#alien whumper

[skriibl-o]

i don't usually post anything but Alien Stage is rlly feeding my hunger for pet whump

[whumpersworld]

Whump Prompt: "The Alien Experiment"

Muse A, an alien scientist, had always been fascinated by humans and their complex emotions. One day, they decided to abduct Muse B, a human, and take them back to their home planet for experimentation. Muse B, understandably terrified, struggled against their restraints, but Muse A was captivated by their reactions. As time passed, Muse A's fascination turned into something more akin to attachment. Muse A started treating Muse B more like a beloved pet than a test subject, going out of their way to make sure they were well-fed and comfortable. They even took the time to play with Muse B, cherishing them like a loyal companion.

Despite Muse B's initial fear and resistance, they began to see glimpses of kindness and empathy in their alien captor. But they couldn't forget that they were still a prisoner, subject to Muse A's whims and experiments. Would Muse B ever find a way to escape the clutches of their alien captor? Or would they eventually succumb to the comforts of their new life as a pet of an alien scientist?

[rule-masochism]

"just make them exist to make you look good"

-iconic quote by @whump-queen

[hittingthebrainsfunnybone]

CW: Kinda gorey, lady on lady whump, whumper x whumpee, it has a fluff tone despite violence

Akari and Andromeda accidentally made eye contact while Akari was straining to wrench the bloody stake from her stomach and they both giggled. 

"What~? Why are you laughing~? Pft-" Andromeda trot over to the other girl and the metal grate below them made an echoey thump thump thump. She waved a hand in front of Akari's face and her dazed expression seemed to follow the motion. "You wouldn't just pretend to be weak to make me do it right? I'm just a lab tech~! I don't have super strength like you~" She smiled at Akari and nodded down to the pole skewering her.

Akari chuckled back. The demon reached over to wipe the slick of warm blood on her hand onto the sleeve of Andromeda's lab coat- that got her a slap on the shoulder- then got a better grip on the thing impaling her. A small grunt of effort, but Akari managed to extract it from both the examination table and her body in one smooth movement, with just one hand~ Unbothered by the squelch of her own eviscerated innards threatening to topple out, Akari sat up and presented the freed weapon with a grin and flexed a little more when Andromeda clapped.

"So~? How was it this time?"

"Only four days, five hours, and thirty six minutes in your planet's time! You're definitely getting stronger~ Last time it was longer than... what was-"

"A week?"

"That's it~! If only there were more specimens like you, then I could actually report conclusions about our study together." Andromeda frowned and swung a leg over the table to sit on Akari's lap. She hadn't been able to find any other Earthlings that could regenerate as fast as Akari. And even in the intergalactic community, it was more common for organisms to become weaker with consecutive instances of total organ failure, not recover faster every time like her star test subject. Andromeda whipped around to show her pouting face to Akari and that horrible woman rolled her eyes!

Akari wrapped an arm around the moody genius and rubbed off a bit of her blood from Andromeda's hand "You're thinking about it again, I can tell. I'm really not hiding anything~! There's just nothing else to tell you- I didn't study demons, I just am one! Parents said it was a family curse or something, dunno. Maybe when you get time off, we could drop by and look at some of the old family journals my grandfather likes to hoard." Akari cackled and ran her clawed nails across the neat little bow tie covering Andromeda's throat. "We can make photocopies and fax them to your fancy space computer~ No paper needed~" 

Andromeda's smile twitched and she exhaled, specifically in the way Earthlings did to convey their contempt for the sheer audacity of another's rudeness. Pursing her lips, she sneakily shifted her position on Akari's lap to snatch up a handful of her intestines and yank. A long stretch of the fragile digestive tract draped out of her stomach and Andromeda blushed.

Akari had been handling the pain like a boss, as per usual, but she could admit that catching her off guard wasn't impossible. Her breath hitched when the sharp pain shot through her gut and the pull against all that torn tissue wasn't anything to sneeze at either. She thought the annoyed groan was enough to get the point across, but for some reason Andromeda was too busy glaring and going red in the face to realize she was getting a different kind of red all over the place and that Akari was holding out a hand- asking for her goddamn intestines back. 

Andromeda scoffed but she tried to loosen her grip a bit. "Ugh! It's not like that! You were teasing me and- I forgot how long they were okay?! I was gonna pull you in all close and sexy like in your movies, but then more of your ugly flesh tube just came out- Stop laughing! You're choking on your own blood just to laugh at me~? It makes you look stupid, close your fucking mouth!" 

Akari really was gagging on her own blood in her fit of laughter, but even then she caught Andromeda's flailing punch. After getting the giggles out of her system and coughing up more blood onto her already filthy blood caked skin, Akari finally caught her breath and held up her hand to speak. 

"Okay-" Andromeda was already prickling at the shit-eating grin plastered across Akari’s face. “I’m sorry for making fun of your completely normal and not at all funny crippling paper allergy. And I wasn’t kidding about the digital copies, our tech isn’t *that* far behind. Maybe it won’t airdrop to your ship or whatever, but my laptop’s probably still in my room gathering dust. There’s no way my mom would throw it out.” 

Akari’s grin faded as her offer got more serious, and the warm tones in her voice really came out, and the sincerity in those pleading puppy dog eyes- Like that was fair! 

