2017-04-24 - spike - Oh god what a suit 49

Author: spike
Title: Oh, god, what a suit! 49
Date: 24 April 2017

“Tell me, Alpha.”

“Yes, sir. Beta’s ours. Utterly. I’ve told him to clear his flat, all his non-work related belongings, gone in three days, sir. Then, when he comes here for his clean and feed he can sleep with me, sir. Along with the after work workouts, assisting in the shop until it closes and so on. He’ll leave the shop but only for work, sir. He asked to remain in the bottom half of the suit. I gave him three days for that too sir.”

“So, he still has the plug?”

“Yes, sir. Even when the bottom half is removed, he will retain the plug, held in with his old harness and he’s still got the Latowski too sir. He has no choice, he’s a slave sir. Now and forever sir. His words.”

“Excellent. He impresses me more each time. I noticed an unusual sight in the gym too.”

Four and Alpha collapsed into laughter again.

“Alpha?”

“Sorry sir. It was just a surprise, sir. I’d heard of a colour change but never expected it to be so extreme. Nothing’s suit is shocking pink now apart from that black band of rubber, sir.”

“Excellent again! That is new to me too. Unfortunately the colour change isn’t predictable or tunable, we never followed up on that line of research given that the suits were deemed unwearable. The permanent suit it eventually wears could end up being any colour.”

“That’s a shame, sir. But even if it comes out a respectable colour it can live with, it’ll still stand out. Four already told it that every slave there will share one order concerning it. Bully, beat, spit if capable, belittle, insult. And it’ll stand out. Every other slave will be black sir, or human.”

“Ah, about that human aspect. Four, all your friends are here now, they began their training last week and I am impressed with those too. Six even had his first bout of attempted bullying at the hands of a couple of the pet named slaves while he still had his number visible after they were released to mix with their counterparts in the compound. That happened yesterday.”

“What happened, sir?”

“Six had been informed of my decision. From one week ago the hierarchy has a new level, above the pet names, or animals if you like and below the full human slaves. Subhumans fill that gap. I didn’t inform the pets, just to test them. One of them tried punishing six, first for just being there, then for disobeying him. His fob didn’t work for obvious reasons.”

Four chuckled to himself. “So what did he do?”

“Six grabbed him by his collar and tapped onto his wrist, thanks to your friends Ginger and Flash and what they told Rex, I outrank you. Rex nearly killed number four thanks to what you told it. Oh, and it is an it now. It’s in a suit, a nothing. And you will be to if you keep spreading lies about us. Oh, it protested, looked deeply insulted at having been spoken to by a thing in its eyes but six demonstrated his new rank by activating his fob. No plug, but Snowy’s Latowski has a similar shocker to Alphas. That should put them in their place.”

“His wrist? My tablet idea?”

“Yes, four. There’ll be one awaiting you on arrival. And your mesh glove should arrive with the first post tomorrow.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“So what are your plans for nothing?”

“We pulled another couple of teeth tonight. Four did it this time, he has the strength now. The mouth is almost clear to be safe for face fucking without being bitten. Another couple and it’ll be time to for that spit-roast four promised me, sir.”

“Good, then granted.”

Four began typing then. “I’m keeping it in the suit, just removing the plug and tubing, sir. The plug will be put back in after each fuck for the time being, sir. I think three days without a wash, just like Beta, should be OK before we remove it from its suit, sir. I want it to continue suffering.”

“And your recovery?”

“Leaps and bounds sir. According to the doctor I’ll be off the painkillers later this week and ready for my first plug test for pleasure a week later, see if it’s safe or if it’ll trigger another spasm attack, sir.”

“So you may only have the use of it as a fuck toy for another two weeks?”

“Touch and go right now, sir. If the plug test fails, I could end up writhing in agony on the floor in spasms again, meaning it could still be months off before a full recovery even with the pain gone, sir. The doctor said he’d be present during my first two or three pleasure sessions so he’s at hand with more muscle relaxant if the need arises, sir.”

“Understood, four. Looking forward to actually making use of your fuck toy?”

“To tell you the truth sir, I think having been edged by Mary and Beta, it’ll pale in comparison to that, sir. Even with the doctor’s drugs, sir.”

“You’ll just have to exhibit an iron will and a lot of self control to edge yourself while fucking him, won’t you four.”

Four chuckled again. “It’s worth a try sir. I’ll report on the experience tomorrow, we should be ready by then, sir.”

