Dr. Yang finally let her take the gauze from her eyes. Everything was still very blurry, and she could only make out shapes, but she was happy to see at all.

  But they still itched like crazy.

  The blob standing over her speaks, “How is your vision?” He shines a light in her eyes before she can reply, “N-Y-X’s pupillary light reflex is returning to normal. Its lenses also appear to now properly allow infrared light through. The transformation of her irises from green to blue is also nearly completed. I will monitor her for the next few weeks as her vision returns to make sure no abnormality arises. Fluid and tissue samples from her eyes suggest the new DNA is causing no issues, and computer projections suggest no risk of cancer or other common side effects.”

  Nyx looks away from Dr. Yang and looks around the room. She can’t make out much of anything, so she focuses on the stylus hidden in the long sleeve of the dress Roxy has made for her.

  She’d used the stylus to add space between her wrist and the strap and hoped it would be enough to slip her wrist out. It was tight, but it might be doable.

  Soon the visit is over, Dr. Yang never actually cares if she replies to his questions as he mumbles to his recorder.

  The orderly comes and lets her out of the straps. As she can walk with help now, she no longer needs the wheelchair, and soon they’re in the hallway.

  The halls are quiet now, and she wonders how many people are in the organisation.

  She turns as she hears children as she walks by an open door. How many kids would they engineer in the coming years?

  Nyx understood why they were doing what they were doing, but she still loathed them.

  They stop in front of a door and then head inside.

  “Whoa! Your eyes!” comes Zone’s voice from a hazy blob reclining against the wall. “They’re blue now!”

  There’s a curvy blob near the back and another sitting on the floor by the table.

  Only when the orderly leaves and the door closes, does Roxy’s blob approach, “Nyx! They took your bandages off. Your eyes are still pretty if you’re worried.”

  Nyx has noticed how quiet Roxy gets around the orderlies, and she doesn’t recall the woman ever leaving the room and wonders why.

  Nyx touches her eyes, “They’re still itchin’”

  She hears a yawn come from Zone, “Hey, I was thinking. As a pirate, you stole stuff a lot, right? That means you learned how to get through locks and stuff?”

  Nyx nods, “Yeah. If I was havin’ the right tools.”

  Zone is strangely quiet.

  Roxy takes Nyx’s hand, “Come on. We’re recording lines for Twoey’s movie! And when your vision comes back, we can watch a movie. Maybe something funny?”

  Twoey’s blob moves at the mention of movies, “Spicy romance?”

  “Twoey! You know those aren’t appropriate!”

  Twoey snickers, but moves back to her drawing.

  Some time passes, and Nyx’s vision gets better by the hour. And Nyx gets to watch her first romance while Roxy makes her yet another dress.

  All Roxy seems to do is sew, but by the woman’s humming, she enjoys it, pointing out which child she’s making it for.

  The next morning comes, and she can make out facial features.

  Zone yawns loudly as an orderly brings him to their room for breakfast, “I hate mornings.”

  He slips something into Nyx’s sleeve as he walks by.

  Nyx pretends not to notice and eats her Nufuud mush, but later when her arms aren’t in view of the camera in the corner, she feels what he hid there. It’s a small multi-tool. Where’d he get one of these?

  “Zone! Stop flipping boogers on the wall!”

  Nyx sighs as Roxy lectures Zone again, though inwardly she’s excited. With this, she can open panels, rewire things, and open simple locks. She was thinking of using the drone hatch in the check-up room, but if Zone is helping her, they could use the vent here. She even thinks about asking Twoey for help. There’s no way Zone will fit, and Roxy’s chest is too big, but if she can get Twoey to help…

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Still, she needs to wait until she can see again.

  By the next day, she can make out most details.

  As soon as they finish breakfast, Twoey sits next to Nyx, grinning, “Hey. Spicy romance movie time?”

  Nyx still isn’t sure what a spicy romance is, but she is interested, “Yeah. I’m wantin’ to see”

  Twoey grins and glances at Roxy, who is idly scrolling through her novel, “How about one with a cute Felis girl that falls for a handsome space explorer?”

  Nyx scowls, “Yer just bein’ teasin’.”

  Twoey giggles, “The computer can make it.”

  Nyx blushes, “I’m not bein’ wantin’ that.”

  Roxy looks up, “What about Little Women? I like seeing Old Earth.”

  Twoey rolls her eyes, “You and your old-fashioned stuff.”

  Zone taps the computer, “Play the 2134 remake of Event Horizon.” He grins, “You know, the perfect movie to watch before going into FTL.”

  Twoey grins as she looks at Nyx.

  Roxy yelps, “No! You know how much I can’t stand that movie.” She turns to Nyx, “It’s violent and senseless!”

  Zone settles down as a hologram appears, and ominous music begins, “Oh yeah!”

  Roxy moves to the bed and puts on a hat and pulls it over her ears.

  Nyx feels bad for Roxy, but as soon as the first scene starts, it transfixes her.

  She screams as memories flash through her mind as the first gore comes. Memories of attacks on transport ships, a man bleeding out after fighting back. Oyx and Txy hugging as they float in the nursery. Wrench’s charred body. Dr Yang shoving needles into her eyes.

  Roxy immediately rushes to her and pulls Nyx into a hug, “Computer, stop the movie!” She holds Nyx, “It’s alright. It’s just a movie.”

