Remington left back to the base very reluctantly. The three companions landed in Lux's bedroom where Lux quickly sat at the desk and lit a cigarette. He was now pain free with a fresh new hand that you couldn't even tell had been cut off so violently not much more than three hours ago. He held it up flexing and making a fist shifting it back and forth looking very amused.

  “That fucking asshole was right.” Lux said with a chuckle.

  “Why? Did you doubt that his idea would work?” Ava hummed amusingly as he sat on the bed crossing one leg over the other.

  “After the third finger, yes, I did start to doubt that I could just grow back my own body parts.” Lux rolled his eyes and relaxed into his seat lazily.

  “Did it hurt a lot?” Ava asked in amusement.

  “No Ava, it fucking tickled of course. The fuck you think?!” Lux scoffed in irritation.

  “How much did it hurt?” Ava asked curiously.

  “It was excruciating up until it reached full size. Then I had intense muscle pain for like another hour.” Lux said with a huff.

  “I'm sure it wasn't that bad.” Ava said derisively with an eye roll.

  “It was easily in the top 5 most painful things I've ever felt in my life, right up there with getting my heart broken, getting poisoned, getting shot with a gun, and getting raped in prison. Thanks for asking.” Lux said angrily. Remington jolted at the omission of his list of painful moments. He sucked down his cigarette even faster now as anxiety took over quickly, then he fell silent and continued to brood over his most painful moments while looking very distressed.

  “Don't tell me you didn't enjoy being someone's bitch.” Ava mused.

  “Just because you enjoy getting gang raped doesn't mean that I do! I couldn't even imagine what they would do to a fuckin femme slut like you in prison!!” Lux got to his feet now and advanced on Ava as if to attack him. Remington quickly stepped between them holding Lux back from his aggression.

  “Ava I think you should go to your room.” Remington said firmly. “You will go with us tomorrow after the briefing.” Remington pressed as Lux struggled to try and reach Ava. Ava only looked smug. “Go now Ava! Or I will let him hurt you!” Remington snapped.

  “Ugh fine!” Ava groaned. He got up and left quickly. Lux pushed Remington away and dropped into the chair now completely saturated by his anxiety. He lit another cigarette and smoked it carefully as now his hands were shaking. Remington let him settle a bit before speaking.

  “Did that really happen?” Remington asked meekly. Lux was too distracted to answer. Remington waited a few more moments.

  “Lux?”

  “Which one?” Lux said quickly.

  “The last one.” Remington said gently. Lux looked like he would crumble.

  “Yes, all of that happened.” Lux said painfully.

  “I'm so sorry Lux.” Remington said as he felt his heart break for Lux. “Why did it happen?” Remington asked. The sheer thought of someone hurting Lux made him angry.

  “There are several reasons why it happens.

  One; If someone thinks you look like a decent replacement for the female pleasure they are longing for, they will proposition who they find most attractive. Some are decent and can handle rejection, other won't take no for an answer, so unless you are physically strong enough to fend off an attempt then you are literally fucked. Of course there are inmates that are upwards of 300 lbs of muscle that wouldn't hesitate to kill you because they are already serving life sentences. Then some have numbers on their side. Either way like I said you would be literally fucked.

  Two; Some inmates use it as punishment for anyone who pisses them off or disrespects them. Again same as the first reason if you are not strong enough to stop it, or protect yourself from their numbers, if you are a loner like me….” Lux choked on his last few words and took a few deep shaky breaths.

  “Three; Some inmates use it as currency to get what they need especially when they have no one on the outside who cares enough to send them money for basic necessities. This can be consensual but there are often times when the deal goes south and things don't get traded fairly.” Lux was crying now but trying to retract his tears. “I've had experience with each of these and never on the giving end.” Lux shut his eyes and shivered with emotion while wiping away his tears quickly. Remington was soaking in the horrible reality of Lux's life in prison. He knew it was bad for him in prison but these details were crushing him.

  “I've never told anyone about this. It's not something that I am comfortable with sharing in detail.” Lux said softly then he looked distracted. “Shut up! That isn't true! Shut up! Shut up! SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!” Lux suddenly covered his ears and shouted. Remington jumped up and put his arms around Lux holding him tightly.