“Good. And finally, Mary. The training continues and not one iota of resistance anymore. It truly has given up?”

“More than given up, sir. Once it realised we were having a beneficial effect on it two weeks ago it’s only objected to one thing and after that first objection, no resistance there either. I think it’ll be at the peak of its fitness by the time I leave, sir. It lost over a stone in the first month. It should be at close to its ideal weight by then. It used to have to be ordered to workout. Now it not only does it willingly, it’s actually trying, sir. Forcing itself.”

“Yes. Well, it’s not coming here. Much as I’m tempted to have it. My plans were written in stone at the very beginning when we abducted it. I know I said to it I didn’t know what I was going to do with it, but I did. Those plans remain with me and me alone until it’s time. I’ll tell you this, it will not like the fate I have in store for it and leave it at that.”

Alpha and four nodded.

“Carry on the good work, Q out.”
* * * * *
They settled into the routine. For the first three days, four cleaning and sleeping in his case, working on Mary and nothing in the mornings and evenings.

Alpha and four finally got their spit roast. It was enjoyable enough, but even forcing forcing himself, four’s ability at edging was far inferior to being bound and helpless while someone else did it.
* * * * *
When Beta returned to take up residence, the routine changed. Four only taking the case when he arrived after work at six. Working on Mary during the day.

He granted Mary the pleasure of beating up nothing when he didn’t feel like it himself. He got it into the ring daily and sometimes he didn’t even bother cuffing its hands behind its back.

It was naked again now, its skin showing signs of irritation from the suit and a lot of bruising from the renewed beatings.

Once Beta joined them, it was put into the two halves of its suit again and frozen in the pod, they didn’t even bother tubing it up. If it pissed itself, tough, it would just have to rest in its own mess.
* * * * *
It was two weeks later, the pain had been gone a week and the doctor turned up.

“It’s time four.”

“Oh god, I hope it is. So, describe the sensations like when I take the levels from the others?”

“Yes. Yes that seems appropriate. I’d recommend you have the word stop ready to be spoken too, just in case.”

“Shit. Yeah, I’ll do that now.” Four tapped onto his tablet.

“OK. I’m ready.”

“Right then. Describe the sensations… Level 1 pleasure first of course.”

“Go on.”

“What?”

“Please, I want to feel some pleasure down there. I know level one’s just a tingle but it’s better than nothing.”

“You can’t feel that then?”

“You’ve started? But I can’t feel a thing! Shit! Level three was my level before! I was incredibly sensitive.”

“Oh fucking hell four!”

“Yeah?”

“God the pain must’ve been ten times worse than the others felt if that’s the case. Some of them didn’t get the same pleasure as you did from even a six, remember. And it’s not just the pleasure you were sensitive to.”

“Fuck! So, he’s maimed me even more than I thought? I’ll never feel pleasure?!”

“It was only level one, four, don’t panic yet. It may be that scar tissue built up and you’ve lost your sensitivity. Level two?”

“You’ve activated?”

“Yes. Still nothing?”

“No!”

“Level three.”

“Oh thank god. A tingle! It’s faint but it’s there.”

“And you say this was your level before?”

“Yes, it had me in ecstasy.”

“Well, it’s a start. I’ll put you through the cleaning cycle after this. It’s time and your hair’ll be getting too long in there now. That may increase your sensitivity. It might clean away some of that scar tissue or at least reduce it. Now, level four.”

“Stronger tingle.”

“Five?”

“Oh, that’s getting better. Not quite what I had. But it’s nice enough.”

“Six?”

“OFF! OFF!”

“Are you OK, four?”

“Damn it! I could sense that was getting close to the level I was used to but the moment you activated it, pain. I think I spasmed.”

“Well it didn’t go into an uncontrollable one requiring muscle relaxants. That was my greatest fear. You’re not ready for the plug yet but I can see you getting there. Now let’s get that hair cleared away. I’ll test you weekly.”
The testing the second time, he could feel level two. Level five had him enjoying the feeling immensely but level six still caused a spasm. He was improving but again it was slow going.

The next week, the spasming was gone. The doctor returned for the next few days for more tests and finally gave four a clean bill of health.

“Your fuck toy is now just something to abuse. You can be locked back in chastity and enjoy the plug again, four.”

“Oh thank god. It’s enjoyable enough, fucking that thing but it’s nothing compared to the plug. Being edged by Beta and even Mary beat it but I just can’t edge myself like they can.”

