

He can only imagine how Dr. Vyne is handling Audrey’s absence. Both Timothy and Evelynn take their work very seriously, and even their love for each other makes it difficult for her to release one of her subjects, even with the order coming straight from the highest levels of Sovereign Six. Opening the squeaky door at the end of the hall, he makes his way toward the cell.

“Alright, you two! Who needs to go po-”

Stopping mid-sentence, Dr. Blackwell stares with wide eyes and mouth agape. Jose leans into a corner, no longer bound by his straight jacket, which sits in a heap near the center of the room, right beside the empty plates and cups. Beside him, or more accurately, on top of him, is Audrey. She leans to her right, her head against his chest and her eyes closed as she keeps an arm around Jose’s body. At a glance, she appears to be sleeping quite peacefully. With his arms draped over her, Jose holds her in a remarkably tender fashion.

He, too, appears to be asleep, his head turned slightly and a cheek resting atop the crown of her head. Glancing over his shoulder, Dr. Blackwell looks to his guards, who are equally surprised by the sight. Dr. Blackwell motions for them to enter and they quickly set down new plates of food and fresh cups of water before removing the old. Retreating into the hallway, they seal the sleeping prisoners in their padded call.

“Stand guard outside. Patrol the halls if you get bored. Whenever they wake up, offer bathroom breaks, then return them to this cell, together, and come see me.” Dr. Blackwell whispers his instructions.

“Yes, sir.” The female guards whisper back.

Dr. Blackwell returns to his office to draft a memo, waiting only to see if Jose’s acceptance of Audrey will last beyond a single nap. It does, and to Dr. Blackwell’s shock, Jose already seems quite fond of the red panda girl. Perhaps his loneliness is such that his overwhelming disgust and rejection of the AdvAnimals he’d helped create has been overridden? In any case, he drafts two memos, the first to Dr. Vyne, to assure her that Audrey is being well-treated and that things are looking good for both subjects, and the second to Dr. Clara Hitchens, his immediate superior.

This memo is far less optimistic, with a distinct “wait and see” attitude. Jose, however, proves to be sincere, and day after day, Audrey and the former doctor only grow closer. Eventually, after a little over a week, a memo reaches The Old Man’s desk, the latest in Dr. Blackwell’s observations.

“Dr. Clara Hitchens,

As per your request, I have conducted a thorough psyche screening of both Patient H-435 and the AdvAnimal, Audrey. It’s clear that they’ve both formed a solid bond, though they’ve yet to consummate their pairing; Audrey remains virginal, as evidenced by the security camera footage and a detailed physical performed before her screening. As close as they’re becoming, however, they may take the next step and form a mated pairing, regardless of their surroundings. That being said, I’m confident that by granting them privacy they would be all but guaranteed to mate with each other. As such, I feel that the latest goal has been fulfilled. Patient H-435 is thoroughly dependent upon Audrey for both his mental stability and to help him control his panic attacks, which have become somewhat frequent, though notably less severe. Requesting further instructions.

Dr. Timothy Blackwell”

Sitting back in his chair, The Old Man cannot help but chuckle. He turns his cold eyes toward his protégé, who sits across from the massive desk in his lavish office, directly beside his own AdvAnimal partner and lover. Agent Sharpe glances to Krystal, who smiles and nods her head, her hand giving him a congratulatory squeeze.

“Well, it seems as though you were right!” The Old Man begins. “Now, what would you do next, my young apprentice?”

“Offer them better accommodations and greater freedom, but keep them confined. Minimal security and a more private cell or perhaps a dorm. Allowing them to mate would further entwine them, as well as give us another second gen.”

“I don’t know if I’m ready to give him that much respite.” The Old Man swiftly interrupts. “I’m going to draft an order that she be given annual birth control injections. Perhaps that’s a privilege I can hold over them, to ensure his cooperation?”

“As you wish. However you do it, make it clear that these freedoms and rewards can change at any time, starting with the loss of his companion.”

“I see...”

“I know this isn’t exactly what you wanted - he isn’t suffering, per se - but he’s certainly more useful to you alive and leveraged than wallowing in a cell, merely draining on our funds and resources. If he’s as dependent as Dr. Blackwell says, Dr. Chavez will cease to be a problem; you can use him however you wish and he’ll obey. If he’s as weak as you claim he is, then you’ve just created a highly willing and malleable slave.” Agent Sharpe continues, pleading his case.

“Perhaps...” The Old Man murmurs, slowly tapping his fingertips together. “We’ll just have to see how useful he is, and if your judgement holds true...”

Lying beside each other in their new bed, Jose nuzzles Audrey’s furry shoulders, smelling her sweet scent. She coos and arches her back, pressing her buttocks against him. With a hand reaching behind her, she runs her clawed fingers through his hair. They’ve already grown accustomed to their new home, a minimum-security dorm room inside of Telivima’s hospital. Though they’re still locked in at night and able to be monitored around the clock, they felt enough privacy that Jose decided to act. It was time to nurture their budding relationship.

The fact that he was told about her birth control injections actually made it easier. Embracing her as his mate, he took her virginity and made passionate love to her. Even though it’d been a while, he was surprised by how long he lasted. Audrey couldn’t have asked for more. She’s thoroughly satisfied, physically, mentally and emotionally. With his chest against her back, his manhood beneath her tail and tucked between her buttocks, they spoon together as they rest. Finally, she has her mate, and at long last, Jose feels at peace. The only thing that could make it any better is to have their freedom.

“I love you, pumpkin. I love you so much.”

“Aww!”

Opening his eyes, Jose no longer dwells on the past. He lay beside his mate in their room in the Indiana Mansion. After a passionate moment together, making love as if they hadn’t a care in the world, they spoon and snuggle. There’s nowhere he’d rather be than beside her, holding her in his arms and showering her with love. Likewise, Audrey enjoys nothing more than the affection of her mate. There’s nothing she’d rather be doing more. As they share a kiss, their tongues entwined, his hand cupping a breast, they bask in the splendor of their love.

“You and me, pumpkin.” He whispers to her, nuzzling her face. “It’s just you and me.”

“Mmm!” She coos, grinning from cheek to cheek.

It’s such a little thing, but the love that they share is a wondrous gift. It’s the only thing they have that means anything at all...