  “It's okay Lux! I'm right here for you! Look at me!” He pulled Lux's face up to look at him. Lux's icy fearful wet eyes slowly focused on him. “I'm right here, Lux. Focus on me.” Remington urged him. “Listen to my voice. Not them. Feel me.” Remington said, running his hands through Lux's swirly hair. He then impulsively climbed onto Lux on the chair. “Can you feel me instead?” Remington said as he pushed against Lux firmly.

  “Uung heh, I am trying.” Lux mumbled.

  “Do you think Zay would be terribly angry if we did anything together?” Remington said with a pleasurable groan.

  “Heh, probably.” Lux said softly.

  He paused, closing his eyes and leaning back as Remington nuzzled him harshly. “No sex……only kissing.” Lux huffed. Remington groaned but then took advantage of what he could and began to kiss Lux deeply and frantically. Lux welcomed Remington's mouth on his own and began to relax and let Remington shove his tongue deep inside his mouth, then drag his lips across his face and down his neck. Suddenly Remington was pulling him to the bed and dropping on top of him on the bed. They continue kissing, then removing clothes and rubbing their bodies together desperately. Remington wished they could do more but stopped just short of filling their desires and instead settling for finishing their own needs beside each other. Remington settled against Lux's shoulder draping his arm across him.

  “Thanks….that helped.” Lux said softly. “I’m sorry I didn't give you permission to go all the way.” Lux said meekly.

  “I'll take whatever I can get from you.” Remington said slyly, glancing at Lux very seductively. Lux blushed deeply and his heart fluttered.

  “We have one more thing to do before we call it a night.” Remington said.

  “Hm?” Lux hummed curiously.

  “We need to go see Zex, and get your evening pills.” Remington said.

  “Ah, yeah, that.” Lux said. Remington pushed up out of the bed and dressed himself. Lux did the same and soon they were in the infirmary waiting for Zexich to arrive.

  “Hello, Remington, Lux, good evening to you both. Here for your evening dose I assume?” Zexich said politely as he entered.

  “Correct.” Lux said aloofly.

  “Just a moment while I get it ready.” Zexich walked away. Remington sat in a chair and waited patiently as Zexich returned with the evening dose of medication and one by one set the pills out and went over each by name and type and milligram, then listed side effects and any other precautions the medication had. Luckily the evening dose was not as complex as the morning dose.

  “Do you have any questions or concerns?” Zexich asked politely.

  “No, I think it's correct.” Lux said then he began to swallow the pills with water.

  “Did you notice a difference after your morning dose? Did you have any side effects or feel any better than your previous days here at the base?” Zexich asked.

  “I did feel the difference. I felt calmer. I had an easier time focusing. I still had a few moments of extreme symptoms, but it might have been just because I was well out of my comfort zone and very stressed out.” Lux said seriously.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  “And the voices, did the frequency subside at all?” Zexich asked.

  “Collectively, yes. But I did have some moments where they were unbearable. Like I said I was extremely stressed out though.” Lux said.

  “And what exactly made you so stressed out?” Zexich asked curiously. Remington was now trying to control how nervous the conversation was making him.

  “Well, I had to follow Remington around all day, because I am his zombie slave, and we ended up talking to a clone. I am very against cloning. Then we went to do the mission and that did not go very well. We found a ghost and I figured out that I absolutely do not handle amputation very well, but whatever. So that was stressful. Then we returned and I had to confess some of my worst life experiences to Remington, because I want to be social and try and learn how to emotionally connect with people. That was stressful too, but apparently being that vulnerable can really ignite some very intimate pleasure.” Lux explained very intriguingly. Remington blushed deeply as the last bit of information seemed to amuse Zexich very much. He gave Remington a cheeky glance before he spoke.

  “It does sound like you had a very exhausting day, but you seemed to handle it alright as you are here looking very resilient. Your efforts to socialize seem very rewarding to say the least. Wouldn't you agree?” Zexich said still very amused.

  “Yes, very rewarding.” Lux agreed seriously. “Remington is taking very good care of me.” Remington blushed deeper. Zexich chuckled at this comment.

  “Would you say you are enjoying being social with him? Is it easier than before?” Zexich asked.

  “Enjoy it? Am I supposed to enjoy it?” Lux asked as if this were a foreign concept.

  “Yes, socializing can be very enjoyable. It can also be very unenjoyable, exhausting, or uncomfortable, but it can also make you feel accepted, recognized, comforted, prized, cherished or even loved.” Zexich listed. Lux looked thoughtful. “Does Remington make you feel any of those things?”

