"Vatgrown"
That was the collective term used for all genetically-cultured mammalian humanoids which usually hail from the Empire. They consist of a wide range of species, from the terrestrial Felisa and Caenia, to the flight-capable Avea. These also included amphibious species like the Balaenoa and Elasmoa. But the most popular of them all were the Vulpina, since their well-mapped genetic base allowed for the highest number of viable modifications during embryogenesis.
The process started with chromosome alterations of the donor egg and stem cells. Then it takes 50 to 90 days after fertilization, for the equivalent of a human baby to form. However, they are almost always left within their growing vats until they reach adulthood or some stage in between. Clearly, the thing in Guila's hand was no exception. Once it was released from the vat, it would've immediately been outfitted with a stimulation and life support apparatus, before being slid into a Learning Pod.
During the next nine days, its muscles would be developed and the desired memories are conditioned into its head. These would've come in waves, as videos, pictures and voice recordings, so that in its perspective, it was present for all of them. It was a necessary procedure, since they'd be worse than newborns otherwise - barely even able to breathe on their own. This was also the opportunity for the commissioner to tailor the Vatgrown in whatever style they wished. Whether it was their skills, habits, and even speech quirks.
However, the true value of the Vatgrown was never in what they were given. Instead, it was in their capacity to learn, improve and adapt, all to fuel their innate desire to satisfy their masters in every way that they could. But to Guila, this fact offered her a golden opportunity. One that she could use to destroy it from the inside out. After all, she'd be able to tear apart those integral memories, one by one.
Luckily for it, though, Guila found such a course of action too tedious in the long run and, maybe, in the back of her head, she felt that it was going a bit too far. All that she would ever need from it as it's Mistress was something to crush in her spare time. So, knowing that, she started swinging Ariel's hair around, forcing the thing to dance. It whimpered again, but it's dexterity only irritated her further.
Slowly, a smile formed as the thought of kicking it came to mind. But as tantalizing as that was, it would've been far too obvious. So instead, she just raised her right foot slightly, in an attempt to trip the Vulpina, and-
[We will commence the synchronized jump in 120 seconds. As a precaution, all viewing platforms will be closed to avoid blindness and nausea.] Interrupted by the PA system, Guila paused, loosening her grip as she placed her foot back down. [Please proceed as usual without alarm, there won’t be any effects on passengers and it will be over in a short while.]
Even if it was a coincidence. When finally given the opportunity of a somewhat cleared mind, or at least, the opportunity to think of something else, Guila managed to step away from that line; from going beyond ‘abuse’, for reasons that this thing had no control or power over. Since, looking at it objectively, in a way, the thing was also a victim to its circumstances. But she had no plans to take anything back. Much less to ask for forgiveness. The only path that Guila still had left was to double down.
"... let’s go, doll. My husband will get tired of waiting."
‘This was going to be how our relationship started. We will live under the same roof, share the same room, the same man - always keeping up appearances in front of him and those around us. But we’re never going to be friends, much less sisters. My relationship with my husband is also going to be similarly strained. I only wish I was stupider. If I was, I wouldn’t be thinking of the future - I would just be doing everything in the heat of the moment, without any worry.’
It was with thoughts like these, that they reached the clinic. They did pass by several other passengers, but none of them gave her or the doll a second look. With a hiss, the automatic sliding doors slid to the sides and revealed a male nurse fiddling with a pen.
“Hello! What seems to be the problem…” The nurse’s voice trailed off as he greeted them. His eyes darted between Guila and the toy following behind her, before he eventually gestured to it and asked; “May I…?”
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“Go ahead.” She answered coldly, before turning towards it too. “Follow him and behave. Don’t make a fool of yourself."
“...yes, mistress…” The nurse took it to the back where Guila could just barely peek through the curtains and see him leading it to a chair, before retrieving a medicine kit. Everything from first aid, to applying a cold compress and then finally, a bit of makeup to cover it all up.
