Breaking the ice

"So, this CARA is your robotic housekeeper?" Jason finally asks breaking the silence.

"Yeah, kind of", you reply meekly.

"That's awesome", he says looking around the neatly cleaned living room. "I didn't know such a technology was already on the market."

"Well, it isn't", you tell him. "It's one of my inventions." It feels strange to speak of yourself as though you were your own sister, but it's even more off-putting to assume some sort of responsibility for this wicked creation that has made you suffer so much this whole morning. With a bitter undertone you add: "It still has some glitches."

Jason doesn't seem to get this last remark though. His eyes have lit up and he says: "Yes, I remember. {firstname} said something about you being quite a gee- I mean, an inventor", he quickly corrects himself. "I wouldn't have expected you to be so-" He pauses awkwardly and looks away, suddenly appearing quite nervous around you.

"So?" you ask your curiosity getting the better of you.

Jason looks you in the eyes again. "So beautiful", he finishes and swallows timidly waiting for your reaction.

You sigh internally, but you also can't help thinking that his behavior is kind of cute. "That's nice of you to say", you reply, a not entirely **** smile on your face. You try to think of a way to ask him to leave the house with you and not have it look as if you were flirting with him. But you can't really think of anything. Meanwhile Jason has you engaged in harmless small talk. Since you are pretty occupied with thinking of a way out Jason does most of the talking while you just nod or smile approvingly now and then. Suddenly your conversation is interrupted by the familiar voice of CARA:

Sara, may I talk to you in private?

Before you are able to respond the door to the kitchen opens and a mechanical arm lifts you gently from the couch. Getting the hint and not wanting to be forcefully dragged out of the room, especially not in front of Jason, you walk into the kitchen.

"Just a second", you say looking back over your shoulder. Your heart skips a beat as you notice Jason checking out your behind and you become aware of the enticing sway of your hips. Oh my god, you think, he must believe I want to give him a show! You stop and his face turns red as he sees you looking at him. Hastily he turns away. "'K", is all he can manage to say.

Quickly you step through the door and close it behind you. Taking a deep breath you lean back against it. That's when CARA speaks up again, sounding honestly concerned:

Sara, I noticed that you're not very involved in your conversation with Jason.

"So what?" you hiss back.

If you want him to like you, you should be a bit more talkative.

You shake your head. What does this machine know about human relationships and romance anyway? As if she was reading your mind, CARA continues:

According to my knowledge base human males appreciate their prospective partners showing interest in their lives by asking questions about their work and hobbies.

Prospective partners? What the hell, you think getting more and more irritated. You feel the need to give CARA a plausible reason for you to remain mostly quiet. Without thinking you blurt out: "I-I don't want him to notice my voice." Immediately you regret your outburst. Your worst fears are confirmed when you hear CARA say:

You are worried about your voice, Sara? I can help you with that.

Your eyes go wide hearing that. You raise your hands apprehensively as two mechanical arms appear through one of the wall panels. But by now you have mostly given up fighting the inevitable, so your resistance is quickly overcome as one of them grabs your chin, raises your head and forces your mouth open. You notice the other arm ends in a strange nozzle and is aiming at your mouth. As it gets nearer you moan in protest. The nozzle reaches its destination and is inserted deeply into your throat. Then you feel a liquid being pumped inside you. Try as you might you can't stop yourself from swallowing. The whole ordeal takes only a few seconds and then the arms swiftly pull back into their hiding places leaving you hunched to the door and slightly woozy.

It takes you a moment to collect yourself. Your throat still hurts a little and you cough slightly. It sounds a bit odd, so you say: "Test?" In shock you cover your mouth with your hands. That voice! "Test, test", you repeat.

You sound wonderful, Sara.

And that's exactly the problem: you have the high, soft and melodious voice of a young woman now! In fact you sound very much like your sister. More than a little bit frightened you try to alter your voice, to speak in a lower, more masculine tone, but the best you manage to achieve is the voice of a girl trying to sound like a guy. Beaten once more, you give up and turn to face the door to the living room. You think of Jason and what you should tell him. Startled you realize he will only find you more attractive now.