A robot among humans - there's gonna be stares.

The short drive to the grocery store had been largely uneventful, if one didn't count the stares S4M-ARA had gotten at the one traffic light they'd had to stop at - and which the gynoid had summarily ignored. Now, with Tobias having parked the care, S4M-ARA began to reconfigure her breasts to their smallest size, which was still not exactly flat.

"This unit wishes to present herself as non-sexualised as possible", she vocoded, head turned towards Tobias as her right hand opened the door and her body swivelled sideways to begin exiting the car, which led to her head being turned almost completely backwards. "And this unit knows that this goes against her primary function, but according to social mores of this region, it is calculated that this is the best approach."

"I guess so?" Tobias replied as he exited the car himself, locking it after S4M had closed her door after getting out. "You're way smarter than my dumb ass, so I'm gonna trust you on that."

"Do not denigrate yourself like this. Please, superuser Tobias." Hooking her arm around his and walking next to him with that halting, yet sensual gait of hers, S4M-ARA kept her optics trained on Tobias as they walked. "A person's IQ is not so easily defined. This unit simply has more tools at her disposal to pre-calculate certain situations."

"Sure, S4M. And thanks for..." Tobias swallowed softly. "Thanks for the encouragement. But... I barely finished high school, I am not all that smart."

"Einstein is said to have coined the phrase 'If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid,' and while said quote is likely misattributed, it bears truth, superuser Tobias. This unit has assessed your work at the hospital, and found it outstanding. And..." Putting one had on Tobias pecs to stop him for a second, S4M-ARA pressed her silicone lips to his cheek. "The way you calibrated this unit's neck servos revealed an innate, likely even cultivated skill in that regard that should not be ignored. Maybe it is time we take the fish away from the tree and put it into the water? This unit is certainly looking forwards to see how fast it can swim."

"Just to be clear, the fish is me, right?"

"Yes, superuser Tobias, you are the fish." S4M-ARA modulated a laugh, but it was kind and warm, no teasing to be found. "Now let us acquire the ingredients necessary for cooking tonight's dishes."

People stared, of course. But not just at Tobias and his gynoid girlfriend, although they were among the more exotic of the customerbase, maybe even the most. Thankfully, they were not the only unusual ones, though. Some of the others navigating the sprawling aisles were much too tall, too short, too voluptuous, or too unusually configured - there where multiples of breasts, arms, and in one case even legs, which showed that it was probably high time to instate a city wide lockdown to keep the epidemic under control. If it was not already too late for that.

"Oh man..." Tobias muttered under his breath as they passed the double-wide - or maybe one-and-a-half-wide - tripod woman the second time on their way back from getting fresh mincemeat. "No wonder they're thinking about implementing a lockdown..."

"Which will, according to this unit's calculation, slow the spread of the 'epidemic' by about 46.3%," vocoded S4M-ARA as reply, extending one arm and grabbing a can of tomato juice without slowing down or even looking, putting it in the basket Tobias was carrying. "It will not, however, stop it entirely. Which means that it will be a matter of months instead of weeks until the entirety of Bay Cove, located in Bight County, will be affected in some capacity."

"Wait. S4M, are you saying we can't stop it anymore?" Stopping in his tracks, Tobias grabbed S4M's arm with his free hand, only to be reminded that his robot lover was both heavier and stronger than him. After pulling him half a step, the gynoid stopped and turned towards him, reconfiguring her faceplate and silicone lips into a soft smile. "Can we really not do anything to keep this from spreading?"

"No, superuser Tobias, that is, as of now, impossible. Slowing it down is all we can do. You must understand that the cases in the isolation ward are only the most **** ones, or the ones that have changed in a public environment. This unit calculates the estimated figure of undetected cases to be in excess of 80% of that of the admitted cases." S4M-ARA's eyes flickered briefly before she focused on her human paramour once more. "That is a very conservative estimate, considering the fact that there are 26 changees in this grocery store. And since most changees consider their changes to be beneficial, it is unlikely that many will check themselves into a hospital. In fact, some might do their best to spread these changes."

"So... we've already lost? Everything we do is just... a waste of time?" Tobias dejected expression caused S4M-ARA to lift one glinting, metal hand to caress his cheek gently. "I mean, we have you and your calculations. Won't they help stop the epidemic?"

"No, I am afraid not, superuser Tobias. This is a transitionary period, and society will need time to adapt. This unit will do her best to help the unchanged to make their peace with the new status quo." Stepping closer to Tobias, S4M-ARA wrapped her arms around him, servos whining softly as the gynoid put her head on her lover's shoulder. "It is human nature to fight against change before accepting it. But change is coming, and this unit believes it will be for the better."

"Not 'calculates'?" Tobias smiled softly as he put his cheek against S4M-ARA's cable hair

"No. There are too many competing value systems at play, too many variables. This unit can only place her trust in... hope, if you will, superuser Tobias."

Hugging the voluptuous robot back with one arm, Tobias swallowed softly. Considering the epidemic had given him a wonderful girlfriend, maybe S4M-ARA was right. Maybe things would be better at the end of all of this.

"Now." Squeezing Tobias one more time, careful to keep her show of affection gentle and not bonebreaking, S4M-ARA let Tobias go and smiled up at him. "This unit knows that such a revelation must be emotionally draining, maybe even overwhelming. But a good meal has a calming effect on the human psyche, and we have all ingredients. Shall we make our way back to your accommodations?"

"Sure, S4M. We shall."