“Common problem. No-one has that much self control. You need to be helpless to someone else’s touch to get hours of it. I recommend you limit your pleasure in the plug to once a week and do not exceed level six for at least another month. I’ll inform Master Q of my prognosis and the doctors he has there too.”

“Do you think I’ll ever return to my old sensitivity?”

“You might. It may be that your recovery is still ongoing and future cleaning cycles will erode away the insensitive scar tissue more. It’s likely to be a slow process though.”

“I’ll keep them informed. Hope I see you there too eventually.”

“I’ll be there, four, don’t worry. I might even join you within a few months, there’s a lot more to be dealt with as a doctor than most other professions.”
* * * * *
Before he knew it, Beta was ready to move in permanently. His notice had expired, his flat was empty, he’d provided Master Q with every bank detail and his uniform and other work related things had been returned. He now owned nothing.

Four locked the shop the moment he came in that evening.

Beta walked up to the counter with a grin. “All done, sir. I’m ready.”

Alpha reached down and held up suit six and a small box.

“What’s that. Sir?”

“This?” Alpha waved the box.”This is your number five hood. It’s made of the same material as the suit, we’ll tube you up, apply the hood and it’ll permanently bond to the suit beneath.”

Beta immediately stripped naked. Alpha removed the chastity and harnes and six got into the suit. He caressed himself as he did so, smoothing it, just enjoying the feeling of a complete suit again.

The moment he was in it, they led him back to the chair and ten minutes later, fully tubed up, Alpha opened the box.

“Well, that’s a surprise!”

five shrugged.

Alpha removed the hood with a grin. It had a gold number five on the back. “You’ve really impressed Master Q. It’s not silver! You’re a person and you’ll have a voice, hang on, there’s… He pulled something else from the box too. An armband. A screen and keyboard on it.

Four nodded. “He said there’d be one waiting for me when I got there. Makes sense you get one too. Leaves your hands free. No more risk of having the tablet knocked out of your hands. Two of mine broke in that way. Once by Rex when he grabbed it and stamped on it.”

Alpha applied the hood and lead five back to the mirror room.

“Your name’s not Beta anymore, it’s five now. Will be for the rest of your life. Just admire yourself in the mirror again while the suit cures and in half an hour it’ll never be removable.”

This time while he posed and stretched, admiring himself, he tested the suit, giving his neck a tug once in a while and gradually, the pull on it diminished. By the time Alpha came back it was back to that inch again. Now this was his life. Never again would he feel air on his skin. Bound forever in a suit that felt like no other.

Alpha led him into the wet room then. “Now, you know the drill.”

five took up the pose as before and froze into place. Alpha attached all the tubing and held up the fob. “Now, this is going to hurt. Your earplugs this time are designed to embed themselves permanently.”

He pushed the button.

Oh fuck that hurt. Spikes jabbing out of the plugs into his ear canals, penetrating his skin, permanently sealing them in.

Then the cleaning began. The first he’d had was bad enough, but this one didn’t just sting. It burned. He clamped his eyes shut and had no choice but to endure. It lasted for an age before that soothing balm began to fill the suit and the burning ended. At least this time he didn’t need the full arse cleaning and that gloop they’d fed him to fully clean him out. That would’ve only added to the hell.

A couple of flushes with soapy water, another with pure, the drying cycle and he could move again.

Alpha came in and grabbed him in a hug. “Welcome number five. This is it for you now, you’re mine until Q calls for you.”. He handed five the armband.

Five looked at it and strapped it on, fumbling with it a little.

“Thank you, sir. Dream come true sir.”

“Now, follow me, there’s something I want to show you.”

“What’s that, sir?”

“I wasn’t entirely honest to you on one point. It couldn’t be helped. Until you were permanently mine with no hope of alerting the authorities, I had to keep this secret. Now you can have some fun with it yourself.”

Alpha walked back out onto the shop floor and over to the display case with the suit designed to annoy his ex-partner.

“What secret sir?”

Alpha grinned at five. Then reached down and turned the case off. Unlocked it and the figure stepped out.

“What? Another slave, sir?”

“Oh, not just any slave, five. Meet Mary.”

“What?”

“Mary. When you said you wished he could just disappear… Well… We got him. It was partly Q’s idea but it was four who turned Q’s idea “if only we could get him into a suit” into a reality by asking “Why can’t we, sir?”

