Back at the interrogation room.

JULY 29, 2154 / 8:49 A.M

It's been a while since you've been this hungover. You rub both sides of your temple, hoping the headache would subside before work. You find that pressing your face against the cold interrogation room table helps the most and so you welcome the small respite in silence. But your meditation is soon shattered as a loud static echoes inside the room followed by Mitch's groggy voice.

"zzz...Hey, bud. Just checking the lineup. Detainee 2392 isn't on the list today... says his meds are off. Hmm, looks like still have Detainee 2391 though so that's something... annnd...Well, looks like we're getting a Detainee from level B. Fuckin' hell. Hold on...zzz."

You slowly slide yourself upright. "A Detainee from the level B ?" You recollect your conversation with Mitch and how the lower levels got "wilder". You weren't sure which was worse: knowing what level B had in store for you or just diving in blind. If you were being honest with yourself, though the better part of you dreaded the encounter, your other half remained oddly curious. The device beeps again and Mitch grumbles in a less enthusiastic tone than before.

"zzz....Yup, Detainee 1983 from level B... Oh boy, what the fuck do we have here...zzz... Alright bud, I have Detainee 2391 ready for you. Should have 1983 done by the time you're finished...zzz."

You pull into your seat, cracking your neck and knuckles before typing.

G: Hey A.V.A. I'm ready for Detainee 2391.

A: Hello Gael. I will be pulling up Detainee 2391's profile. Simply follow the instructions that appear on your screen. Their responses are automatically recorded and inputted into the system. If you have any questions from here on out, simply type 'Hey, AVA' and type out your question. Press the first button on your control device to proceed.

You press the buzzer and look up from your screen. The door opens and Detainee 2391 steps in with a giant grin on his face. He has a definite pep in his step as he hops towards his seat in the middle of the interrogation room.

"What's he so happy about ?", you wonder. His overly happy expression unnerves you. As you tap your fingers in waiting, the screen finally pops up with a bright green text.

A: Ask 2391 about his new medication.

Fair enough. "Hey, 2391. How's your new medication?"

"Great! It's great, haha! I woke up today, actually, feeling like a different man. It's hard to describe you know? I-I just feel so free and light and without a care in the world. All my previous anxieties, all my worries, I-I don't even remember them to be honest with you. And like, who was I before this? I don't remember much of that either. All I do know is that I want to stay like this forever."

Detainee 2391's personality has turned a complete 180 from yesterday. From an ordinary, level-headed man to a complete babbling happy-go-lucky idiot. You look over at the Detainee's number and then back to his face. Scratching at your unshaved chin you confirm once more that it's Detainee 2391.

A: Ask 2391 if he enjoyed his morning meal.

"2391, did you enjoy your meal today?"

"Yeah, I liked it a lot. Haha, maybe a bit too much, actually. The guard had to pry me off the machine at first but, you know, I got a better handle on it now. You guys did a great job in making it super tasty. I mean, I'll be the first to admit that the fluid looked pretty grim at first but the taste... man, the taste is out of this world. Never had anything like it before. God, thinking about it even now is making my mouth water, you know?"

You thought it was just your imagination at first but there was a definite glossiness in the Detainee's eye whenever the light caught him at certain angles. Like there was a layer of opaque, pinkish film covering his pupils.

A: Reward System 192-T authorized.

Tell 2391 he will be rewarded for his new compliance.

As you relay the message you trail off mid-sentence as you watch a long tube lower itself from an open hatch. The phallic contraption uncoils itself and the Detainee reaches out with open arms. Awestruck, you watch in silence as the grown man suckles on the tube's end like a weaning pig. With his legs crouched and spread apart, he gingerly caresses the tube's shaft as it pumps out whatever fluid they're calling food. As he bobs his head up and down the machine in a rhythmic fashion, you can also see his growing bulge. The act was nothing short of obscene. You were completely embarrassed for the man who looked no different than a cheap, sidewalk prostitute. As he finally finished, the last bit of fluid squirted from the machine, leaving a messy trail of ooze on one side of his face.

Detainee 2391 with a messy face.

"Thank you very much, sir. That really hit the spot."

You feel there's something very wrong with you mentally. Because oddly enough, past the initial obscenity the scene no longer phased you. In fact, you found it a tad bit humorous. You were able to finish the rest of the interrogation with surprising calmness. Detainee 2391 now addresses you as sir, occasionally flirting with you in hopes of getting another reward. The interview ends in a couple hours with the Detainee leaving with a slight bow and a devilish smile. You find yourself looking forward to what would change about him tomorrow.