”Hmph!” Andromeda lunged in to peck Akari on the cheek and hastily jam the intestines back into her gut in one move. Then she hopped back off her lap. A glance down before she smoothed out her skirt reminded her how much of a mess it was, soaked in blood, but a glance at Akari made her feel a little better about her own lack of decorum. The woman’s usually smooth, perfect, inexplicably unblemished skin and killer silhouette…- After all the injuries over the months Andromeda had been examining her, her body was still identical. But of course right now, the grime and guts would make anyone wrinkle their nose.

”If you’re sure it’s safe, then we’ll go- But make sure scrubbing off is part of fixing yourself up! You smell disgusting!”

[zoethehead]

So, I finally made the main antagonist, the 2nd img is a bit of a bonus picture, Viola Taggart(Genderbent Vincent)

[whumpandothercomfort]

There's a flavor of whump I'm always craving that I don't see very often, I think because the possibilities are so context-specific. You can do some things in some universes that you can't in others! You can do certain things with non-human characters that you can't with others!

But hear me out:

Whumper making physiological changes to Whumpee's body.

Could be through programming for robot characters, dedicated brainwashing for humans, magic for fantasy settings, weird biology for aliens...

A few examples off the top of my head:

Alien species that instinctively responds to neck squeezing by going limp like a scruffed kitten, because this helped them survive encounters with predators. Delicious all on its own -- now throw in a quick surgery to permanently clamp the nerve responsible. Whumpee wakes up in a permanent state of relaxed submission and can't even show how terrified they are.

Obedience programming/training that's wired directly into a character's brain. When the system detects unwanted thoughts, it applies pain. Even after rescue, Whumpee can't think of themselves as an autonomous being because their mind is desperately protecting itself.

Characters with magic having their magic corrupted or bound so it either hurts them to use, or it can only be used to serve Whumper's purposes. Bonus points if Whumper has full control over their magic AND the use of it hurts them.

Characters given a brain implant or parasite that stimulates the reward center of the brain, which would be great, except they can't turn it off. They're kept in a constant state of bleary euphoria... with just enough sense of self left to know they want it to stop.

Characters being spelled or programmed so they physically cannot function independently. Characters who very literally NEED to be given permission to do things like relax or take a walk or even use the bathroom. Not being given this permission leaves them in a state of locked stasis -- fully aware of the time passing. Bonus: Caretaker can't reverse it, so they just HAVE to navigate All Of This.

Alien species that will a develop chronic physical illness if deprived of touch for too long. Said illness can only be treated through regular physical touch. Defiant Whumpees will often be locked in solitary confinement and fed through a slot in the bars until symptoms start to manifest. Sometimes they'll be left even longer, to make sure they end up a severe case. And now, oopsie, the only way to ease this horrible pain is by letting your captors put their hands on you!

Just. Physiological whump. The horror of someone else controlling your body or your mind. Betrayal of body. Etc. Do you understand.

[painonthebrain]

Rough premise that literally just came to me as of today and is becoming more and more fleshed out as I speak:

A certain alien species and humans coexist now. Well, “coexist.” The aliens have colonized humankind for their own purposes and along the way have discovered that human flesh is fucking delicious to them and now consider it a type of delicacy

However humans are obviously opposed to this, and they are intelligent creatures to some degree and you know. Have feelings that are being hurt by having some of their kind used as literal livestock

So to remedy this the aliens make it so that the humans cannot die from getting their flesh or whatever harvested. Their meat and organs regrow and regrow and regrow no matter how much is taken. There. Now they’re alive and “unharmed.” And also now the aliens have a lot of food source because of this so technically it’s a win win, right?? Right!

Like. They’re pumped full of drugs n shit that make them regenerate

And the humans are. Less opposed to this but as long as they are obedient and subservient they are promised not to join the factories full of these poor souls so most decide they do not want to voice their discomfort about it

And so the aliens get humans to do labor jobs for them now bc it wouldn’t be colonization without a little forced labor amirite??

Anyway humans work on the “factory farming” process on some level, most very unwillingly

And so I was like. Whumper turned whumpee put into the farm and like. Getting whumped so unbelievably hard

Like possibly a human who helped oversee things maybe?? And like another human (not sure if it would be a coworker who sabotages them or “livestock” who was from like. The first gens of factory farming and are freed bc like. They were just abducted for that they didn’t do anything and the aliens have changed the farms for those who are “deserving” of it)

And so one of the former livestock is relocated to work as a medical technician or whatever at one of the farms and maybe they find the person who worked on them and frame them . And then when they’re strapped down to the table getting modified for harvesting whumpee is having the best time of their life because the torture they endured was UNIMAGINABLE

And then whumper suffers and suffers and sometimes whumpee sees them every so often and idk it’s just so evil and angsty and there are also Themes and stuff that I’m too lazy to write out

Ughhhhh I’m imagining such nasty disgusting whump from this I’m having so much fun

I AM COOKING RIGHT NOW. I AM STRAIGHT UP COOKING

[whumpwordsoftheday]

“Humans are quite simple. They need water, food, and a place to sleep and they’ll be fine.”

“Then why does mine keep crying and saying it needs to see its family?”

“Oh ignore it, it’s just being dramatic.”