Mary began twiddling. “He’s not kidding, Ben. It’s me. I’m sorry. I had no idea what hell I’d made your life working with me. I understand now. I’m even liking this life now. Took me over a month and making friends with another of the slaves, the one previously known as Zak, the shoplifter. His advice turned a life of hell into one I actually began to enjoy.”

Five stepped back in shock. “You kidnapped him?”

“Right off the street during his suspension, yes, five. And his suit is as permanent as yours. He knows he has no hope of ever being free. Although we do tend to refer to him as it.”

“Fucking hell Alpha!”

“Sir.”

“Sorry, sir. It’s the shock. I know I dreamed of never seeing him again but”

“Well, after his callous insulting behaviour, Q decided he needed to be punished.”

“What about that thug? Was that staged?”

“Oh, no, that was Mary’s doing. He alerted us when the thug came in. He knew he’d only be punished if the thug managed to beat me up. He paid five hundred quid and agreed to overlook a few of crusher’s crimes.”

Mary nodded. “When he threatened me with a whipping and then got me suspended I wanted to get my own back. They got me before the thug decided to bite. I’d told him to wait until the week I resumed work.”

“But you’re not fat! How do I know it’s really Mary in there.”

“I’ve been here for. How long have I been here now?”

“Three months, Mary.”

“That long, forced workouts in the gym, forced to do a lot in that dungeon too. And to make it even better from your point of view… Forced to like a lot of it. I’m glad now. They saved my life.”

“Ah, those doctor threats. I remember you moaning about that and how you couldn’t lose any.”

“Well, five, you have Mary to play with once four’s gone. And it does enjoy a lot now. It’s even engaged in an act you’d really consider criminal.”

“What’s that?”

“Nothing’s still here too. The one who did those things to me and four. Four’s been the one making its life hell. In fact, we’re about to put it into its new perm suit now, if you’d like to watch.”

“It’s going to be different to mine?”

“Well for one thing, nothing’s black and blue from the beatings. No pleasure for that one ever. Pain is all it will ever know.”

“Fuck!”

“You know what it did. It belongs to four fully. At first it was just a fuck toy but now four can experience pleasure down there again it’s just a punching bag.”

Mary nodded. “I actually enjoy beating the living shit out of it. Four couldn’t for the first couple of weeks. He was too weak to stand after what it did to him. And it’ll be going with four when they leave.”

Five recoiled in shock at what they’d done.

Alpha put his hand on five’s shoulder. “You understand why we held back this bit of info until you were in five don’t you?”

He nodded. “It’s still a shock, sir. God, you could get life for what you’ve done!”

“Just as well no-one will ever find out. Q says he still has plans for Mary but I’ve got no idea what they are. Imagine we’ll all be in Q’s compound by the time those come to fruition though. Well beyond reach by any police interference. Not Mary though, Q says Mary’s not invited.”

“And you’re happy with this Mary?”

“I’m happy I’m here now, sir. Afraid of what might come but right now I like it. It took a long time but they’ve worked hard on me. Their plan was to turn me into a pervy bastard. I admit it. I love bondage. I like a lot of what they do up there now and I want you to do it to me to.”

“Bloody hell. That’s all I’ll say. I’m not happy with this, sir, I’ll say that now.”

“Just as well the opinion of a slave is irrelevant then, isn’t it five. Remember that’s what you are. If I ordered you to beat up Mary now, you would do it.”

“I would, sir?”

“Yes, five, you would. Or I’d be forced to punish you. That plug isn’t just there for pleasure remember. Your purpose in life now is one thing. Follow my orders. It doesn’t matter what those orders are, you do as you’re told.”

Five realised what Alpha said was true. He’d given himself up for slavery. He’d sacrificed his freedom and his humanity. Now, he was nothing but a subhuman thing in a suit without a voice of his own. No-one would ever see his face again. He couldn’t even leave the shop, he knew what happened if he attempted that.

He nodded. “Yes, sir. Is that an order sir?”

Alpha grinned. “Don’t worry. Not yet. Let’s get upstairs and aid four in packing up nothing. It’s probably in its suit now but he has a couple of additions to add to it and that can’t happen until nothing’s frozen.” he fiddled with his tablet. “How’s it going four?”

“Just yanked the last of its teeth sir, just for the fun of it this time. It’ll never give another blow job now. It’s sealed in, its gag’s inflated permanently and so are its throat tubes. Just need to get it down into the mirror room for its curing, sir. Then add the fist mitts. I’ll bring it down now, sir.”

“What did he mean, sir?”

