A while after meeting Piper, I was abducted in my sleep and taken to an unknown place. Completely naked, with a collar around my neck, my hands and feet bound, I had no choice but to comply. This place was unlike any in the Commonwealth: very sophisticated and uncluttered, even my captor seemed to come from another world. Had I been captured by what the locals dreaded most of all, the Institute?

 

 

I was led to a couple of scientists expecting my arrival.
"Greetings Calista. Welcome to our laboratory! I'm Dr Ayo and this is my colleague, Dr Secord. We've learned from multiple reports that you're a very unique individual, and we look forward to testing our latest experiment on you."
"What are you talking about? I'm not your guinea pig. Release me, you lunatics!"
"Doctor Secord, take her to the device."
"With pleasure, Doctor Ayo. It's rare to have such perfectly balanced subjects!"
A sick, perverted hag staring at my body... A sense of déjà vu.

 

 

Doctor Secord and her armed guard brought me into a spacious room with glass tubes and a huge machine at the far end. The old scientist made a brief summary of their inventions:
"Over the years, we've created synthetic life and teleportation, our two greatest achievements. Today, we're getting close to our next breakthrough, one that will revolutionize the world. Step onto the platform Calista, please."

 

 

"You won't get away with this! People will notice my absence and will come looking for me!"
"They'll certainly try, but they'll fail miserably. Now let me tell you what's going to happen: When the device boots up, you'll feel a little pain from the radioactive rays, but don't worry, it'll only last about a dozen seconds. You might also experience your hand cuffs coming off to magnetize to the unit, but rest assured, your feet won't move off the ground. Any questions?"
"You're totally insane, you know that, don't you?"
"I'll take that as a no. Doctor Ayo, you may begin the procedure."

 

 

The device started up with a blast as loud as an aircraft engine. The radioactive rays emitted a red and green aura that burned my skin. Just as the scientist had predicted, my hand bonds tried to stick to the machine's turbines. I cried out in pain, hoping it would all blow over. After about ten seconds, it did, and I fainted.

 

 

"Doctor Ayo, the experiment worked perfectly! The subject fainted but suffered no damage, and its bonds are still fully operational."
"We have to be careful, Dr. Secord, as we're still limited by the beam's range. Take her to Advanced Systems, the project leader will take care of the rest."
"She won't get far in her current state, but I understand your concerns. I'll bring her right over."

 

 

After a few minutes, I regained consciousness but something seemed to be wrong. Lying down on an operation table, my head was spinning and my whole body felt numb. I looked incredibly weak, as if the world around me had tripled in size. What was their experiment and what on earth did the Institute want from me?

 

 

It wasn't an impression, it was a reality: a scientist sitting across the room five times my size shouted at me as I knelt forward.
"Awake at last! Welcome Calista, I'm Doctor Madison Li, I'll be taking over from here."
"What have you monsters done to me? Let me go!"
"As you may have noticed, you've shrunk. In fact, you're about a doll's size now. Congratulations, you're our first scaled-down human subject! Until you leave our headquarters, you'll remain at this height."
"You're horrible! Why do you want to shrink humans? What the hell have we ever done to deserve this?"
"Shrinking some species was a necessity: Super Mutants or Deathclaws to name but a few. For humans? We needed an alternative solution to replace them with our synthetics. Instead of killing them, we shrink them. They make ideal guinea pigs and can be recycled. Speaking of which, we've got some work together."

 

 

Doctor Li stood up and came closer. I felt a vibration with every step she made, the further she advanced, the more imposing she became. The elder scientist stretched out her arm to take my tiny body:
"What are you going to do? Get away from me!"
"Do you really think you can do anything to stop me, Calista? Be a good doll and everything will go well."
She had a valid point, I was still weak from the machine and at my size... There's no way I could stand up to a giantess.

 

 

The scientist held me up to her height, face to face, to explain what was planned next:
"You're a very charming little one, it's a pity you're our main subject..."
"Why don't you give me back my size, take me home and I'll forget all about it? I swear I won't tell a soul!"
"Nice try, but it ain't happening. We'll go to my office, I need a... small sample of your blood to complete our experimental results. You're going to behave, aren't you?"
"Go to hell, you crazy hag!"
"Quite the rebellious temper, I'll remedy that issue."

 

 

Doctor Li took me into her office. It was a large research space with plenty of switchboards to monitor her team's progress; she was the leader of her division, after all.
"This is my study, Calista. I spend most of my time here. So you'll be safe and very close to me. Anyway, time for us both to head for the workbench."
I remained silent, recovering what little energy my tiny body could now contain.

 

 

Just above the work surface, the scientist drop me. I fell a good half-meter, which on my scale seemed far more frightening. I screamed, thinking that my miniature life might come to an end. All I could see was Doctor Li's cold, heartless stare. She knew exactly what to do and how to do it: I was nothing more than a unique experimental dummy in her mind.

