Three new female crew members have joined a space station. Along with the normal induction they are inducted tot the procreation program. All female crew members have to agree to be impregnated to ensure the long term survival of the space station. In order to facilitate the process small groups of three are paired with a sex therapist (Sarah) to work on their inhibitions. The idea is to ease participants into the program through a series of exercises. They know this and have signed contracts to this regard. The new crew members are Samantha, Cassie and Bella. At the end of the program they are to be impregnated by Jeff, a bioengineer on the station and designated breeder for this cohort.

Chapter 1: First Session: Embracing the Void

The white walls of the therapy room pressed in from all sides, sterile and unrelenting. Samantha’s fingers dug into the plush cushion beneath her, the synthetic fabric stiff under her nails. The bio-monitor above Sarah’s head flickered with steady green numbers—72 BPM, 73—betraying nothing but the illusion of calm.

Sarah Chen leaned forward in her chair, hands folded loosely between her knees. Her voice was smooth, practiced. "The procreation program isn’t just about biology. It’s about trust. Comfort. The station’s survival depends on people letting go of old fears." A pause. "Starting with touch."

Samantha’s throat tightened. Across from her, Cassie Miller—bright-eyed, bouncing slightly in her seat—beamed like this was some kind of group icebreaker. "So, like, we just… hold hands?" Cassie’s grin was infectious, if naive. "That’s it?"

Sarah’s lips curved, but her eyes stayed steady. "For today, yes. Skin contact lowers cortisol. Builds oxytocin." A glance at Samantha. "The body can’t differentiate between types of intimacy. A hand, a hug—it all signals safety."

Safety. The word sat heavy in the air.

The hum of the ventilation system filled the silence. Samantha exhaled slowly, flexing her fingers. She could do this. Clinical. Detached. Just like exams back in med training.

Cassie reached out first, palm up, expectant. "C’mon, Sam. It’s not like we’re signing up for zero-gravity orgies yet." She wiggled her fingers.

A startled laugh punched out of Samantha. "Yet?"

Sarah chuckled, but the camera in the corner blinked, a silent reminder. Recorded. Reviewed.

Samantha’s hand hovered before sliding into Cassie’s. Warm. Soft. The contact sent a jolt up her arm—not electric, just… unexpected. Cassie squeezed, her thumb brushing Samantha’s knuckle. "See? Not so bad."

Sarah nodded. "Good. Now, Bella."

Bella, who had been a statue in the third chair, stiffened. Dark hair curtained her face as she stared at their joined hands. "I don’t see how this helps." Her voice was low, edged.

Sarah didn’t flinch. "You don’t have to. Just try."

A beat. Then Bella thrust her hand forward, fingers rigid. Cassie grabbed it without hesitation, linking them all together in a clumsy chain.

Samantha’s pulse jumped—78 BPM. The monitor betrayed her.

Bella’s palm was cold. Tense. The kind of touch that screamed *get away*, even as her skin pressed against Samantha’s.

Cassie, blissfully oblivious, swung their hands lightly. "Okay, now what? Do we chant? Meditate? Because I’m totally down for—"

The door hissed open.

A uniformed officer stood in the threshold, face unreadable. "Chen. Command needs you."

Sarah stood smoothly, but her jaw tightened. "We’ll pause here."

The second her footsteps faded, Bella ripped her hand free. "This is a joke." She stood, chair scraping. "We’re lab rats."

Cassie blinked. "I mean, yeah. But lab rats with *purpose*."

Bella shot her a look sharp enough to cut glass before striding out.

Silence pooled in her wake. The monitor read 84 BPM now, steady climbing.

Cassie sighed, flopping back. "Well. That could’ve gone better."

Samantha stared at her own palm, still tingling. The ghost of touch lingered—Cassie’s warmth, Bella’s resistance. Neither felt simple. Neither felt safe.

And the program had barely even started.

The camera’s red light blinked. Watching. Waiting.

Cassie nudged her shoulder. "Hey. You okay?"

Samantha forced a smile. "Just wondering how much worse this gets."

Cassie laughed, bright and easy. "Oh, *way* worse."

The door hissed again. Sarah stepped back in, face unreadable. "Change of plans. We’re accelerating the timeline."

Samantha’s stomach dropped.

Cassie sat up, grinning. "Hell yes. Does this mean we skip to the fun part?"

Sarah’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. "Define *fun*."

The lights flickered once—a glitch, or a warning.

Samantha’s fingers curled into fists.

**End of Chapter 1**