[whumpy-wyrms]

alien parasite whumpers are cool and all but what about alien parasite whumpees

do you see the vision

[mj-iza-writer]

Whumpee jolted awake, the last thing they remembered was a bright light, then they remembered getting really tired and falling asleep. They remembered floating though.

They seemed to be laying on something hard and metal. The room was bright and sterile.

"Where am... ", they tried to sit up, but was quickly stopped by bindings holding them down, "wha-what's happening?", they pulled at the bindings.

A door opened, Whumpee glanced up.

Whumpee panicked at the sight of what walked in. Several creatures now gathered around the metal table Whumpee lay on.

Whumpee let out a small whimper, "help", they managed to whisper.

"Do you understand English?", one of the creatures leaned in close.

Whumpee timidly shook their head yes.

The being then looked up at the others and said something in a different language, nothing Whumpee had heard before.

"My name is Naxu, you are on an alien space shuttle, going back to our home Piohner", Naxu explained, "I learned English from a friend. You will be able to meet him once we arrive. We are going to examine you and make sure you are healthy, we do not wish to bring any harmful illnesses to our human population on our planet. I will interpret everything going on, we do not wish to harm you, so let me know if something is uncomfortable or hurts."

"What do you mean? What do you want me for?", Whumpee looked around again, "please I want to go home, I don't want to go to wherever you said."

"Piohner hosts a small group of humans, all different types. Um genders, ethnic groups, and so on. We don't have someone like you", Naxu explained, "we just examine you all, nothing painful, just out of curiosity."

Someone said something again.

Naxu looked up at them and said something back.

"I'm sorry, but they need to get started they want to make sure you are okay to bring onto the planet", Naxu looked down at Whumpee, "I will be right here to help you."

Whumpee unwillingly nodded, assuming they weren't getting out of this.

"What language are you speaking, and how do you know English?", Whumpee sighed trying to ignore the examination.

"I speak in my own language Piogne, it's the language of our planet", Naxu smiled, "one human on our planet is a teacher, and taught English to those of us who wanted to learn it. We believed it would make the human population have an easier time with us if they can understand us. A few humans even learned Piogne as well."

Whumpee grimaced when someone jabbed something into their side.

Naxu saw it and quickly told them to be more gentle.

"Sorry they tripped a little and tried catching themself", Naxu looked back down at Whumpee.

Whumpee nodded, and looked down at what they were doing.

"Can I just admit this is not a fun experience", they sighed and looked at Naxu.

"Yes I'm sorry, Caretaker tried his best to teach us how to take take care of humans, I'm afraid we are still learning."

"Caretaker?", Whumpee looked in shock.

"Yes, Caretaker was one of our first humans, and he came willingly. He says he wanted a new adventure. On one condition, he could learn about us as we learn about humans", Naxu grinned, "he tried to teach us English, but was happy when the professor was grabbed next. Caretaker is a doctor and will take care of your health needs for the most part."

"Oh", Whumpee looked back down at the others.

Someone said something, causing Whumpee to look back at Naxu.

"They said you passed", Naxu grinned, "and just in time, we are arriving to Piohner."

Another creature came in carrying a suit.

"Piohner lacks oxygen, so you will have to wear this when you leave the safe zones", Naxu started to unbuckle the straps, "our scientists created a synthetic form of oxygen that is safe for humans to breath, and we on Piohner don't rely on breathing elements to survive."

Whumpee sat up and looked at the other creatures, 'or aliens I guess', Whumpee thought to themself.

Naxu helped Whumpee into the suit, and lastly fitted the helmet on.

"Can you hear me?", Naxu tapped on the glass.

Whumpee nodded, "yes."

"Our planet does have a gravitational pull, but it's a little different then earth's", Naxu explained, "you will feel a little light, but don't worry, you won't float away."

Naxu led Whumpee through the shuttle, and into the exit room, "this is the last place you'll be able to breath without that suit. Do not take it off until I say so. The base, where the human population stay, is a safe zone. Do you understand?"

"Yes", Whumpee nodded.

The shuttle landed.

When the doors opened, a group had gathered to meet the new human.

Naxu smiled back at Whumpee, "they get excited when a new friend comes to our planet."

Naxu led Whumpee through a hanger and outside.

"This is my planet", Naxu looked around happily.

Whumpee looked around also, "I wasn't expecting this."

"No one really does", Naxu laughed.

"Okay let's get you to the base, that suit only holds so much breathable oxygen, the scientists are working to make it longer so you can explore the planet more", Naxu grabbed Whumpee's hand, "it's been a difficult trial for them though. The suit beeps as a warning if you are low."

Naxu was carrying Whumpee by the time they made it to the base.

They entered one door, closed it. Then went through another, and closed that one.

Naxu quickly pulled off the helmet, "take some deep breaths for me. I'm going to report the tech that didn't check the oxygen before giving you that suit", Naxu looked at the suit.

Whumpee hunched over trying to catch their breath.

"That was scary, I was starting to black out", Whumpee finally stood up.

"I'm sorry", Naxu frowned, "that shouldn't have happened, and I'll deal with it."

"What happened?", a voice came from behind.

"Oh Caretaker, they gave out new human a suit with limited oxygen, they almost blacked out."

"Oh, let me check vitals really quick and ma....Whumpee", the voice stopped.