 

 

My fall was slowed by my restraints on hands and feet: they were attracted by the work surface. Completely helpless, my little limbs in a spread eagle position with Dr. Li examining me. I was angry at her for making me suffer that fall without warning me first:
"You're nuts, lady! Are you having fun treating me like a doll? You could have killed me, you evil old bitch!"
"Everything was under control, this work plan was designed to handle your bindings. However, your rebellious side is getting tiresome. I think it's time you had a humbling experience before sampling."

 

 

Unable to move, I could only watch. The scientist used her index finger to tickle my foot. Even at this size, my soles were still highly sensitive. I giggled as I tried to contain myself, but Dr. Li knew what to do and, above all, where to do it.
"You see Calista, we've learned a lot about you from your own story published by that Diamond City journalist. They're great adventures, revealing your strengths and especially your weaknesses. I guess after a little tickle session, you'll be less defiant, won't you?"
"Ahahah, stop it you freak! I won't give up!"
"Good, I love challenges."

 

 

"Looks like your whole doll body is ticklish! Even those private areas... And that doesn't just make you laugh, does it, little Calista?"
Doctor Li was right, my giggles got coupled with a few low moans when the scientist stroked my sexual parts. It hurt me to say it, but I enjoyed her touch. Each of her fingers alternated between tickling and fondling with a meticulous precision.
"Your story is true and you didn't overstate the details... How fascinating! I could keep toying with you for hours..."

 

 

"Playtime's over, let's focus on the task in hand. Now that you seem more eager to comply, this should go well. I'm going to take a blood sample from your body, to see if there are any side effects to the shrinking process. You may faint for a few minutes, but that's normal, as your blood capacity is much lower. Rest assured, I'll ensure that nothing goes wrong for you, Calista."
I didn't know what to say, but I had to take the elder scientist's word for it.

 

 

The doctor turned me over. From the spread eagle position to all fours, my foot restraints firmly locked to the work surface, the scientist had a clear view of my buttocks. She picked up a syringe to draw a blood sample out of my tiny body. I let out a pained cry, leaving my bottom not unscathed by the needle. It was so humiliating to be treated like a lab rat, but I had no other option within my limited reach.

 

 

"It's done. You see, nothing went wrong. I'm going to analyze these results while you quietly rest on the worktop. Even though I've only taken a tiny sample, your body has still some adjustment to make to the shrinking process. I'll be close by, so don't try anything. Your physical condition won't tolerate it."

 

 

I collapsed for a few moments. I was so weak, so exhausted, all I wanted was to get out of that hell.
"Oh, poor tiny thing... Don't worry darling, it will all be over soon. Come on, l'll take you into the next room, my bedroom. There's something you need to see."

 

 

When the door opened, I couldn't believe it. Another me, in a vault suit stood in front. I started sobbing, I quickly figured out what happened next:
"No, this isn't real, I refuse it! You made me, you monster!"
"Calista, meet Calista, our next-generation synth. Thanks to your blood sample, this Calista is as human as you are. If only you weren't doll-sized... Anyway, I won't be needing your assistance any longer. A proper good sleep might be helpful for you... We've still got plenty to check in your brand new miniature world!"

 

 

Doctor Li put me on the bed with a gentle touch. My double followed her, and they both stared down at my body. This atmosphere gave me a strong feeling of anxiety, with two giant people scrutinizing my slightest movements, there was nothing I could do in my condition.
"I'm really sorry for you Calista, but in the future, Science will be grateful for all your hard efforts."
"Don't pretend you care, you've already created me as a synth! I'm just your guinea pig, admit it!"
"You're right. I tried to comfort you, but you're obviously just too smart. I've got some preparations to make for Calista's synthetic appearance in the Commonwealth, so I'll leave you alone here. Don't bother, the door will be locked and there's no way out of this room."
"Go to hell you evil witch, I don't believe you!"

 

 

The scientist and her creation left the room. I felt abandoned, my isolation created a panic in which I cowered, trying to realize my situation: the Institute had kidnapped me, shrunk me and replaced me with a duplicate version of myself. It was too much for my tiny frame, and I started to scream, hoping the nightmare would stop. Meanwhile, the synthetic Calista peered at me through the glass, and for the first time I saw her express an emotion: she was smiling at my misfortune.

 

 

My scream broke through the chaos I had just witnessed. I woke up in my bed in Goodneighbor, a brutal but crucial reality check. My abduction by the Institute, the shrinking, doctor Madison Li, my double, all these elements had been fabricated by my mind in my sleep. The whole thing combined to create a nightmare in horror, where I was left abandoned and replaced... Could this be my greatest fear?

 

 

I quieted down and sat on the bed, my legs tucked up to my body.
"Damn it, calm yourself Calista! This was just an insane nightmare... Don't think about it anymore, and never mention the Institute again when you're tipsy..."
I paused in my thoughts, pondering what I could do to forget the whole thing:
"I should contact Kimy and do something with her soon to clear my head..."