“Fist mitts? Four decided that nothing would never have use of its hands again, so he’s got some fist mitt similar to your hood. Part of the suit permanently, never to be removed. It will never have any means of communication. It won’t be able to type or sign like we can. The suit it’s in isn’t like ours either. Something else four requested, a suit designed to be uncomfortable to wear and that’ll be permanent too.”

“Bloody hell! I thought four was a decent bloke. What you’re saying, he’s coming across as a psychopath, sir!”

“You’re forgetting what it did to him. He’s still got a lot of anger in ‘im. I doubt that’ll ever go away. The pain it caused him was unimaginable. Even you’ve experienced level ten, five. Well, his level ten was possibly way worse than yours and that was for over an hour. The level of pleasure he received that was equivalent to yours was only level three. He was incredibly sensitive down there. Not any more after what it did to him.”

Mary nodded. “You didn’t see him after that night. The doctor had to keep him sedated for two weeks while he injected him with muscle relaxant just to stabilise him. Even unconscious he was writhing in his cage in agony. He was on pain killers until last week. I agree. I’m even glad I got the chance to beat that shit up a few times. They didn’t need to order me.”

Just then, a thing in a suit emerged from behind the mirror, followed by another. The one behind shoving the first forward.

The rear one spotted them, pointed to the door to the back room and joined them.

“Hello five. Sorry you had to witness this, but it nearly killed me. My revenge will last for the rest of its life and I intend for that to be a very long life.”

“You’re serious about this? You’re going to turn it into… what exactly?”

“A bundle of pain, five. It’ll never know peace. Never be free of discomfort or pain. It’s no more than it deserves. If Q hadn’t been online when six found me, it would’ve killed the both of us. Come on.”

Four walked back over to it and shoved it through to the back and into the mirror room. He closed and locked the door behind it and flipped a switch.

“Couple of hours in there to cure. It’s not as good a material as what we’re wearing. A prototype they previously discarded cos it caused irritation.”

“And once it’s cured… It’ll never be removable?”

“Never, no. It’s already spent two weeks in a temp suit like your old one but made of the same material.”

“Before you put the mitts on… Could you allow it one more chance to speak, I’d like to see what it has to say.”

Four nodded. “OK five. As it’s you asking… I’ll grant that. But the moment it’s done, it’ll remain frozen in the wet room until it’s time to pack it up in its pod. We’ll need help getting it down out of the gym.”

“The gym?”

“While you were here for your two weeks, you sat on it. The new bench, the pod’s inside.”

“Pod?”

“Life support for extended trips. We’ll both be in them on our trip to Master Q’s. Once that’s locked neither of us’ll know where we are when we get out. God, I’ll miss you Alpha. Hope he doesn’t keep you here too long.”

“Me too four. Me too. I’ll miss you too.”

“Let’s get up to the gym. Leave it to stew for a couple of hours.”
* * * * *
“Consider yourself incredibly lucky, nothing. Five here wanted to see what you had to say one last time before I deny you the capacity to communicate forever.”

They were in the wet room now with nothing frozen in place. Four and five both wearing outer rubber suits. Four pulled up the rubber gloves and held up the laptop.

“Ask away, five. Anything you like. Its answers won’t affect me in any way, I’ll tell you that.”

Five nodded. “How are you feeling?”

“In hell, sir. I hate this. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life in this suit, it hurts.”

Four tapped on his tablet. “Good. And tough. The suit is permanent. Nothing will remove that now. It’s on for life.”

“Please, sir.”

“Alpha… Is there still a sharp knife in the shop or have they all been blunted?”

Alpha laughed. “OK four, I’ll get one. We got a new consignment. Always a useful demonstration. I’ll get the paper too.”

“What did he mean, paper?”

“Oh, you’ll see, nothing. You’ll see.”

Alpha returned, turned off the lights to allow nothing to move, pulled off a glove and handed him the knife.

“Cut yourself out of it. Go on, saw at that wrist all you like.”

Alpha held a sheet under the wrist as he began to cut. The silver dust gathered as so many times before. Nothing and five both stared. Its hand began to shake.

Four’s shoulders shook with laughter. “You nearly killed me, I told you to expect no mercy from me. The pain you suffered during those ten minutes at level ten was nothing compared to what I went through. Nothing! I was sensitive downstairs. Very sensitive, meaning my pain was a hell of a lot worse than that demonstration! That suit will never come off. It might be black now but I’m sure a week under ultraviolet light will reveal its true colour. I don’t know what colour that’ll be this time. I’m hoping the same as last time. Anything else, six?”