Whumpee quickly turned to the voice, "so it is you", Naxu said Caretaker, but I wasn't sure."

"You two know each other", Naxu eyed them.

"Yes, we were neighbors, and I did some doctor check ins for Whumpee and their family", Caretaker smiled, "you've grown up."

"Until he disappeared", Whumpee looked at Caretaker.

Caretaker did a small assessment on Whumpee, "I couldn't help it, they offered me a new adventure. I wanted to get out of our boring neighborhood."

"So did I, I went across the country for college", Whumpee sighed.

"Our neighborhood was really boring, we were the goofballs, and played pranks on each other", Caretaker talked to Naxu.

"I think you're going to like it here Whumpee, we gave a lot of fun", Caretaker smiled.

"What about being studied?", Whumpee looked down, "I didn't much enjoy the one I already had on the shuttle."

"Nah, now that you're here, I'll take care of your medical needs, they only really look you over once in a while", Caretaker smiled at Naxu, "mostly they just spend time with you and document behavior."

"So we are lab rats?" Whumpee crossed their arms.

"Essentially yes, but it's once a month. The rest of the time we do whatever we want", Caretaker grinned, "plus they get amused by pranks, so they don't mind if we play some."

Whumpee couldn't hide a grin.

"Okay", Whumpee agreed, "I'm so happy to have my prank buddy back."

Caretaker reached out for a hug, in which Whumpee excepted.

"Me too", Caretaker frowned at Naxu, "me too."

Later Caretaker caught Naxu and pulled them aside.

"What are the plans with Whumpee?", Caretaker questioned, concern written on their face, "I noticed your failed suit trick didn't work, and they survived. They should have lost oxygen and died on the walk over, yes."

Naxu sighed, "yes it didn't work, but that's a good thing right", Naxu smiled quickly, "it would have been a painless death, for the most part. Just blacking out, going into a permanent sleep, you know it's true"

Caretaker looked at Naxu worryingly.

"Relax Caretaker, they won't be harmed. They will be like you and Professor, and just kept here", Naxu promised, "I explained your relationship with Whumpee to the board, Whumpee is on the don't harm list. We will find a different human to fill in the space we need for a cadaver body to study. You know the other one had to be removed because of rot."

Caretaker looked down sadly, but sighed in relief, "out of all the people on planet earth, you find them."

"I promise, they will be just fine. Just like you told them", Naxu looked down the hall, and noticed Whumpee, "nothing is to be mentioned to them, everything is fine, we agree."

"Yes", Caretaker sighed.

"What's going on?", Whumpee hurried down the hall, "you both looked frightened."

Caretaker froze up.

"Nothing is wrong, Whumpee, just something personal for me and Caretaker", Naxu promised, and gave a look at Caretaker.

"Yes, nothing is wrong", Caretaker sighed, "let's go play a prank."

"Okay", Whumpee smiled excitedly.

Taglist. As always please let me know if you want to be added or taken off of the list. It's not a problem at all. @villainsandheroes @the-beasts-have-arrived @sacredwrath @porschethemermaid @monarchthefirst @generic-whumperz @bloodyandfrightened

[generic-whumper]

I cannot write a “normal” whump story for the life of me. Every attempt has failed so far. (Yet I can read and enjoy human whump perfectly fine?)

Either my characters (whumpees, whumpers, and caretakers) are aliens/ non-human; or the whumpee is going to be a human with supernatural abilities because super-powered whumpees are apparently my weakness? There’s just something extra spicy about adding some mystical, magical, paranormal, and supernatural elements to a story that really scratches an ever-present itch in my brain.

Bonus points for supernatural elements and powers being allegories or symbols for the human experience, mental illness, or man-made issues like society and culture.

Please share your favorite non-human whump stories, I want to read them all!

[thewhumpcaretaker]

◈◉◈┈┉𝑶𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒏: 𝑨𝑷𝑶𝑲𝑹𝑨┉┈◈◉◈

For Beneath the Ice, a Cosmic Horror Whump story

CW: CONTAINS SPOILERS THAT JENS DOESN'T KNOW YET! Also child sacrifice and thalassophobia.

Image Sources: 1 - original drawing, 2

APOKRA! The flesh of life is sweet, But mark the martyred river running underneath: The guardians of fate who give their eyes to vigil for our sakes. The sleeping serpents, who in time immemorial wormed a cavern to the core of every fruit, Curled a fist-tight embrace around a thousand spheres in readiness for war. APOKRA! Dreaming in their wait, the gods must eat. And needing fuel for dreams, the gods eat dreamers. Forsaken children wander listless to the tide, and in their wandering, find out the stars, Look into blinding light, and for an instant, see. APOKRA! Do you grieve? This is the little pain of sacrifice. Better it be done than left undone. One day the violent hurt will be wiped clean. How little is one life to all that plagues small, writhing things, in their beds, in their labor, in their loves and hates, all that demands relief. APOKRA! The terrors of passion shall be blotted out, the magma drained away to frozen rock. The weapon of each world shall lay disarmed, and ribbons flow from hiding to devour the sun, Lest it fall into the clutches of that greater horror which we dare not speak.

