Chastity Pill Ch. 09

The door clicks shut behind you as you collapse against it, sliding down until your ass hits the floor with a soft thud. Your heart pounds so hard the sports bra struggles to contain it.

What. The. FUCK. Just. Happened?

Devon got... Devon just got... Your mind can't even form the words. Your FRIEND just got RAILED AND INSEMINATED by a dude she met twenty minutes ago. And you heard EVERYTHING. The pleading, the degradation, the moment of... of...

You clutch your head in your hands. This is YOUR fault. You should have gone out there. You should have made a scene. Instead, you wasted precious minutes playing fucking dress-up while your best friend's fate was being sealed by some random contractor's nut.

Your phone vibrates in your pocket.

Veronica: How's your morning, beautiful? Mine's INSANE. Three back-to-back meetings with Matsuhisa execs. They keep asking me detailed questions about market penetration in Florida.

Veronica: Send pics of the bathroom progress if you get a chance! Love you! ????

The casualness of her texts makes you want to scream. You hit the call button, not trusting yourself to type coherently.

She picks up on the fourth ring, her voice hushed and rushed.

"Hey baby, can I call you back? I'm literally stepping into the boardroom right--"

"Devon had sex with one of the contractors," you blurt, voice breaking. "And she has this... this Breeder thing... J- Jake just came inside her. Like, just now."

There's a pause, and you hear muffled voices in the background.

"Wait, what?" Veronica's voice drops even lower. "Hold on, I need to--" More muffled sounds as she apparently steps away from others. "Alex, honey, slow down. What happened?"

"Devon--" your voice catches. "She was flirting with Jake this morning, and I went to change, and when I came back they were already..." You can't finish the sentence.

"Oh, wow," Veronica says, but she sounds more surprised than alarmed. "Is she okay?"

"Okay? No! She's not OKAY!" You're practically hyperventilating. "She could be PREGNANT now because I didn't stop it! And she was saying all this... stuff. Begging him to breed her and stuff. I don't- FUCK! I don't know what to do..."

"Baby, baby, listen," Veronica's voice turns soothing, but you can hear the distraction in it. "They're both adults. If Devon consented--"

"But it's like that thing she took... those Breeder effects... literally MAKING her want to get pregnant!" you hiss.

"I understand that's upsetting, but--" She breaks off as someone calls her name in the background. "Shit, I really have to go. This is the final presentation for the entire contract. Can we talk about this later? I promise we'll figure it out."

"But--"

"I love you," she says, her voice softening into that intimate register she reserves just for you. "Whatever's happening, you'll handle it. You're stronger than you think, even in that tiny body. Get her on birth control- that, what's that called-"

"Veronica, please--"

"I have to go, baby. Call me tonight, okay? Love you."

The line goes dead.

You stare at your phone. Then you throw it across the room where it bounces harmlessly off a pillow. Not even satisfying enough to break something.

Outside, you hear the men resuming work, drills and hammers creating a wonderful soundtrack to your misery.

You curl up on your bed, grabbing your laptop. If Veronica won't help, you'll have to figure this out yourself. You type "breeder pill birth control" into the search bar with trembling fingers.

The results load quickly. The top link: "Emergency Contraception for X-Change Breeder Variants: The NanoShield Option."

You click through, scanning the information with growing desperation:

*"Traditional methods of birth control are ineffective against the Breeder variant due to the pill's immune suppression of chemical contraceptives. However, NanoShield technology offers a potential solution. These microscopic robots target and neutralize sperm cells directly, providing approximately 73% efficacy if administered within 12 hours of insemination. Available only at licensed X-Change pharmacies..."*

You check the time. Devon was... finished with... about forty minutes ago. That gives you plenty of time to get her to a pharmacy.

A soft knock on your door makes you jump.

"Hey," Devon's voice calls through the wood. "Can I come in?"

You take a deep breath. "Yeah."