“Do you think you deserve this treatment?”

“I did. Oh god did I think that, but it’s been torture sir! You’ve no idea the pain I’ve had to endure since four became my owner.”

“Why, what did he do to you?”

“He cut my vocal cords sir. When I wasn’t in the suit yet, sir.”

“Fucking hell! Four?”

“I threatened it with that if it made any noise. It didn’t keep quiet, keeping Alpha awake on more than one night sobbing and groaning. It deserves every fucking thing I do to it! Trust me, five, you’ve no idea what pain I had to endure at its hands. Even now I’ve not fully recovered, I may never fully recover. Are you sure you want to talk to it some more?”

“Not anymore, four. I’m getting very disturbed by this. I’ll probably have nightmares.”

“This thing will be an example to every slave not in a suit when we get there, five. Teach those bastards a lesson they’ll never forget. They’re the ones who told it slaves like us, in suits like this were worthy only of punishment and hard work. It was insulted by my very act of me speaking to it. Well, now it’s lower than every slave there, even the blanks. When those slaves see what fate could await them by seeing this thing, it’ll improve the lives of every suited slave there.”

“I… I think I get it, four but it’s still giving me the willies.”

Four nodded and removed the other glove. “I understand six, but that’s just how it is. It did it to itself. Master Q gave it strict instructions, it ignored them and almost killed me. Q gave it to me to use and abuse as I wished. I have. And I’ll continue to. Now for your clean out, nothing. Assume the stance. Feet apart, arms away from your body, fists clenched.”

The body language gave it all away. It took the stance but the rest of its posture spoke volumes. Despair.

Four popped out, checked it was correctly positioned and flicked the switch, walked back in and held up a couple of transparent tubes with closed ends.

“These are fist mitts. They’re made of graphene just as the suit is. They will permanently bond to the suit. You will never have the use of your hands again. You will never have a means of communication again. Even if you manage to learn the sign language we learned, you will be utterly without voice. Nothing you say is relevant anyway so get used to it. You’ll remain here frozen until it’s time to pack you away in the morning.”

Four put the two fist mitts on, smoothing them, removing every wrinkle.

“By the time those have cured, you won’t even see the join.”

Four turned on the washing sequence.

“Sir, can I sleep with you tonight? It’s likely to be the last time in god knows how long.”

Alpha smirked. “OK four. Plenty of cages to go ‘round right now. Six… Alone? You could even sleep with Mary if you like. I’ll give you the choice this time.”

“Alone I think, sir. Mary was shock enough today but this… God, what have I got myself into?”

“Don’t worry. Mary’s happy now. And those two are due to leave by six in the morning. That’s when their pods are due for collection. We’ll move nothing’s down in the morning. The first couple of months of four’s enslavement were a lot less… eventful. Your life here won’t be nearly as horrific as fours was. Trust me on that.”
* * * * *
Last sleep with Alpha. Final workout in the gym. The pod had been broken out of the bench to make it easier to move and transferred to the loading bay and nothing, now showing a distinctly greenish tinge to its suit was put back into its pod and the pod was locked.

Now, it was four’s turn.

He grabbed hold of Alpha and his shoulders began to shake. He didn’t want to go! He loved Alpha, god, he… He didn’t know if he could live without him now.

Alpha comforted four for half an hour before he finally forced four off him and pointed at the pod. “It’s time, four. I know, I don’t want you to go now either. But we have no choice. I really hope you love it there. I don’t even know where there is.”

Four pulled himself together. “Thanks, sir. At least I know six is there waiting for me. He is my best friend. Or was before I met you, sir. Maybe six’s blank’s been elevated by now, who knows, sir. Maybe some of the others have.”

“Maybe. Either way, it’s clear there’s more than those blanks there. There’s still numbers one to three to get to know. I bet Q’s facilities are better too.”

Four nodded. “It’s going to be different sir, no arguing about that. I’m not going to say goodbye sir. Just see you in a bit.”

Alpha had a tear in his eye too as he connected the tubes up and four clambered into his pod. The last tubes connected, Alpha closed the lid.

The moment the lid was shut, four froze into place.

He was leaving the shop for good. He might never see Alpha’s face again but he steeled himself. He didn’t know where he was going. Didn’t know what to expect when he got there but he did know he wouldn’t be alone. He had a whole new adventure to look forward to.

He relaxed as the plug fired up and a pleasure slowly began to build.