The APOKRA are intergalactic aliens in a war with another alien species called the Ċ̵̜̪̜̰̥̠̏͛́͐̍̕͝͠u̷̧̯͔̺̭͓͓̾͛̈̏̎̈́̿͠l̸̢̰̭̩͎̻͇̃̏̚…oh. Oh dear. I don't seem capable of saying that. Let's just call them "the enemy". To prevent the enemy from taking control of the resources on the various habitable planets throughout the universe, the APOKRA "gave themselves in service" by burrowing into the cores of habitable planets and sleeping there, prepared to obliterate those worlds should they become useful to the enemy. They "allied with" (enslaved) the Alxi (Messenger's species) to enforce their bidding and watch over their bodies while they sleep. A few remain conscious in shifts and keep the Alxi in check.

To feed and sustain themselves through hibernation, they send out smaller creatures that are a part of them via a kind of hive mind. These creatures are what we know as oarfish. The oarfish lure brilliant children into the sea and establish a link between them and the APOKRA so that it can devour their dream worlds. In the utilitarian fashion so typical of the APOKRA, the oarfish take unloved and cold-hearted children because they will not be missed. Jens was one such child. However, he escaped. Ever since, Earth's APOKRA has continued to drain him because he disturbed her feeding cycle and their minds remain connecting. She has been trying to fully eat his mind remotely ever since his disappearance.

The APOKRA can swim through space, eat stars, eat thoughts, enter dream worlds, and do many other things that are unknown to humankind.

[deepspacealienrubbish]

[Prompted by this post]

If I asked nicely for you to bite me,,

And 👉👈 umm would you please be gentle with me? I.. I don’t take pain all that well, at least not much.

I’d bite you regardless whether you asked for it or not.

But I’d say you’re deluded if you think I’d take it easy on you. I think you misunderstand the meaning of ‘bite’.

[violentclown555]

This is so wrong

(The whumperrrrrrrr, the whumperrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr)

[whumper-cars]

One I LOVE but never see: Living Battery

Superhero Whumpee being used to power something for the Villain

Nonhuman Whumpee has magical blood that can be used to power machines and having their blood drained

Whumper having multiple magic Whumpees so that once one is fully drained or too tired to produce magic they just move on to the next one

Cyborg/Robot Whumper that leeches off of other cyborgs/robots to gain energy

Alien Whumpee being used to power a spaceship

A tiny Whumpee with electricity powers being put in the battery slot of an electronic appliance so they're a literal battery (this may be inaccurate but idc)

Just thinkin about living batteries

Feel free to add onto any of my prompts!

[oliversrarebooks]

chemical imbalance

You know that trope where horrifying things are treated as mundane? You know that trope where the whumper is talking around the whumpee like they aren't even a person? This is that story.

TW: alien abduction, alien parasites, body horror, brainwashing, mind control, restraints, tentacles, forced drugging, forced medical examination, complete dehumanization, condescension, defiant whumpee

The receptionist was young and lovely, their skin a fetching shade of blue-purple, and their human host was healthy and smiling, with the dazed, glassy expression that indicated it was well taken care of.

5X2 couldn't help the wave of intense jealousy. Their own human host's gut churned in panic. It was lucid enough to know it was being brought to the doctor, and didn't like the idea at all, stress hormones flooding its fragile body. 5X2 pumped out chemicals to soothe it, beamed calming imagery into its mind, even tried to reassure it through its psychic connection that it was just the doctor, the doctor was going to help it, and hopefully they'd both be feeling better. 

All of their efforts only put the smallest dent in the distress their host was feeling. Well, no wonder -- 5X2 couldn't even remember the last time their poor host had properly slept. They took a deep breath, reassuring their human host that they weren't angry at it, not at all. They loved their host and knew it wasn't its fault it was struggling so hard. The host thrashed mentally, adrenaline rising, coming dangerously close to waking fully as 5X2 wrangled its consciousness back under control.

"I'm 5X2-YLL, and I'm here for my 3100 appointment," they said to the receptionist, hoping they couldn't tell how much trouble they were having with their human.

Sympathetic waves rolled from the receptionist as they looked 5X2 up and down. Oh, they could tell. 5X2 knew their human looked an absolute mess, with a wild expression, deep bags under its eyes, and poor hygiene. The past few days, 5X2 had even taken sick leave from work, embarrassed to go out in public in this state -- that's how they knew they had no choice but to make a doctor's appointment.

"Right this way, 5X2. The doctor is running a bit behind, but if you'll just go into this examination room, they'll be with you shortly. Please have your host change into this medical gown... if you're able."

"Yes, thank you." The door clicked shut behind the receptionist as 5X2 looked around the small examination room. It looked like any other doctor's office, but they couldn't help but notice that the examination chair had formidable looking restraints on it. They supposed it was to be expected for a doctor who specialized in disorders of host control.

The far too lucid human noticed too, and all of its muscles tensed as it signaled to every corner of its body to escape, escape, escape. 5X2 had no choice but to inject yet another low dose of paralytics into its bloodstream, just to make sure it couldn't actually act on that misguided impulse. 

The paralytics kept the human from moving, but also meant that 5X2 had to do much more manual work puppeting its body, and they were so, so tired. With their host's clumsy fingers, they pulled off their shoes, shirt, and pants, and slipped on the flimsy medical gown. The human was expressing distress at having their physical form exposed, of all the ridiculous things. Sometimes 5X2 wished that its constant fears at least made sense. Instead, it was scared of the doctor, of being nude, even of the everyday, ordinary sight of other human hosts with their passengers atop their heads, tentacles nestled neatly in their ears and euphoric expressions on their faces.