The door swings open, and your stomach does a flip. Devon stands there, but not the Devon from last night. This Devon is... glowing. Her hair has been brushed to a glossy sheen, and she's changed into a flouncy pink skirt and frilly white top that looks like it came straight from a Japanese schoolgirl catalog.

But it's her face that stops you cold. She's smiling--no, BEAMING--with an expression of such pure, uncomplicated joy that it's almost painful to look at. Her eyes are bright, cheeks flushed, lips slightly swollen from...

"Hi," she says, still grinning like she's discovered the meaning of life.

"Hi," you respond flatly.

Devon bounces into your room--literally bounces, with a little skip-step that makes her skirt flutter--and perches on the edge of your bed. There's something different about her movements, a new fluidity that wasn't there before. It's like her body has become more... integrated. Like she's figured out how to inhabit it properly.

Eyes

"So," she says, failing spectacularly at sounding casual.

"So," you echo, not helping her out at all.

She bursts into giggles--actual fucking GIGGLES--and falls backward onto your bed, arms spread wide like she's making a snow angel.

"HOLY FUCKING SHIT, ALEX!" she squeals, staring at your ceiling with wonder. "I just--that was--I can't even--FUCK!"

Your eyes narrow at her enthusiasm, but something catches your attention. A thin, pearly white trickle running down her inner thigh, escaping the confines of her cute little skirt.

"You're, uh, leaking," you point out.

Devon glances down, then laughs--a high, musical sound nothing like her former bray. "Oops!" She swipes a finger through the viscous fluid, examining it with fascination rather than disgust. "Guess Jake really did pack a load!"

"Jesus Christ, Devon," you mutter, covering your face with your hands.

"What?" she asks, sounding genuinely confused by your reaction. "Why are you being so weird about this?"

"Why am I--?!" You sputter, dropping your hands to stare at her. "Devon, you just had unprotected sex with a COMPLETE STRANGER twenty minutes after meeting him!"

"Yeah, and it was fucking AMAZING!" Devon bounces upright, practically vibrating with excitement. "Alex, I had no idea--NO IDEA--it could feel like that!"

"That's the Breeder thing talking," you say firmly.

"Maybe," Devon shrugs, still grinning. "But I. Don't. Care. It felt fucking incredible either way."

"Devon, there's a good chance you're PREGNANT right now!" You try to inject some reality into the situation. "As in, growing-a-human-inside-you pregnant! For NINE MONTHS!"

This should be the moment she snaps out of it, realizes the gravity of the situation. She cocks her head thoughtfully, lips pursing in consideration.

"Yeah, that would be kind of wild," she says. "Like an extended gaming marathon with a surprise trophy at the end."

You gape. "Are you HEARING yourself right now?"

"I know, I know," Devon waves dismissively. "It sounds crazy. But Alex, you don't understand what it FELT like when he came inside me." Her voice drops to an awed whisper. "It was like... SPLURT! Then, like every cell in my body just lit up at once. Like my brain literally melted and reformed around this one PERFECT sensation."

She catches her lower lip between her teeth, eyes going unfocused. "I've jerked off THOUSANDS of times as a guy, and nothing--NOTHING--has ever come close to that feeling. It was like... discovering CUMMING for the first time, but multiplied by a MILLION."

You watch her face as she describes it, trying to process that this is Devon--your CoD buddy, your wing-man, the guy who once drank beer through his nose on a dare--speaking so rapturously about getting creampied.

"Devon, I found something called NanoShield," you say, trying a different approach. "It's birth control that works for Breeder pills. We need to get you to an X-Change pharmacy ASAP."

Devon's expression shifts, her smile faltering for the first time. "Why?"

"Why? To prevent pregnancy!"

"But what if I don't want to prevent it?" Devon asks, and there's a stubborn set to her jaw that you recognize from countless gaming arguments.

"The REAL you wouldn't want to be pregnant," you insist. "The Devon I know--my FRIEND Devon--would not want to carry a stranger's baby for nine months. This is the Breeder hormones messing with your brain."