  Zone looks shocked, “Sorry, I didn’t think…”

  Twoey joins the hug and purrs to help comfort Nyx.

  Nyx is trembling, her heart racing, but she’s stopped screaming.

  The door opens, and a doctor enters with two orderlies, “One of you get some PsiloNova. It’s likely trauma related so a simple fix.” He walks to Nyx, “Don’t worry, we have medicines that will make you feel better.”

  Roxy backs off as usual, though this time she doesn’t cower and gives Nyx’s arm a reassuring squeeze, “You’ll be okay. I had it once too, and it really does help.”

  Nyx nods. She’s used to bad dreams, but this is the first time she’s had a panic attack this strong.

  They give her an injection, and she falls asleep.

  She wakes up sometime later.

  Roxy has Nyx’s head in her lap and tries to look down at Nyx, but can’t see because of her chest, “You’re awake! How are you feeling?”

  Nyx sits up, “What was happenin’?”

  Zone is sitting nearby, his ears and eyes drooped in shame, “I didn’t realize it would set you off. Sorry…”

  Nyx recalls the movie. It was gross and horrifying, “I wasn’t thinkin’ it would either.”

  Roxy pats Nyx’s head, “We’ve all had it. The drug.” She pauses, “I’m an X Generation. The one before yours. There were eight of us. Three died in the artificial womb, so I didn’t know them. We were the first to survive. The W generation kids were the first after the animal generations, and all were terminated, I think.” She rests her hands on her cleavage and looks at them for a moment, “One of my siblings was born with malformed eyes. I think she had the same modifications they gave you. One had bones that broke easily. My body can’t produce melanin.” She clenches her fists, “They separated us. They take my blood and use it to research how their gene editing failed. Lately, they just have me make clothing and watch these two and never let me out.”

  Nyx’s ears flatten, “I’m not knowin’ what it is bein’ like bein’ stuck in here for that long.”

  Roxy shakes her head, “I’d rather be in here than the other rooms. Well, I would like to take care of the other children, but they don’t want them to see a failure like me.”

  Zone spits on the floor, “Have to make the Gen AA kids think they’re perfect.”

  A drone comes into the room to clean the spit.

  Nyx’s eyes linger on the hatch for a moment. If Zone gave her a boost, she could reach it and climb inside. She tries not to stare too long to avoid suspicion. The camera is always watching and is something they’ll have to deal with somehow.

  Her eyes turn to the table. Could she use the holographic projector to create an image that could fool the camera? Would the computer know what she was doing?

  Her vision is nearly back to normal, if not better.

  She stands, “I can be seein’ in the dark now.”

  Nyx remembers the tests she did on Barnard Station. They had her crawling in dimly lit tunnels, reducing the light until she couldn’t see anymore. Could she escape then? They’re definitely going to test her to see how well the mods worked. She’d have to hope they don’t check her for the multi-tool. Maybe she could hide some of Roxy’s pins in her hair?

  Nyx touches her hair, it’s short, but Roxy’s been drilling her to keep it combed, “Can you be showin’ me how to be doin’ my hair?”

  Nyx looks at Roxy’s, it’s currently loose with a small red bow on the back.

  Roxy’s face lights up, “Oh! I’d love to! I used to do Zone’s hair all the time. What do you want?”

  Nyx turns to look at Zone, who has hair that is shaggy, but not messy.

  Nyx touches the bobby pin holding Roxy’s bow into place, “I want to be tryin’ somethin’ like…”

  Twoey lunges, “I’ve got it!”

  Nyx yelps and growls at Twoey, “Twoey!”

  “Roxy! Pins and bows!” Twoey commands.

  Roxy giggles, “Okay!”

  Zone groans, “Girls…”

  Nyx wants to believe that she doesn’t care about her hair, but she finds she enjoys it and even asks the others to teach her too. It’s refreshing having women her age to talk to and have fun with. She misses Cai, and she’s worried about him, but now she wonders if her attachment to him is romantic or something else.

  The longer she’s been away from him, the less she feels attached to him, though not by much. And she is worried about him. Had her feelings been so superficial? She clung to him because he gave her what no one else had?

  There’s a commotion outside, shouting, and an alarm goes off.

  The Felis’ ears all perk up, Roxy yelps.

  Zone smirks, “We’ve got an escape attempt!”

  Nyx wonders if it’s Cai. She doubts he would sit around for so long without planning something.

  She glances at the camera, “Zone.”

  Zone looks at her, then to the camera, “Oh!” He grins, “I’m game.”

  He walks to the camera and hocks a loogie at it. It hits the camera, covering it in saliva and mucous.

  Nyx is already under the drone hatch, “Twoey! You be comin’ with me?”

  Twoey slips some pins into her hair, “Yeah!”

  Roxy is panicking, “Oh… oh… you three, we’re going to…” She takes a deep breath, “If you get out, come for us?”

  Nyx turns to Roxy, “I’m likin’ you too much to be leavin’ you if I don’t be havin’ to.”

  Zone pulls out a multi-tool from his dress, “I’ll work on the door.”

  Twoey giggles like a mad girl, “Boost?”

  Nyx grins, and soon she’s opening the vent and inside. Roxy helps Twoey in, and soon, they’re off.