I'm trying to help you, 5X2 conveyed through their psychic connection for what seemed like the billionth time this cycle.

All they got back in return was terror, anger, and the intense desire to go home.

We can go home after the appointment, 5X2 reminded it, beaming soothing images of their quarters, the cheery artificial sun lamp, their collection of exotic plants, their vibrant fiber arts, the beautiful view of stars from out of their window. Their host had always been calmed by these things in better days, but it wasn't working now. It didn't make any sense to 5X2 -- if it wanted to go home so badly, why didn't it respond to sensory landscapes of home? 

Surely it wasn't lucid enough to desire its human habitat...? The human habitat was a death world compared to the safety and comfort of the space station.

There was a knock on the door, and the doctor walked into the room. They carried an air of authority about them, perched on top of a petite human who moved with unusual grace. "Hello, 5X2," said the doctor in a kindly voice. "I understand you're here because you're having difficulty in controlling your human host. Is that correct?"

5X2 looked anywhere but at the doctor, pretending to be very interested in a cabinet full of jars of multi-colored fluids. "Ah, yes, that's correct."

"There's no need to be ashamed. There's a lot of unfair stigma attached to host difficulties, but I assure you that it's a far more common problem than you think. There's no judgement here. Please, tell me about what you've been experiencing."

"My human host is almost completely lucid for most of the cycle," 5X2 confessed, trying to suppress their waves of shame and sadness. "I can't keep it fully entranced, I can't soothe it, I can't even put it to sleep. It's constantly scared and stressed and won't stop filling its body with adrenaline."

"I see."

"I have to spend so much of my energy just keeping it from fully waking, and it's affecting my work and my social life. I can't even relax on my days off, because every time I let my guard down, it decides it's a good time to fight me," they said. "I love my host, but I'm at my limit. I can't go on like this. It's sick all of the time from stress hormones, and I'm constantly fatigued. If there's anything you can do, anything at all that would help..."

The doctor's host nodded sagely. "There's a number of common conditions that could cause symptoms like you're describing. If you don't mind, I'd like to take a blood sample from your host so we can run some lab tests while conducting the examination."

"Of course," said 5X2, holding out their host's arm while the doctor prepared a needle for the blood draw. As the needle grazed the host's skin, the human managed to wrest enough control to jerk backwards, irrationally panicked at the sight of the needle. "I'm so sorry. It's been especially determined to fight me on everything today."

"It's nothing to worry about. I see it all the time. Hosts can be smarter than we give them credit for -- it's probably realized that the doctor's appointment is for putting it back under."

"But why does it fight that? That doesn't make any sense -- doesn't it want to be calm and happy? Why would it want to be stressed and miserable?"

"Oh, it's not that it wants to be stressed and miserable. It's just the natural state of hosts that aren't fully entranced. It's not its fault that it's acting this way -- it just doesn't know any better," said the doctor. "To make the examination easier, it might be best if we strapped your host into the chair, if you don't mind the restricted mobility."

"Not at all. It'd be a relief to not have to suppress their impulses," said 5X2. Their human predictably howled with displeasure, scraping and clawing for any bit of control over its limbs as 5X2 fought its body into the chair and tried to hold it still as the doctor restrained it. It was even managing to resist the paralytics, utterly desperate to escape.

If this doctor couldn't help them, 5X2 was going to lose their mind.

With the host's body securely restrained, the doctor was finally able to take a blood sample. The human's consciousness was thrashing like a wounded dust-moth, but with their body secured, 5X2 could devote their whole efforts to dampening their mental distress.

"If you'll excuse me a moment, I'll bring this to the lab. We should get results in around ten deciclicks."

5X2 tried to relax in the chair as the doctor left the room, but of course their exhausting host was having none of it.

Why are you fighting so hard? they asked.

The answer was always the same.

I want to go home. I don't want to be a host. I don't want to be hypnotized again. Please let me go.

Incoherent nonsense. The poor, confused thing.

"All right, that's taken care of," said the doctor, entering the room and perching on a nearby stool. "Now, may I ask you some questions? How long have you been noticing these symptoms?"

"About a quarter star turn."

"I see. And have you previously sought help for them?"

"...No. I really should have, before it got to this point, but I was ashamed. I thought it was temporary, and that I could fix my host myself."

"At least you're here now. You're doing the right thing," said the doctor encouragingly. "How often does the human sleep?"

"Only once every few cycles, and for only a few clicks at a time. I can't keep it to anything resembling a schedule, either, and it doesn't seem to respond to sedation at all. The only mercy is that it often sleeps while I'm at work."

"And how do you normally soothe it?"

"I think I've tried just about everything. Before this all started, it was so easy -- a quick wash of sedative and neurotoxin, some soothing hallucinations, a little gentle urging of slumber, and it was out in a milliclick. It would normally sleep for half the cycle. But now, nothing works. Not toxins, not hallucinations, not psychic compulsions. It doesn't matter what I do, I simply cannot put it to sleep.  The only reason it sleeps at all is because its own consciousness turns itself off when it becomes too exhausted."

"You say it was easily controlled before?"