"But I AM the real me," Devon counters, folding her arms across her chest. "We're ALWAYS controlled by our hormones, Alex. Alice? Our WHOLE LIVES. EVERY HUMAN BEING IN THE WHOLE GODDAMN WORLD IS JUST A SACK OF CHEMICALS MAKING DECISIONS. But nobody ever put a pill in me to make me want to game for sixteen hours straight. Nobody ever made me rage quit when I was about to get sniped. So who THE FUCK ARE YOU to tell ME which of my desires are REAL and which ones aren't?"

You blink, taken aback.

"That's..."

"Besides," Devon continues, pacing now, "I've spent my ENTIRE life objectifying women! Gaming, jerking off, Twitch streams, spamming comments on fucking Instagram. All I've ever done is think with my dick--and now suddenly I'm on the other side, and I'm supposed to be all rational and responsible? Fuck that! That's some double standard bullshit!"

She stops, turning to face you with flushed cheeks.

"And you know what? It felt SO. FUCKING. GOOD. Better than ANYTHING I've ever experienced. So why shouldn't I get to enjoy it?" Her voice cracks slightly. "Why shouldn't I get to feel wanted like that?"

The naked vulnerability in that last question catches you off guard. Despite the ludicrous circumstance--despite the cum literally drying on her thighs--you suddenly see the real Devon beneath the hormonal haze. Your friend, who spent most of his adult life behind screens, experiencing virtual thrills, suddenly thrust into a body that delivers sensations he never imagined possible.

"I just..." you begin, softening your tone. "I'm worried about you, okay? Getting pregnant is a long-term consequence for a temporary feeling."

Devon's eyes narrow. "You had plenty of time to find out about birth control YESTERDAY, when I told you about this Breeder thing. But you were too busy with your vibrator and your Facetime-making-fun-of-me with Veronica to actually help me."

Your mouth falls open. "That's not fair!"

"Is it not? And where were you this morning, when you left me alone with those guys?" Devon's hands land on her hips. "Face it, you've been a shitty friend through this whole thing."

That stings a bit. Kinda true...

"Look," you say after a long pause. "I'm sorry. But can we please, PLEASE go get that birth control? Just in case? It's effective if we go soon."

Devon stares at you, considering, then a sly smile spreads across her face.

"I'll make you a deal."

"What kind of deal?" you ask warily.

"I'll go get the NanoShield thing..." she says, dragging out the words, "... IF you agree to stop being such a stick-in-the-mud about this whole situation."

"Meaning what, exactly?"

"Meaning we go OUT tonight," Devon says, excitement creeping back into her voice. "We're hot girls now, Alex! Let's actually DO something with it instead of hiding in this apartment freaking out!"

"Go out?" you repeat, appalled. "Like, to a club or something?"

"Yeah!" Devon nods eagerly. "A club tonight, or we could hit the beach tomorrow! Or the hot springs! Those indoor baths near Palmetto Street."

You squint, feeling like you're talking to a stranger wearing your friend's face. "The beach? You hate the beach. Last summer you said, and I quote, 'I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere.'"

Devon waves dismissively. "That was before I had these cute legs to show off. And that was Anakin." She lifts the hem of her skirt slightly, admiring her own thighs. "Besides, don't you want to see how your pale goth bod looks in a bikini?"

"Not particularly," you mutter.

Devon flops back onto your bed with a dramatic sigh. "Look, here's the deal: I'm NOT going on birth control AT ALL unless you stop making me feel like shit for having fun."

"I'm not trying to make you feel like shit! I'm trying to prevent you from making a life-altering mistake!"

"Well maybe I WANT to make a life-altering mistake!" Devon sits up, eyes flashing. "Maybe I want to experience SOMETHING in this body besides hiding in your apartment playing Elden Ring!"

Your jaw drops. "Yesterday, all you wanted was to play Elden Ring!"

"That was before I knew what I was missing!" Devon's voice rises with genuine frustration. "Do you know what it FEELS like to suddenly have people look at you? To have someone want you so badly they can barely control themselves?"

