room. It activated as soon as she was inside
and she stood there for several minutes, letting the vibrating water
spray do the work as Aspen took stock of everything she knew.
What she experienced
with Larken, the change in him while they were alone, and how he
seemed more like himself proved that he was worth trusting. Even
though the encounter was cut short, Aspen found herself convinced
that he was the person she remembered, but grown into a man she
loved. It could all be a trick, the possibility couldn’t be
discounted, but the urge to trust him was powerful.
Even though he was only
across the hallway, Aspen never missed Larken more, the ache she felt
for him was as surprising as it was overwhelming. “Get yourself
together,” she said to herself as she watched the last of the
green, yellow and brown ink slink down the drain between her feet.
The shower deactivated and the drying cycle started. The walls
reflected an image of her that was in conflict with what she thought
she ought to look like. Blonde hair, tanned skin, and a face that
still bore too much colour shifting, an alternative to makeup that
could last forever. Her face was adorned with bronze and light rouge,
it looked garish and wrong to her.
Once she was dry, she
walked to the bed and fell in. The orders were clear, she was to have
six hours of sleep and she knew there was only one way to get it.
Aspen’s frustration combined with her hunger pangs and thoughts of
her crew would keep her up for days, unless she cheated. After
wrapping herself in the thick comforter, she looked around the room
one last time. The bed felt huge, and too soft compared to what she
had become accustomed to on starships. The dimly lit room didn’t
feel safe, Aspen didn’t have the power to determine who could come
in and when, or even to lock the door. There was nothing she could do
about it that night, and it was sure that she would be punished if
she didn’t do exactly as Master Kort ordered. Aspen gave her orders
to the built in sleep assist. “Six hours, sounds sleep, wake me if
anyone or anything enters.”
The sensation of
soothing waves, heat and massage comfort systems overtook her in
minutes, and Aspen slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep.
05
The morning light stung
Aspen’s eyes as she rolled out of the blanket cocoon she spent the
night in. The results of resting in a Rest maker bed never agreed
with her, it always felt like there were extra cobwebs to shake.
There was a thin, white dressing gown on the end of the bed, and she
left it there on the way to the shower. There was no worry about
anyone looking in through the windows, she could see nothing but blue
ocean and sky. Even still, she was never shy, dolls didn’t get
permission to be.
Aspen emerged from the
shower famished. “Good morning,” said Tinick in a high, sing-song
voice from the bedroom. Pieces of clothing were already laid out
along the bottom of the bed, but what drew Aspen’s attention
immediately was a plate of food on a side table with two tall glasses
of thick fruit juice and a tumbler of tea.
Tinick took her hands
and led her to the table. “Eat everything, I’ll make sure you’re
not disturbed, but I’ll have to dress you at the same time.” A
napkin was pressed into Aspen’s hand along with a large slice of
pineapple. “You must be famished, so just dig in.”
Aspen savoured the
large slice of pineapple, something she hadn’t tasted since she
escaped. Even though it was a little difficult at first, she ate with
a measured pace.
Tinick took her robe
off while she was eating. Before she finished the second pineapple
ring the tall, furred fashion master was pulling a light, transparent
garment around Aspen that stretched from the middle of her ribs to
below her hips. “The Countess wants you in this gown almost two
weeks ahead of schedule, and she wants me to do my best to have you
down to the size you are supposed to be then, only now.” Tinick
looked her in the eye
and she stood there for several minutes, letting the vibrating water
spray do the work as Aspen took stock of everything she knew.
What she experienced
with Larken, the change in him while they were alone, and how he
seemed more like himself proved that he was worth trusting. Even
though the encounter was cut short, Aspen found herself convinced
that he was the person she remembered, but grown into a man she
loved. It could all be a trick, the possibility couldn’t be
discounted, but the urge to trust him was powerful.
Even though he was only
across the hallway, Aspen never missed Larken more, the ache she felt
for him was as surprising as it was overwhelming. “Get yourself
together,” she said to herself as she watched the last of the
green, yellow and brown ink slink down the drain between her feet.
The shower deactivated and the drying cycle started. The walls
reflected an image of her that was in conflict with what she thought
she ought to look like. Blonde hair, tanned skin, and a face that
still bore too much colour shifting, an alternative to makeup that
could last forever. Her face was adorned with bronze and light rouge,
it looked garish and wrong to her.
Once she was dry, she
walked to the bed and fell in. The orders were clear, she was to have
six hours of sleep and she knew there was only one way to get it.
Aspen’s frustration combined with her hunger pangs and thoughts of
her crew would keep her up for days, unless she cheated. After
wrapping herself in the thick comforter, she looked around the room
one last time. The bed felt huge, and too soft compared to what she
had become accustomed to on starships. The dimly lit room didn’t
feel safe, Aspen didn’t have the power to determine who could come
in and when, or even to lock the door. There was nothing she could do
about it that night, and it was sure that she would be punished if
she didn’t do exactly as Master Kort ordered. Aspen gave her orders
to the built in sleep assist. “Six hours, sounds sleep, wake me if
anyone or anything enters.”
The sensation of
soothing waves, heat and massage comfort systems overtook her in
minutes, and Aspen slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep.
05
The morning light stung
Aspen’s eyes as she rolled out of the blanket cocoon she spent the
night in. The results of resting in a Rest maker bed never agreed
with her, it always felt like there were extra cobwebs to shake.
There was a thin, white dressing gown on the end of the bed, and she
left it there on the way to the shower. There was no worry about
anyone looking in through the windows, she could see nothing but blue
ocean and sky. Even still, she was never shy, dolls didn’t get
permission to be.
Aspen emerged from the
shower famished. “Good morning,” said Tinick in a high, sing-song
voice from the bedroom. Pieces of clothing were already laid out
along the bottom of the bed, but what drew Aspen’s attention
immediately was a plate of food on a side table with two tall glasses
of thick fruit juice and a tumbler of tea.
Tinick took her hands
and led her to the table. “Eat everything, I’ll make sure you’re
not disturbed, but I’ll have to dress you at the same time.” A
napkin was pressed into Aspen’s hand along with a large slice of
pineapple. “You must be famished, so just dig in.”
Aspen savoured the
large slice of pineapple, something she hadn’t tasted since she
escaped. Even though it was a little difficult at first, she ate with
a measured pace.
Tinick took her robe
off while she was eating. Before she finished the second pineapple
ring the tall, furred fashion master was pulling a light, transparent
garment around Aspen that stretched from the middle of her ribs to
below her hips. “The Countess wants you in this gown almost two
weeks ahead of schedule, and she wants me to do my best to have you
down to the size you are supposed to be then, only now.” Tinick
looked her in the eye
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