"Very much so. It took very well to deep trance, especially if I was listening to music. It enjoyed art and scenery and was calm as can be. I never imagined it was capable of so much anxiety."

"How close is its consciousness to the surface?"

"...Very. It's listening to everything we're saying. It might even be able to understand us. Well, as much as any host is capable of understanding."

"Has it ever become fully awake?"

5X2 hesitated.

"Please, don't be ashamed. I'm here to help you, but I need you to answer my questions honestly. Has it ever become fully awake?"

"...A handful of times," 5X2 admitted. "It didn't get very far before I was able to paralyze it and return it to my control, but... it was so terrifying, to feel my host wake, to take full control from me and do what it wished with its body."

"That's a very traumatic experience," said the doctor sympathetically. "Once we have the main issue sorted out, I recommend a visit to memory alteration to remove the unnecessary fear generation."

"Won't they judge me for losing control of my human?"

The doctor seemed lightly amused. "5X2, it's the memory alteration department. Don't you think they've seen far worse than that?"

"You're right, just a silly insecurity on my part," said 5X2, mirroring the doctor's amusement.

"Let me perform some quick examinations on your host's body while we have you here," said the doctor. "Your host is partially lucid and fearful right now, correct?"

"Extremely so," said 5X2, feeling the horrible squirm in their host's gut at the mention of the doctor examining it.

The doctor waved a small light in front of the human's eyes. "Pupils are very dilated. It's focusing clearly on my light, indicating a high degree of responsiveness. Dark circles indicate a dangerous lack of sleep, and the skin seems unusually flaky and dry. This all matches the symptoms you've described."

They moved around to 5X2's side, using the light to peer into its host's ear. "Everything looks healthy and normal here," they said, giving a slight tug to 5X2's left connector tentacle. "Connection seems firm. I assume it's enmeshed with the correct portions of the brain? You have at least six tendrils on each side of the frontal lobe, three in the parietal, and two in the occipital?"

"Of course, doctor."

"I know it sounds obvious, but I have to ask. Believe it or not, I've had more than one patient that neglected to enmesh the frontal lobe entirely. You can imagine what kind of a state their poor host was in."

"I'm amazed that anyone in this age is so ignorant. That sounds like torture for them."

"You're not wrong," said the doctor, clicking off their light. "From the outside, there doesn't seem to be any issues, but if we can't resolve the problem, we may need to do some scans to check that all of your tendrils are properly connected. It's uncommon, but there are certain disorders that prevent proper cohesion of tendril to host brain."

"I'll subject myself to any tests if it will help."

"I know how intensely uncomfortable it must be to have your host so wakeful, for both you and it," said the doctor. "I'm certain we can help you. It's extremely rare for this sort of problem to be beyond the reach of modern medicine."

A knock at the door, and the receptionist entered the room. "I have the results from the lab for you," they said, slipping out again quickly.

The doctor's host took the readout and looked it over, as 5X2 waited in anticipation and 5X2's host trembled in terror. Finally, there was a wave of satisfaction from the doctor. "I have good news for you, 5X2. The lab results may have given us an important clue to your problem."

"Truly? What is it?"

"You see here..." The doctor placed the readout in front of 5X2. It was full of miniature graphs and jargon that they didn't have a hope of understanding. "Most of the toxin levels in the human's blood were highly elevated -- no doubt due to your efforts to keep it under control -- but one in particular was abnormally low, almost undetectable."

"And that is?"

"In basic terms, it's a powerful hypnotic, the primary toxin used to keep the human mind asleep and docile. Without this important chemical, your host's mind is far more alert than it should ever be. That makes it less receptive to all of your efforts to soothe it, allows stress and fear hormones to build up in its delicate brain, and causes it to resist being put to sleep."

"And that's what's missing?" said 5X2, feeling waves of relief at having an answer.

"It would seem so. The absence of this hypnotic would make it next to impossible to keep a healthy human under trance. It's no wonder your efforts to sedate and entrance your host were fruitless. I'm honestly impressed you were able to walk into my office."

"Is there a cure?"

"There are a few different conditions that can cause this. To start with, I'm going to give you a prescription for a course of medication that should help promote the natural release of this chemical from your toxin glands. It has a few minor potential side effects, which the informational packet will describe."

"No side effects can possibly be worse than what I'm going through now. How long will that take to have an effect?"

"It should be at full strength in eight to ten cycles. We can see how you're responding, then, and I can advise you on a further course of treatment."

5X2 steadied themself. Eight to ten cycles. They could endure eight to ten more cycles.

"But in the meantime, we can simply inject your host with a big, healthy dose of the chemical cocktail it's been missing."

5X2's elation was almost drowned out by its host's panic and despair. "You can do that? You can do that right now?"

"Certainly," said the doctor, pulling a jar of translucent blue liquid from a shelf. "Let me prepare the injection. It's all natural and safe for both of you. I'm sure you're both eager to get some reprieve from fighting each other."

"And I'll be able to put my host to sleep? To keep it under trance?"

"With this extra strength, time release formula, it should be well out of it for the next few cycles, exceedingly simple to control. You can both finally get the rest you need."

"Oh, thank you, thank you, you don't know how much of a relief that is."

No! No, no, no! the human was screaming through their connection. Don't let them inject me with that! Let me go! I want to go home! I need to wake up -- I need to --

"I need to wake up!" 