"I've had people want me before," you defend weakly.

"Not like this," Devon says, her tone softening. "This is... primordial. It's like... you know how in nature documentaries, there's always footage of some male animal absolutely losing his mind trying to impress a female? That's what it feels like to BE that female. Like you have this... power."

She gets up and starts pacing again, her movements frenetic, charged with a restless energy.

"Look, I know it's the Breeder thing making me extra horny or whatever," she admits. "But there's something bigger happening too. It's like... an awakening. And if I'm only going to be a girl for two weeks, I want to FEEL it. I want to experience it all!"

She stops suddenly, turning to face you with narrowed eyes.

"And YOU would feel it too, if you weren't so scared of upsetting your overlord."

"My what?"

"Veronica," Devon says flatly. "Your controller. Your puppetmaster."

"She's my girlfriend," you correct, feeling heat rise to your cheeks.

"She turned you into a fucking SEX DOLL because she doesn't trust you!" Devon throws her hands up. "And you just took it!"

"That's not--"

"Guess what?" Devon is on a roll now. "If she hadn't transformed you, I wouldn't have transformed either! None of this would be happening! But instead of being pissed, you're just sitting here like a good little girl, following all her rules. Some GOTH you are!"

Devon steps closer, jabbing a finger at your chest. "I saw the clothes she left you. That's not a 'just in case' wardrobe--it's a fucking costume closet. She's PLAYING with you. And you're letting her because what? The sex is good? Because she's hot?"

Your cheeks burn.

"You don't understand our relationship," you say quietly.

"I understand she snapped her fingers and turned you into THIS," Devon gestures at your body, "and your response was 'yes ma'am, whatever you say ma'am.'"

You stand up. "I did it because I LOVE HER, Devon! Something you wouldn't understand since your longest relationship was with that body pillow you ordered from Japan!"

Devon steps back, looking stung.

"Fine. You're so devoted to Veronica that you won't even go out and have a little innocent fun? Great. Then I'm not getting the birth control. Guess that settles that." She turns toward the door.

"Wait!" You reach for her arm. "That doesn't make any sense. You're punishing yourself to get back at me?"

Devon's expression shifts, something vulnerable flickering beneath the bravado. "I just... I want my squad with me, you know? We've always stuck together."

The simple statement cuts through your anger. Behind the hormonal haze and the strange new body, this is still Devon--your friend who's scared and overwhelmed.

"Why do you want me there?" you ask softly. "Seriously. You could go out yourself if I'm such a blocker to your fun. We were supposed to be gaming all week."

Devon sits back on the bed, some of the manic energy draining from her posture. "Because I don't actually know what I'm doing," she admits in a small voice. "I mean, my body is screaming at me to... to find someone to..." she gestures vaguely downward, "... you know. But my brain is totally freaking out. I've never even BEEN to a club before, not a real one, anyway."

She picks at the hem of her skirt, not meeting your eyes. "And between you and me, you're the rational one. You always have been. I need you there to... I don't know, keep me from doing something super stupid? Again?"

The admission hangs in the air between you.

"Besides," she adds with forced lightness, "wouldn't you rather be WITH me making semi-bad decisions than worrying about me making TERRIBLE decisions alone?"

You sigh, recognizing the twisted but effective logic. "So let me get this straight. You'll get the birth control IF I agree to go out with you. Either clubbing tonight or the beach tomorrow? Or that HOT SPRINGS? WHY THE HOT SPRINGS?"

"Just think it sounds cool, that's all. I read about it online. And I've NEVER BEEN." Hands up, a 'who me?' Devon gestures. "We just have to... live a little while we have these bodies. Please?"

The puppy dog eyes she gives you are comically effective on her new face.

"No... sex clubs or anything like that," you stipulate carefully.

"No sex clubs," Devon agrees quickly. "Just normal places. Dancing. Beach. Hot springs. Regular girl stuff."

"And you SWEAR you'll get the birth control today? Like, right now?"

