Later that afternoon, the team was crammed into a private lab suite at the alchemy guild.

Books were stacked high, reagents bubbled in controlled flasks, and a magnified crystal lens apparatus flickered with runic light. At the center of it all, Vuvi hunched over a microscope contraption, muttering and fidgeting with knobs. Her goggles reflected the eerie shimmer of the strange, iridescent liquid sample beneath the lens.

The others sprawled out around the lab in various states of curiosity and impatience. Sera twirled a glass rod, Penelo snoozed lightly with her legs over the arm of a chair, Lula tapped her heel on the floor, and Zora hovered like a quiet shadow, arms folded, watching Vuvi like a hawk.

Pip sat off to the side in a comically undersized stool, politely silent but pulsing tiny waves of encouragement to Vuvi as she worked.

Vuvi finally groaned and slid her goggles up, massaging the bridge of her nose. "Alright," she said with a dramatic sigh.

Everyone snapped alert.

Sera leaned forward. "And? What do the results say?"

Vuvi turned toward them with a wry smile. "Well... the good news is… it's not baby batter. Not cooling fluid. Not a system malfunction. Definitely not oil, or slime, or even anything magical or alchemical in the usual sense."

The group blinked in unison.

"It's none of those?" asked Lula, frowning.

"Nope." Vuvi tapped her quill against the vial. "The compound's cellular structure is... bizarre. Organic, somehow, but not like any natural protein or essence I've ever seen. It's like... Pip made a new elemental compound."

They all leaned in closer to the glowing vial, suspended in a crystal holder.

Penelo squinted. "Could it be divine?"

Vuvi shook her head. "I tested it for holy resonance… nothing. Arcane? Negative. Demonic? Zip. But it does react slightly to pleasure energy, which is... expected, I guess."

Sera crossed her arms. "Only one way to truly find out what it does."

Vuvi immediately turned to her. "No. Don't you da—"

But it was too late. Sera dipped her finger into the vial, swirled it, and popped it into her mouth before anyone could tackle her.

The room held its breath.

Sera smacked her lips a few times, cocking her head thoughtfully. Her pupils dilated. Her breath caught. She looked down at her body, then back up, blinking furiously.

"...Well?" asked Penelo.

"I don't feel anything..." Sera said slowly. "But it tastes like... strawberries. And wet dreams."

Zora coughed and turned away to hide his chuckle.

Lula snorted. "That's Pip for you."

Vuvi groaned. "I was really hoping for something more. A clue. A side effect. Transformation, anything..."

Sera shrugged. "Maybe it's just a Pip thing. He's special enough as he is. Maybe this is just his version of... enhancement. To help him enjoy pleasure better."

"Or help us enjoy it," Penelo said with a smirk.

Pip let out a shy little beep, his eyes glowing a bashful pink.

Vuvi waved a hand. "Alright, enough. Let's head back to the pleasure house. I'll collect a bit more of it later… when Pip's ready. With proper containment tools this time."

Sera bounced to her feet. "Come on, science nerds. Let's—"

She pulled the door handle.

With a loud metallic screech, the entire door tore off its frame, bolts and all.

The room went dead silent.

Sera stared at the heavy wooden slab in her hands. "Oh."

"Oh?" Vuvi sputtered. "OH?!"

Sera blinked. "That's... new."

Lula ran over. "You've never done that before, right?"

"I mean… I've always been strong, but that thing was bolted in." Sera said.

Vuvi's jaw dropped.

She turned slowly toward Pip.

Pip looked around, then at the door, then back at Vuvi. He beeped nervously.

Vuvi pressed a hand to her forehead. "I think... Pip's love juice might be a power enhancement serum or something."

The room exploded into gasps.

Everyone lunged for the vial.

"STOP!" Vuvi barked, sweeping it away in a flash of green light and locking it in a floating containment sphere. "No more licking Pip's mystery goo! Not until I can test it!"

"But it's Pip!" Lula protested. "I'd put any part of him in my mouth!"

"That's not helping," Vuvi deadpanned. "No licking Pip's… samples. Until we know it's safe."

Collective groans filled the lab.

-------------------

Back at the pleasure house, Pip sat perched on a velvet chaise, legs parted slightly, his pelvic area faintly glowing like a halo under his plating. His team stood around him like curious priests at the altar of a holy miracle.

Vuvi knelt beside him with gentle hands and a serious expression. "Hey. Are you still okay, Pip?"

Pip beeped softly, sending out a serene wave of warm affection and contentment.

Vuvi smiled, brushing his plating. "I just want to be sure. Do you remember anything that happened while you were... broken? The Saint Sister said the Great Mother took your soul."

Pip tilted his head, then shrugged. He sent out a pulsing no.

Vuvi exhaled. "Thought so. Well... We still need to study that liquid. It might be connected to what happened. To your resurrection. If you're willing... we'll need samples."

Pip beeped a bashful affirmative.

Vuvi smiled wide. "You're the best construct-slash-soulbound-partner-slash-miracle-sex-machine anyone could ask for."

Pip beeped modestly.

Suddenly, Mysa leaned over his shoulder. "Well, if he needs help producing more, I'm very good at suc—"

A burst of fire ignited in Lula's palm as she stepped between them, eyes blazing.

"Whoa!" Mysa threw her hands up. "Forgot it's your turn! No need to scorch me!"

Lula snorted, then turned to Pip with a dazzling grin. She took his hand with reverent care. "May I?"

Pip's eyes sparkled. He rose with a regal nod and extended his other hand like a ballroom dancer offering a royal invitation.

Lula squealed and nearly melted on the spot. She leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Don't be stingy with me, Pip. I want you to come buckets."

Pip's entire chassis flickered with blushing lights.

"Remember, Ka'Lula, We're collecting samples!" Vuvi yells out. "Not consuming them!"

"I'll do my best!" the giggling dragon-kin replied.

Pip beeped once, nervously excited, and allowed Lula to pull him along, the rest of the team watching with amusement, curiosity... and very thin patience.

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