5X2 felt their consciousness suddenly cut off from their host's body as the human woke. It pulled at the restraints, trying to get its hand free.

"Please let me go! Don't do this!" the human yelled, as the doctor looked on with curiosity.

"Oh, you're awake? Now, now, we're only trying to help you," said the doctor. "Aren't you tired of fighting? Aren't you scared and hurting?"

"I'm scared and hurting because of what you're doing to me! This isn't right! Humans aren't meant to live like this -- you've taken my entire life from me!" Tears streamed down its face. "You're a doctor -- if you have any compassion at all, please listen to me! We don't want to be hypnotized and turned into puppets. We don't want to spend our whole lives sleeping and hallucinating and floating along in a mindless trance. We want to be free!"

The doctor patted its head. "I know this must all seem so scary to you, but it's only because of a chemical imbalance. That's why your passenger brought you here to the doctor, to help you. Your passenger loves you very much and only wants the best for you. Do you understand?"

"No, I don't want this. This is wrong -- please listen!"

"You're going to feel so much better in just a few minutes. I promise. Just trust me," said the doctor, their host easily pinning down 5X2's host's restrained arm and administering the injection. 

"No, please!" 5X2's host struggled uselessly against the tight restraints, its panic reaching a fever pitch, as 5X2 sat in their own mind and watched. "Please! Please listen! Let me go! Let me... go..."

The human host's body relaxed, sagging against the restraints as its control over itself suddenly diminished. 5X2 could feel a lovely sense of peace wash over their host, a sensation they hadn't felt in a quarter star turn. 

5X2, eager to take back its host, sent deep, hypnotic compulsions to fog its host's mind, to sink it into a pleasant daze, to pull it back under their control, and they were delighted when the host responded swiftly and easily. All of that fight, that fear, that anger began to evaporate like mist as 5X2 gently soothed its host into a trance.

You want to be a good host, 5X2 coaxed. You want to stop resisting. You want to weaken your feeble mental defenses and let me in.

I want to... Their host's thoughts were faltering and slow, easy to manipulate, just as they should be. I want to be a good host... want to let you in... want to drop my defenses... stop resisting...

Yes, that's right. Lower those defenses. You're safe, completely safe. You can relax now.

There was only a slight hesitation before the response. Safe... relax...

 5X2 felt the human's resistance melt away, leaving its mind like soft clay in their grasp.

Finally.

5X2 rewarded their host's compliance with a pleasant vision of the ship's recreation district, filled with laughter and games and live music, one that their host used to be fond of before it became impossibly defiant. Their host latched onto the familiar, mollifying hallucination right away, like a young one with its comfort-toy.

Fun... pretty...

Yes, it is fun and pretty, said 5X2. You deserve it, because you're being very good right now. Aren't you glad I took you to the doctor?

Feels... hazy...

And isn't that good?

Mmhmm... good... so good... thank you...

"How is it feeling now?" asked the doctor. "Any better?"

"Oh, yes, that was absolutely brilliant," said 5X2. "It's completely docile and enjoying its favorite hallucination right now. I can't thank you enough."

"Excellent. I'm just glad that worked. I'll make an appointment for you ten cycles from now, and give you the prescriptions for the medication I recommend, along with a course of injectables to keep your host nice and compliant. It shouldn't give you any more trouble."

"That sounds perfect."

"I recommend putting your host to sleep for the next cycle. It must be so fatigued after all of that pointless struggle, and a prolonged period of rest will help it to reacclimate to your control."

"I don't think I need to worry about the last part," said 5X2 gleefully. "It seems so relieved to be back under. But I agree that it needs sleep. Maybe I can get some sleep too."

5X2's host was already flooded with the injected sedative, so they sent a simple but strong compulsion to lull it asleep. Its exhausted mind responded right away, filling it with a deep, irresistible drowsiness, its remaining thoughts dulling and fading as it drifted away peacefully. The cheerful hallucination of the recreational zone would give it pleasant dreams. 5X2 couldn't remember the last time their host had been so quiet, not a hint of stress or nightmares.

It was so charming to feel their delightful host curling up comfortably in its own mind and going to sleep. It reminded 5X2 of how much they loved their host, before everything had gone wrong.

"It worked," said 5X2 in awe.

"Asleep already? I thought so. It was so worn out."

"Thank you again, doctor, for all of your help. My host wanted to thank you, too, before it fell asleep. I can tell that it already feels so much happier."

"It's my pleasure." The doctor released 5X2's host from the chair. 

5X2 stood up, shedding the medical gown and putting the host's clothes back on its body. Control was simple and seamless now, the host's body moving exactly in accordance with 5X2's wishes. They could hardly believe what a difference a little chemical persuasion made. With their newfound freedom, a part of them wanted to go out and indulge in all of the fine pleasures they had missed out on for so long -- but really, they knew it would be far more prudent to go home and sleep.

They'd do that after they picked up those prescriptions, of course. They weren't going to let a simple chemical imbalance ruin their life any more.

Masterlist

It's always the weirdest things you need to get out of your system, right? I don't know where this came from, but I'm tempted to write more about this alien parasite society. Like how they acquire humans, and how other pairs are doing...

What would you do if you had a passenger of your own?