"Cross my heart," Devon says, actually making the childish gesture across her chest. "And hope to die, stick an Xbox controller in my eye. All that."

"Fine," you concede. "I'll go to ONE of these places with you. But we're getting the birth control FIRST."

"Yes!" Devon pumps her tiny fist triumphantly. "Deal!"

"I haven't decided WHICH place yet," you clarify, already regretting this arrangement. "And I reserve the right to veto anything that seems... excessive."

"Whatever you say, Mom," Devon rolls her eyes, but she's practically vibrating with excitement. "So, what, can we go now? To the pharmacy?"

You check the time--it's been about an hour since Devon's... encounter. The information said the NanoShield works best if administered within 12 hours, so you have time, but still.

"Yeah, let's go now."

Devon bounces to her feet, smoothing down her skirt with an oddly practiced gesture that makes you wonder how many YouTube tutorials she's already secretly watched.

You head out to the living room where Marco is supervising Luis and Jake as they haul debris into large bags. Jake looks up immediately when Devon enters, his eyes lighting up.

"Hey there," he says, straightening his back in that universal male display of trying to appear larger. "Feeling good?"

Devon actually GIGGLES, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Very good, thanks to you."

You want to disappear into the floor.

"We're heading out for a bit," you announce to Marco, trying to sound authoritative despite your high voice. "Will you guys be okay to continue working while we're gone?"

Marco glances between Devon and Jake, clearly reading the subtext of the situation, and nods. "No problem. We've got the demolition phase almost complete. We'll clean up and prep for the plumbing work tomorrow."

"Great," you say, grabbing your keys from the hook by the door. "We shouldn't be too long."

"Take your time," Jake says, his eyes never leaving Devon. "We'll be here till about five."

Devon gives him a little wave, complete with wiggling fingers. "Maybe see you later?"

"Count on it," Jake replies with a grin that makes your stomach turn.

Luis and Marco exchange a knowing look, and you hear them chuckling as you practically drag Devon toward the door.

"Jesus, could you be any more obvious?" you hiss once you're in the hallway.

"What?" Devon asks innocently. "I'm just being friendly."

"Yeah, REAL friendly. Like, reproductive-organ friendly."

Devon laughs--that new, musical laugh that sounds nothing like her old one. "Relax! We're getting the birth control, right? So it's fine!"

The elevator arrives with a cheerful ding, and you step inside, pressing the button for the parking garage.

"You realize Jake just thinks you're a slutty Asian girl now, right?" you say as the doors close. "He has no idea you're actually... you."

Devon shrugs, examining her reflection in the mirrored elevator walls. "Maybe that's part of the fun."

"What happened to freaking out about having a girl's body?" you ask, genuinely confused by her behavioral one-eighty.

"That was before I knew what it could DO," Devon says simply. Then, catching your expression in the mirror, she softens. "Look, I'm still freaking out, okay? But in a good way now. It's like... have you ever played a game where you thought you were stuck with a certain character class, and then suddenly discovered this hidden skill tree that completely changes how you play?"

"This isn't a game!"

"Yes it is. Life IS a game." She turns to face you, eyes bright with a fervor that's both familiar and strange. "Think about it. For two weeks, we get to play as completely different characters in completely different gameplay and perks. Why not complete a couple side quests?"

"So getting creampied was a side quest?"

"A LEGENDARY side quest. With unique rewards and achievements. Epic artifact loot orgasm."

The elevator doors open to the parking garage, and you lead the way to your car--a Corolla that Veronica constantly threatens to "upgrade" as soon as you "come to your senses about German engineering."

Devon slides into the passenger seat, immediately fiddling with the radio. The movement looks so natural, so normal--the two of you in your car, arguing about music choices--that for a moment, everything feels almost okay.

"So, X-Change Pharmacy at Paradise Mall," you ask, backing out of the parking space.

"Yeah, on the upper level near the food court," Devon confirms, settling on a pop station playing a Dua Lipa song. She immediately starts bopping her head to the beat. "We gotta listen to girl music. Get into the headspace."