  “Maybe? I usually cannot collect and realize what I feel, because it's normally so painful that all I can do is hide from what I feel until I am calm again.” Lux said solemnly.

  “Well can you try this experiment for me? I want you to try and name as many emotions you feel everyday and say them out loud whenever you have pinpointed what exactly you feel. What are you feeling right now?” Zexich suggested.

  “Uh…I don't know?” Lux said in bewilderment. “……..a bit confused I guess?” Lux continued.

  “What could help alleviate that feeling?” Zexich asked.

  “Knowing why I need to do this.” Lux said still very confused.

  “Sometimes when you highlight what you are feeling when you begin to feel it, this helps you understand yourself better so that you can meet your own emotional needs.” Zexich explained.

  “Oh. Alright. Shit.” Lux said then he looked distracted.

  “You can also pinpoint how you feel about a specific person. How do you feel about me?” Zexich asked.

  “Well….I'm not sure.” Lux said seriously. “I might know how you make me feel, maybe.” Lux said in contemplation.

  “That's a start, how do I make you feel?” Zexich asked.

  “Respected. Which I've never really felt from any doctor before.” Lux said, looking emotional.

  “I think you have a lot more feelings on this subject, perhaps not all directly about me, but on the subject of doctors.” Zexich said. Lux looked even more emotional.

  “Yeah…” Lux said nearly overwhelmed now.

  “Tell me one isolated feeling you have about doctors, other than myself.” Zexich encouraged.

  “Doctors that I would see in prison gave me the feeling that doctors in general were callous. I would end up in the emergency hospital occasionally, a lot of the time it would be the same few doctors on call there. They would see me several times for the same reason repeatedly. None of them seemed to care. In fact they would often suggest that if I did not like what was happening to me in prison, then maybe I shouldn't be a criminal.” Lux glanced at Remington who had tears in his eyes. “Remington knows why I was seen in the emergency room so often. For that to happen to me, I could not stop it, and it was my fault for being a criminal, when I was arrested I was fully manic and out of control, and because my mother repetitively tried to poison me to kill the demon inside of me, I was living with family that I made uncomfortable, who wouldn't get me any sort of real help for my mental health conditions, while I was bullied at school to the point I wanted to kill everyone, while my only friend was so desperate to help me that he decided to have the police come and take me, just so I wouldn't kill anyone, and when they raped me in prison then beat me nearly to death while the guards looked the other way and the person in charge of healing me tells me this was all my fault?…………ALL MY FUCKING FAULT?! THEN HE LEFT ME TO DROWN IN SHAME AND RUSHING ME OUT OF THAT FUCKING HOSPITAL ROOM AS FAST AS HE COULD, AND IT WAS MY FAULT THAT I WAS TAKING UP SPACE IN HIS FUCKING HOSPITAL WHEN HE COULD BE TREATING FIRST CLASS FUCKING CITIZENS?! MY FUCKING BAD YOU POMPOUS BITCH!! I JUST NEEDED A MOMENT OF COMFORT OR A LEAST ONE NIGHT IN THE HOSPITAL WHERE I WOULD BE SAFE AND I WOULDN'T BE SOMEONE'S FORCED FUCKING CUM BUCKET!!!” Lux was screaming now and out of his chair and nearly frantic. Remington quickly jumped up to intercept him, throwing his arms around Lux to try and calm him. The touch was the breaking point and suddenly the ground shuttered violently and there was a surge of powerful energy that illuminated Lux's skin then shocking through Remington as if to fry him with an electrical conduction so powerful that he jolted in pain. The energy was like knives stabbing him everywhere and he tried to let go but it was as if he had lost control of his muscles. He screamed painfully then suddenly Lux fell unconscious. The energy ceased and Remington regained his ability to move again just in time to catch Lux as he fell limp. Remington sank to the ground holding him.

  “Lux! Oh my gosh Lux! LUX!” Remington shook him. His body seemed to be jerking and twitching from the electoral surge but he would not wake. “LUX! HEY! WAKE UP!” Remington cringed and began to panic. Zexich was now beside him checking him to make sure he was alright. Sigil stood just behind him.

  “He is going to be fine.” Zexich reassured him.

