Use IVR Interface

You slide the IVR interface skullcap over your head, and instantly feel your body relinquish control, sagging into the smartfoam as the software commandeers your senses...

And just like that, you're back in Mr. Markley's bedroom, your wrists cuffed to the bedpost behind you. The feverishness of your real body, induced by whatever nano is still working through it, is gone now, replaced by the fresh, clean feeling of just-washed flesh. You remember that in here, you showered just ten minutes ago, no matter how much time passed in the lab.

Similarly, you can feel heat and moisture between your legs - the arousal from having been used by Mr. Markley, then your act of self-bondage, still working its way through you.

John is here. He looks at you expectantly. “Well?”

“You're there, all right,” you answer. You tell him everything you saw. He nods at various points in your brief recounting, and when you're done, bends down and plants a kiss on your lips.

“Good job, Janet,” he says, grinning as he pulls back. “Very good.”

“You kissed me,” you breathe huskily. “How can you - how can you still want me after - after - ”

“After you turned yourself into a submissive little fuckpet?” he chuckles. “You have to see things from my end, I guess. You're a little hottie, trust me. Besides, though it's obvious there are things I never would have guessed about you, I do know you very well. And I do love you. Even if you managed to get yourself castrated in about half an hour.”

You hang your head. “I could never admit what I wanted to you - to anyone,” you whisper. “I'm damaged goods.”

He laughs. “Look, love, given what's happened to me over the past few years, I'm not exactly Mr. Normal myself. Besides, it takes a certain amount of bravery to do what you've done. It's not exactly an empowering choice, you know?”

He touches your cheek; lets his hand run idly over your bare breasts. “Maybe it was supposed to be this way. I don't know. All I can tell you is that I don't mind that you've done this to yourself. Anyway, even assuming I get my body back, the only way I could countenance continuing a relationship with you is if you were a girl.” He withdraws his hands, leaving you leaning forward in your restraints.

His eyes take you in. “Nice. But for now, I think a little more time at the Rutherford School for Girls is in order, don't you?” he grins. And he heads toward the stairs.

“That's it?” you call after him. “You're just going to leave me here?” He looks back over his shoulder, smiling at the sight of you pulling at restraints you yourself put on.

“Yes. Because I can, and because it'll be good for you. You've still got three more years of re-education to live through, dear. I intend to provide you with a completely new identity - one in which you really are fifteen years old. So I'd like you to be of legal age by the time I let you out of here. Bye now.” You tug at your wrist restraints, call out to him, but by the time his footsteps reach the ground floor you know with a heavy feeling that he's gone.

John Carruthers, you learn eventually, is a man of his word, though it doesn't seem that way at first. A month after your encounter with him, you receive a letter from him, informing you that he's gotten his old body back, and disposed of yours. Then no word from him, though you wait.

Regardless, you're happy, really. The etiquette lessons, the ballet and piano lessons, the personal maid duty to Mr. Markley - between all the activities in your busy schedule you hardly have time to think about your past. Something about Mr. Markley changed after that first encounter with John, and you long wondered what that change meant. He had become... different. Still, Mr. Markley is imaginative and thorough, and you're constantly kept on your toes by him. You have summers off, and are permitted to vacation by the shore in one of the holiday regions of the Domain Rutherford is situated in. There are trysts with boys, salty evening breezes, campfires, and wild parties.

Graduation day arrives. You stand in line, behind Trixie, ahead of Marta, in your graduation gown, heavy black fabric itching your naked body underneath. These last days have been a time for reflection, and you have found yourself recalling, with a little more clarity than usual, the events of three years ago that brought you here. Sophie. TRAINER. Gerald.

That last name feels like it belongs to a different person. You certainly remember life as a man - indeed, one of Mr. Markley's training techniques is to remind you on occasion of what you've “lost”.

Trixie takes her diploma from the Dean, kisses him on the cheek. You're next.

The Dean smiles down at you. “Congratulations, Janet.” He hands you your diploma. “You've done well.” You curtsey, smile, and step forward.

Mr. Markley's usual stern composure cracks into a faint smile. “You've grown, dear,” he says.

“I'll miss you,” you find yourself saying, your voice a little ragged.

“There's no need to miss me, dear.” Mr. Markley's face changes, features slide smoothly into a different configuration.

The face that Mr. Markley wears now is familiar.

You saw it three years ago. In the clone labs. John Carruther's face. You gasp.

“Did you think I'd leave your education to a bunch of AIs?” John says. “I took over Mr. Markley's role as soon as I'd wrapped up that other business with my body.”

You're still in shock. “But - how - why - ” you stammer.

“We'll have plenty of time to talk later, love. Meantime, you're holding up the line.”

You look back; the other girls are indeed jammed up behind you.

“But what now?” you ask.

He grins. “You've got your diploma, Janet. You've got logout privileges. See for yourself.”

You look inside yourself, and to your surprise, find a Domain Management Console, where there was none before. The first chink in the illusion of reality you've had in three years. With unskilled, unpracticed thoughts, you call up the command “Logout”.

And find yourself lying on a biosupport bed. You sit up, and look into John's eyes.

“Welcome home, love.”

*********************************************************************

This is one of many possible endings for this game. This game isn't a win/lose proposition, so there's no such thing as winning here, but I hope you've enjoyed playing!

Alyssa S.