You ease into traffic, hyper-aware of how differently the car feels with your new body. The seat seems larger, the steering wheel further away, your feet needing to stretch slightly farther to reach the pedals. You adjust the seat. Next, you check your mirrors and notice the rectangular black leather purse sitting on the back seat.

"Did you get my purse?" you ask, confused. "The one Veronica got me?"

"I grabbed it on the way out," Devon says breezily. "Figured you might need it."

"I don't need or want a purse. I have pockets."

Devon looks pointedly at your skin-tight jeans. "Do you, though? Those girl pockets hold what, exactly? A stick of gum and half a credit card?"

You try to jam your phone into your front pocket--it sticks out halfway. Your wallet doesn't even make it past the opening.

"Fuck."

"Welcome to the patriarchy," Devon singsongs.

Paradise Mall looms ahead--a sprawling three-story structure. But with an 80s aesthetic, it has that distinct liminal space feeling, with its faded pastels, neon, and Miami Vice styling.

You find a parking spot near the west entrance and grab the purse from the back seat, trying not to think too hard about how natural it feels to sling it over your shoulder.

Inside, the mall is exactly as you remember--eerily quiet on a weekday morning, with more maintenance workers than actual shoppers. The sound of your footsteps echoes off the pink and teal tile floors as you head for the escalator.

"So," Devon says, matching your pace. "Beach, club, or hot springs? Which poison are you picking?"

"I haven't decided yet," you say, stepping onto the moving stairs. "But I'd worry about the club. With you in that state."

"What state?" Devon asks innocently.

"The state where you're one bass drop away from fucking the DJ."

Devon snorts with laughter. "Fair point. Though the urge isn't as... intense... now. After Jake, I mean."

"So, what, getting... getting..." you lower your voice, conscious of the elderly couple on the escalator ahead of you, "... getting cream-pied was like scratching an itch?"

"More like OBLITERATING an itch with a fucking AMAZING load of fucking BALL-SNOT getting DUMPED ON IT!!!" Devon clarifies, eyes going slightly unfocused at the memory. "But yeah, it's not so desperate now. Still there, but manageable."

"And you think it'll stay that way?"

Devon hesitates. "I don't know. Maybe? The pamphlet the guy gave me mentioned 'cycles' of intensity. Could come back, I guess."

You reach the top of the escalator and spot the X-Change Pharmacy ahead, its sleek purple and chrome facade standing out amid the mall's dated architecture.

"That's why we're getting you protected," you say firmly. "Gonna attack those little swimmers with robots."

The pharmacy interior is clinical and modern--bright white LED lighting, glass display cases, and digital screens advertising various X-Change products. A few customers browse the shelves, examining pill packages and transformation accessories. The pharmacy counter at the back is staffed by a bored-looking man with a septum piercing and full sleeve tattoos--not exactly the medical professional you were envisioning.

"Be right back," Devon says, darting off toward a vending machine in the corner before you can stop her.

You approach the counter. The pharmacist--"RAUL" according to his name tag--looks up with vague interest.

"How can I help you?" he asks, his voice surprisingly deep for his slender frame.

"We need NanoShield," you say quietly. "The... um... the birth control. That works on... someone with... Breeder... effects?"

Raul's eyebrows shoot up, and he glances over your shoulder. "For your friend? The one at the vending machine?"

You follow his gaze to where Devon is feeding bills into a machine, obscuring whatever she's purchasing with her body.

"Yeah, how did you--"

"She's doing the thing," Raul says matter-of-factly.

"What thing?"

"The constant micro-adjustments. Watch her hips."

You observe Devon more carefully and notice she's indeed shifting her weight subtly from foot to foot, making tiny, unconscious movements like she's trying to soothe an ache.

"That's the cervical settling," Raul explains. "Her body's trying to optimize sperm delivery to the egg. Typical Breeder response."

"Jesus Christ," you mutter. "So the NanoShield--does it really work? For someone on that..."

