At first, it feels like a small scratch, just a light burn on the surface, a hum beneath the skin. The sounds become louder, almost edging out the physical sensations... almost. As the tool goes deeper, the pain becomes more intense until I can’t help but thrash about.
The men surrounding me bark out sounds and utterances that still have absolutely no sense to them as they hold my head even tighter. Eventually, the pain gives way to something else. It’s an ache in my head that throbs with each bit of sound that goes into my ears.
For a moment, it’s as if I’m underwater and everything is muffled. Try as I might, the sounds don’t make any sense. The only thing I know is that the pain is vastly lessened. Did he cut a nerve? Am I paralyzed? When the beefy hands free my face, I turn my neck, desperate to know just what he did to me.
But I can move. In fact, nothing feels impeded in any way. What the actual hell?
“What-”
Before I can get my sentence out, one of the goons drops his face in front of mine and shines that fucking light back into my eyes. “Can you understand me?”
“Of course I can understand you,” I growl out, irritated at the stupid question. But then it dawns on me. “Yes!” I repeat, far more enthusiastically. “I can understand you! What-”
“Good, then my services are no longer needed,” he says to the others. “I have actual cows to attend to. You figure out what to do with the male.”
“But Medical Rancher Nagán! We’ve never had a human man on board before.”
“He’s strapped down. And even if he somehow gets loose, he’s no match for us. He’s already tried once. I’m sure you’ll be perfectly fine in here alone with him.”
“Hey now!” I call out, my dignity taking a slight hit. “You drugged me or something. Let me have a fair fight, and you’ll see how good you do against me. I’m not just a pretty face, you know. I’m actually a force to be reckoned with.” Even as I say this, I note just how much height they have on me.
It’s too late now. I’m fully in this. Whatever the hell it is. Pausing, I look around the ship again and smile. “Oh my God. Did Jeffery book this? Is this one of those immersive shoots I’ve been hearing about?” Again, I glance down at my nude form and frown. “We hadn’t talked about me doing fully nude shoots, and I’m not sure I’m completely comfortable with it. At least put a blanket on me while he and I figure out the paperwork.”
The one named Nagán slides over, his lips turning down into a fierce sneer. “I know nothing of a Jeffery. If he’s somewhere on board, then he should have been detained by the protection officers. As it is, I’m still not entirely sure how you’re here, but we’re puzzling that through as we speak. As for your state of dress, you are now on an Icorian ship. You are only granted what coverings we deem vital to your survival. Blankets are far from necessary.”
With a brisk nod at the others, he exits the door, but pauses before leaving completely. “Oh, and human. To fight with one ofus is to be sentenced to the prison planets. You’ve already struck a fellow Icorian. I’d suggest you keep your temper in check before we send you back to Earth via garbage chute. As it is, a Rulovian warden already awaits your arrival. Pity, we’re nearly halfway home. We could have just put you back where we found you.”
An odd smile crosses his lips, sending a shard of unease into my gut. “Then again, how funny would it be to put him up for auction? I’m sure some Rancher will want him.”
“But Medical Rancher,” the other hedges. “To my knowledge, you cannot milk a male.”
He looks right at me as he smirks. “Oh, there are ways. Not conventional, mind you, but there are ways. I’ll return.”
The others look at each other, uneasy expressions crossing their faces. Even though I can now understand what they’re saying, none of it makes any sense. Icorian? Rulovian? Prison planets? Milking? Man, I must be hallucinating badly. Once I’m out of this trip, I’m definitely going cold turkey.
You’ll never get clean.
A sorrow-filled roar gurgles up my throat as that damnable voice floods my brain. I can, and I will. I just need help. That’s all. Next to me, the other two blue fuckers remaining in the room look at each other and shrug. But then, how can they know what’s going on in my brain?
If only they’d let me out. If only I could walk whatever this was off. If only... “Hey, c’mon,” I eventually cry out. “Can’t a guy go pee?” It’s the only thing I know of that doesn’t sound threatening or as if I’m about to bolt.
“All fluids must be contained until we know what is to be done with you.”
Grumbling, I lie back against the metal table. “Yep. Definitely cold turkey, because fuck this. I refuse to wake up in a puddle of my own piss.”
“Cold turkey?” One of them asks the other.
“A turkey,” he responds with a voice so deadpan, so matter-of-fact, I feel that I’m watching one of those nature shows. It would be funny if things weren’t so fucking weird already. “As I understand it, is a bird, a large fowl at that, native to the Americas. Though why it would be cold is beyond me. Perhaps he’s speaking of consuming it later? I know humans have primitive refrigeration devices...” He turns to me, his eyes a bit kinder than all the others. “Are you hungry? Do you wish for some cold turkey? I cannot provide any meat to you, but I can give you something to take your mind off of the hunger.”
This just gets more and more bizarre. Before I can formulate a reply that isn’t absolute lunacy, the one they call Nagán comes back in with an eat-shit grin on his face. “We are to prepare him for auction.”
“Auction?” I cry out, tugging again at my restraints. Something is off about this. At first, I was fully okay believing all of this was a delusion. Now, it’s feeling all too real. “What the fuck is going on.”
Nagán leans over and brings his face close to mine. “You are to be a bull on Icora. As such, you will watch your language or we will remove your ability to speak.”
“Fuck you,” I snarl, slamming my head forward so I can hit him.
He dodges with more grace than someone of his size can possess. “Gag him. I want a urinalysis immediately. I’ll need to figure out what serum will match best with male chromosomes and physiology.”