That reminded her. It didn’t have make-up. But she did. Shaking her head, Guila made her way to the bathroom. Immediately after she went in, she heard the two of them talking. Guessing from the hushed voices and the fact that they waited for her to be out of the room, the conversation must be about telling someone about what it was experiencing. Trite words for those who actually can’t do anything about their situation.
With a sigh, she resigned herself to stare at the mirror… and saw her ugly self reflected in its entirety. She promptly turned the tap, took off her rings, and began washing it all off. But the makeup was stubborn, resulting only in even more black and cherry red streaks covering her face.
‘Why can't anything just go as I want it to!?' Flushed with anger, she grabbed the nearby soap and washed her face again, taking her dress into account by bending over the marble sink, so as to not wet it.
She scratched furiously away at her cheeks, eyelids, lips, and chin, all to erase the still-resisting makeup that caked her face. But as more mascara, blush, and lipstick disappeared into the drain - the void in her chest only worsened, in turn. When it was finally all gone, She could hardly even breathe. But once again, Guila grabbed either side of the sink, raised her head, and forced herself to calm down - she couldn't break the image she'd spent so long creating. So she redirected that loathing at the mirror, her expression a mix of hatred and despair.
‘It still isn’t me. But it almost looks like me. The me that I can barely remember now. Who’s name I haven’t spoken since that day.' The silence lingered as she stewed on the image staring back at her. It almost seemed like she could hear each single droplet drip from her face and land into the sink. But then, once again, there was a knock on the door and that snapped Guila out of her stupor.
“... m-mistress…” Its voice came through the door. Soft and unsure of itself, but still obviously trying. “... I have a towel… for you.”
Guila pursed her lips. Should she say thank you? Did the nurse tell her to do it or did she decide to do it on her own? No. No... she shook her and sighed. She didn’t want the thing, and needless to say, it wouldn't want to be with her, either. But surely that did not mean she couldn’t at least act decent when it was in her favor to do so.
“Thank you, Ariel.” Guila wasn't sure as to how long it took for her to answer, but as soon as she did, the door opened and the toy entered. Though staring at the floor, it held the towel tightly with trembling hands before offering it to her with outstretched arms.
She didn't receive it immediately though, since her eyes were glued to the thing’s still swollen but no longer discolored cheek. The wound on its lip was also covered up by lipstick. The nurse was no miracle worker, but Guila understood the work that he had cut out for him, and she couldn't help but awe. However, the small bathroom was quickly feeling cramped, so she finally grabbed the towel out of its hands.
“Go back outside. Your tail will get wet.”
“Yes… I will wait outside.”
Guila was already drying her face when the door clicked shut, then she heard the nurse’s voice again. Was he congratulating it? Or chiding it? Did it even matter? It didn't take long for her to re-apply her makeup. The process felt self-flagellating, covering up what little recognition she had with her bare face, but it was necessary. After which, she put her rings back on, folded the towel and brought it outside.
As expected, the toy, as well as the nurse were standing side by side, waiting for her.
"Thank you." She told the nurse who nodded briefly, then passed him the somewhat stained towel before walking out with the doll, wordlessly following two steps behind her. "This is… better, isn't it?’ Guila guessed. ‘I'll eventually get tired of being angry. At least with our positions clear, there wouldn’t be anything to worry about.’
After a few more flights of stairs, since she didn’t want to take the crowded elevators, the white hall opened up to a gigantic atrium. The area's centerpiece was a massive glass dome that contained a small rainforest. It was one part of Serenity’s Multi-Biome Nature Reserve. But it was contrasted by and flanked in every direction by all kinds of restaurants, malls and residential 'buildings'. She could even see the viewing deck they were at, from here.
At least a thousand people were in Guila's cone of vision at all times. However, she didn’t have to worry about getting lost. The Apiary that they were supposed to meet her husband in, was a luxury restaurant in the middle of the park. At least, that’s where the maps in her periphery and on the wall, said it was. Guila then turned towards the toy. Just the sight of it's blank expression made her want to slap it again. But the last thing she wanted was to make a show of herself here. Given all the eyes.
“Move closer. I won't look for you if you get lost."
"... yes, mistress."