Raul nods, typing something into his computer. "About 73% effective if administered within the first 12 hours. When did your friend's... event... occur?"

"About an hour ago," you say, feeling your face heat up despite yourself.

"Perfect. That gives us excellent efficacy potential." He bends down, retrieving something from beneath the counter--a sleek, gun-shaped device that looks disturbingly like something from a sci-fi movie. "We'll need her here for the injection, obviously."

You turn to call Devon just as she hurries back, slipping something into the pocket of her skirt before you can identify it.

"What's that?" you ask suspiciously.

"Nothing! Just some gum," Devon says quickly.

You narrow your eyes, but the pharmacist interrupts.

"So you're our Breeder patient," Raul says, looking Devon up and down with professional interest. "First time on the variant?"

Devon nods, focusing on the injection device with visible apprehension. "What is THAT?"

"NanoShield delivery system," Raul explains. "The nanobots need to be injected directly into the bloodstream to be effective. They're programmed to target and neutralize sperm cells specifically."

Devon's face falls, and she takes a half-step backward. "They... kill the sperm?"

"Not kill, exactly. Deactivate." Raul gestures for Devon to extend her arm. "The nanobots attach to the sperm cells and render them inert, preventing fertilization."

Devon looks genuinely distressed, one hand moving protectively to her lower abdomen. "But... they're just trying to do their job."

You stare at her. "Devon, we agreed on this!"

"I know, but..." she chews her lip. "I didn't know they KILLED the little guys!"

"They don't kill them," Raul repeats patiently. "They just prevent them from reaching the egg."

Devon still looks uncertain, and you feel a surge of panic. If she backs out now...

"Devon," you say firmly, grasping her shoulders. "Remember our deal. We're gonna have fun later. Okay?"

She meets your eyes, and you can see the internal struggle playing out on her expressive face--the rational Devon fighting against the Breeder hormones that clearly don't want any interference with their prime directive.

"Fine," she finally says, thrusting out her arm toward Raul. "Just do it quick. Now now now!"

Raul swabs her inner elbow with an alcohol pad, then positions the device. "This will sting for a moment. The nanobots are microscopic, but the carrier fluid causes a brief sensation as it enters the bloodstream."

Devon squeezes her eyes shut. "Just fucking do it."

The device makes a soft PSSSHT sound as it delivers its payload, and Devon winces.

"There," Raul says, placing a small bandage over the injection site. "The nanobots will be active for approximately 15 days, which should cover the duration of the standard Breeder pill cycle."

"What about the... the ones already there? The little guys already trying to find the egg?" Devon asks, sounding genuinely concerned for their welfare.

"Would you just LISTEN TO YOURSELF?" you snap.

Raul glances between you both. "The nanobots will intercept any sperm cells currently present and render them unable to penetrate the egg membrane."

Devon actually looks sad about this, and you have to resist the urge to shake her.

"That'll be $150," Raul says, typing into his computer again.

You reach for your wallet, which turns out isn't in your pocket. Right.

Devon smirks. "PURSE."

With a defeated sigh, you grab the black leather purse from your shoulder, unzipping it to find your wallet. The interior is organized with multiple pockets, a key clip, and even a special slot for your phone. Annoyingly convenient.

As you hand over your credit card, you catch your reflection in the glass counter display. The girl looking back at you is undeniably pretty, even in casual clothes--hoodie, high-waisted jeans, and now a studded black purse slung over one shoulder. Your burgundy lips are full and pouty even without trying, your skin porcelain perfect, your eyes dramatically framed by lashes that look like they should require a permit to exist.

Devon's voice beside you snaps you back to reality.

"Your jeans make your ass look FANTASTIC, by the way," she says cheerfully, watching you sign the receipt.

"Shut up," you mutter, but your cheeks warm at the compliment.

"No, seriously!" Devon insists. "Veronica may be evil, but she has taste. Those high-waisted jeans are working OVERTIME."

You hand the receipt back to Raul, who pretends he's not listening to this conversation.

"There," you say to Devon. "Protected. Happy now?"