  “He had a sudden manifestation of talent, caused by the intense emotions he was feeling. I calmed him completely but the surge continued even without emotions to fuel it. This is unusual because when I eliminate someone's emotions it usually disables their talents. Lux's talent persisted, so I had to knock him out. If I hadn't, he could have accidentally killed you.” Sigil explained.

  “My apologies Remington I did not know that answering such a question would turn into a life threatening event.” Zexich said apologetically.

  “It's alright…..I know he has a lot of suppressed emotions. It seems like when asked a question about his personal life the flood gates open and he spills out an overflow of information and emotions. It's like he's never had an outlet before. Even when I secluded myself I still wrote my feelings out on paper or on my computer. He seems like he just closes them inside completely.” Remington looked destroyed over this.

  “I could sense this too. That is why I was trying to get him to talk about things. I had no idea why he was so afraid of being poisoned. I assumed it was a delusion, but he has an actual trauma that caused this fear. Perhaps most of his strange behavior has an origin, and I feel we are only scratching the surface.” Zexich said, disheartened.

  “His emotional flow is like a damned river. It's completely stagnant and plugged most of the time, but when he starts to let his emotions flow out the damn can quickly break and all of his feelings flow out as if the damn collapsed suddenly and the rapids are in an uncontrolled rage. All he feels at a constant beyond this is surface anxiety and depression.” Sigil explained.

  “No wonder he does not know what he is feeling most of the time.” Zexich considered. “Remington, may I ask you something personal?” Zexich said very curiously.

  “Sure?” Remington said as cradled Lux close to his chest swimming deep in emotions.

  “Are you in love with Lux?” Zexich asked quizzically. Remington nearly jolted at the question.

  “Uh! Well….” He stammered. Was he in love with Lux? He glanced at Sigil as if for his understanding.

  “I will not answer for you.” Sigil said mildly.

  “I feel responsible for him….” Remington began.

  “And you are quite fond of him, correct?” Zexich said, leading him to his conclusion.

  “Well, yes….”

  “We already know that you would protect him at all costs. Correct?” Zexich trailed on.

  “Yes. I would.” Remington said firmly.

  “And if he were to leave forever…”

  “No! He can't!” Remington shouted impulsively. “Uh! I mean that would be terrible! I would miss him!” Remington huffed then became anxious.

  “And you have been intimate as I understand.” Zexich highlighted.

  “Well..!” Remington was now bright red.

  “Have you tamed each other yet?” Zexich now asked very slyly. Remington was quiet and soaking in the answer to the question.

  “I don't think Lux has been able to establish an emotional attachment to me the same way that I have for him. When he opens up to me about the horrible things that have happened to him, it breaks my heart. I guess that means……” Remington paused. He was totally in love with Lux. He was saturated in this reality. “I’m in love with him.” Remington said softly. Vezaias was right, he does grow feelings very quickly, so did that mean Vezaias already knew how Remington felt about Lux? He shifted his eye to look down at Lux who was still unconscious in his arms. Remington was now gushing with tears. Was this going to change anything now that he had only just found out Vezaias was alive? Would Vezaias be angry about this? They kissed, and how could that be acceptable when he knew Vezaias was such a jealous person. He was now suddenly very confused, as this was the third time he fell in love with someone other than Vezaias.

  “You are allowed to move on, and find something new that will make you happy. You do not have to suffer alone for the rest of your life. I think you should embrace the new opportunity you have in front of you. It seems to be a much healthier love than the previous one was, and it is no way a betrayal.” Zexich said sincerely. Remington looked up at him wide with awe. He was not well enough informed to know how serious this situation really was.

  “I feel as if I will never suffer enough.” Remington said as he sank into turmoil. Zexich sighed then he turned to search for the smelling salts and held them under Lux's nose. Lux immediately woke with a jolt and cupped his nose in disgust.

  “Ughhh….” He groaned.

  “Are you alright? You lost control of yourself there for a moment. We had to render you unconscious or you could have killed Remington.” Zexich explained. Lux looked pained and slowly sat up.

  “I'm sorry.” He said softly.

  “It's okay Lux. I am absolutely not mad about it. I was just very worried about you.” Lux looked at Remington very emotionally. “Lets go back to the bedroom. It's been a long exhausting day. We need to get some rest okay?” Lux only nodded softly. Remington helped him stand and they both exited to the bedroom.