"Ecstatic," Devon says, but she still looks a bit mournful about the fate of Jake's sperm. "So..."

You know what's coming.

"I held up my end of the deal," she continues, bouncing slightly on her toes, suddenly energized again. "So, where are we going? Beach? Club? Hot springs?"

"I told you, I haven't decided," you say, leading the way out of the pharmacy. "Can I at least, like, eat lunch first before planning our grand adventures in girlhood?"

"Ooh, food court!" Devon perks up. "I'm fucking STARVING."

"The food here is garbage."

"I don't care. I need calories." Devon grabs your arm, pulling you toward the neon-lit food court. "Come on, come on!"

As you allow yourself to be dragged along, you marvel at the complete transformation of your friend. Just yesterday, Devon was an awkward, disoriented mess, thrown completely off-kilter by her new body. Now she's strutting through the mall like she was born in those tiny legs, hips swaying with each step--not in an exaggerated way, but with the natural rhythm of someone who's completely comfortable in their skin.

"How are you so... ADAPTED... already?" you ask, genuinely curious. "I'm not."

Devon shrugs, scanning the food court options. "I'm min-maxing."

"What?"

"Min-maxing," she repeats, as if it's obvious. "Like in RPGs--minimizing disadvantages, maximizing advantages. This body is a new character class with different stats and abilities. As I said. So I'm respeccing my playstyle accordingly."

"By acting like a horny stereotype?"

Devon smirks. "By leaning into the experience instead of fighting it." She points at a Chinese food stall. "Orange chicken?"

"Sure."

As Devon orders enough food for three people, chatting animatedly with the cashier, you can't help but notice how she's applying gamer logic to this entire situation. The intense focus, the rapid adaptation, the relentless optimization--it's exactly how she approaches any new game. Except now, the game is being female, and she's determined to get the high score.

"See, here's my theory," Devon says as you carry your trays to a nearby table. "We're only in these bodies for just two weeks, right? So we should try to experience as much as possible." She dumps an obscene amount of sauce on her orange chicken. "Like when you play a game with a limited demo--you try EVERYTHING before the time runs out."

"Most demos don't come with pregnancy risks," you take a seat across from her.

"That's what your precious nanobots are for!" Devon says brightly, shoveling food into her mouth at a pace that contradicts her dainty appearance. "God, I'm so hungry. My fallopian tubes CRAVE SUSTENANCE!"

This is totally Devon--the bottomless appetite, the gamer theory application to real life, the complete lack of filter.

"So are you going to tell me where you're taking me or what?" Devon asks through a mouthful of chicken.

You take a bite of your own food, considering the options. The beach means swimwear, which means putting your pale, voluptuous body on full display. The club means tight clothes, strange men, and proximity to alcohol--a dangerous combination with Devon's current hormonal state. And the hot springs... actually, what even ARE the hot springs?

"What exactly are these hot springs you keep mentioning?" you ask.

Devon's eyes light up. "It's this super cool place on the edge of town! They have these Japanese-style onsen baths--some indoor, some outdoor. I read about it on Reddit. Apparently they're really authentic, with the whole ritual bathing thing."

Your suspicion radar immediately pings. "Wait, aren't traditional Japanese baths usually... naked?"

Devon looks down at her food, suddenly very interested in a piece of broccoli. "I mean... technically?"

"Uh-huh," you say, unconvinced. "And this sudden interest in Japanese bathing culture has nothing to do with the hentai you watch."

Devon gasps in mock offense. "I am SHOCKED and APPALLED at the accusation! I am simply interested in experiencing traditional Japanese wellness practices!"

"Right."

"So?" Devon presses, bouncing slightly in her seat. "What'll it be?"

You take a deep breath, weighing your options. With nanobots coursing through Devon's bloodstream, at least the worst-case pregnancy scenario is mostly neutralized. And you did promise. But which option represents the least potential for disaster?

"I think I want to go to--"

--SUBSCRIBERS VOTE: What does Alice choose?--