The next morning, Zoe got to her desk and was greeted by Gretchen, Dana, and Christine.
“Come on, Camilla is giving us a spa trip and the day off,” Dana told her. She was smiling broadly at the idea. In fact all three of them were.
“Really? The entire day off? Why?” Zoe actually felt a little guilty about showing up late and hungover yesterday, even if it had been with Camilla’s blessing.
“Because she couldn’t buy you a drink, so she’s giving you a spa trip. And since the spa is no fun alone...”
Gretchen cut in, “I reap the benefits.” She raised her fists as triumphantly as she could in an office setting.
Zoe was stunned, but wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth, “So are we leaving now?”
“Yeah, everyone is here, we can all pile into my p.o.s.-mobile,” Christine offered. And with that, the four of them were off. In the elevator, Zoe noticed Dana typing on her blackberry.
“Who are you texting?”
Camilla was having a new pelvic module installed when the message came in. It killed the erotic buzz she was building up from having the technicians work on her, but she had asked to be notified when Zoe and the rest of them were headed in. And fortunately, Dr. Dyson was in the observation room.
“Dr. Dyson, Dana, Christine, Gretchen and Zoe have just left Stanley. They should be here within 30 minutes.”
“Very good, VX9348. I have to say you’re going to love that new pussy.”
Camilla moaned at the thought while the techs tested the lubrication system. Elaine was tense enough that she wasn’t diddling herself while watching. She calmly reached over to the panel and paged her daughter.
Jessica arrived a minute later. “Hi, mom.”
“Hello dear, Zoe and her friends are on their way. Set up Zoe’s demonstration in room 5 and her human friend’s display in room 6.”
Jessica figured it was now or never. “Mom, about that. I’m not sure we’re handling this the right way.”
Elaine turned and cocked an eyebrow at her daughter, “Is that so.”
Jessica tried to shut off some of her autonomic responses and look more confident. “Zoe and Neil are going to be husband and wife, and it has always been our policy to have married women talk it over with their husbands.”
“She has the right to leave and talk to Neil.”
“Yes, but we’re going to convert her immediately if she says yes.”
“Zoe’s a big girl, she has the right to make her own decisions.” Elaine began to turn away.
“Yes, but if she does it’s going to hurt Neil. He really doesn’t want her to do this, Mom. He doesn’t believe that we’re the same women after becoming synthetic.”
Elaine stopped turning and took a step toward her daughter. “So now you’re on Neil’s side?”
“It’s not about sides, I just think we should be convincing Neil, not Zoe.”
“If he doesn’t understand now, nothing we say is going to convince him. We’re going to have to demonstrate to him all the benefits of our lifestyle.”
This wasn’t going as Jessica hoped. “So it’s all about proving something to Neil?”
“Watch your tone. And it’s about making my children happy. Neil is not going to go through the sorts of things your father went through. He’s going to have a perfect wife, just like he deserves and just like I can provide. If you’re still having doubts, your old body is waiting for you downstairs.”
Jessica had never heard her Mom talk to her like this. She had never invoked Jessica’s organic body in an argument. There was nothing more to be said. Jessica turned to leave the room and set up the demonstrations.
“Oh dear,” Dr. Dyson called after her, “after you finish, I think you should go home for the day.”
Jessica knew what that meant. Her mother didn’t trust her to not make an attempt to convince Zoe to remain organic. It was a blow to the gut, and Jessica left walking more like the drab teen she had been than the beautiful synthetic woman she was.
Elaine turned back and watched VX9348’s new pelvic module slide into place, causing a small orgasm sequence in the android. She felt guilty about sending Jessica away, and even implying that her daughter should become organic again. But this was important, and Jessica would realize that.
Zoe and Gretchen were impressed by the opulence of the Institute just from the lobby. It was Greek-inspired, while still looking modern. Zoe noticed that the staff and a good portion of the clientele were very attractive. The spa gear and the staff uniforms weren’t the most flattering garments in the world, but they couldn’t hide everything. The people-watching was distracting enough that they were nearly to the reception desk before Zoe noticed the name ‘Dyson’ in 18-inch-high block letters on the wall.
“Hey, I think this is the spa that Neil’s mom owns.”
Gretchen responded first. “I was just about to ask you about that. Hell, if she owns a place like this your boyfriend is sitting on a fortune in inheritance.”
Zoe tried to ignore Gretchen’s predictable response and point the question toward Christine, “Didn’t I tell you my boyfriend’s last name and that his mom owned a spa?”
She shrugged, “If you did, I guess I never made the connection. Usually we just call it ‘the spa’ and don’t use the proper name.” That was a bald-faced lie, but Christine hoped it would hold up until Zoe could meet Dr. Dyson.
“You didn’t make the connection with the big letters above the entrance?”
Christine shrugged again, “What can I say? A spa trip is a spa trip. But maybe we can go see the lady in charge, if she is Neil’s mom.”
Zoe did want to meet her future mother-in-law. Now was as good a time as any.
Dana broke in before any more questions could be asked. “OK, Zoe here’s your guest pass. Gretchen, here’s yours. Let’s go meet Dr. Dyson first, before we get all steamed and massaged.”
Zoe supposed that Dana had overheard the earlier conversation. She guessed going there first made some sense, even if she would have preferred some more time to prepare herself. Gretchen, as much as she enjoyed Zoe, was a little disappointed she’d be spending part of her spa time being part of the scenery for a future-family get-together.
The ladies flashed their badges in front of a reader at the door and entered the back rooms of the institute. The two organic ladies didn’t know this was not an area the normal clients of the Institute got to see. Most of the rooms had no windows, and an alert could keep the halls clear of overt android evidence. Still, Dana led them on the long way through the back to avoid some of the more vocal testing areas.
This did lead them past a window into the gym area of the Institute. Zoe saw six women playing a highly spirited game of basketball. Three were in black sports bras, the others were in green. But the main feature was just how good and how fast they were. They must be a local college or semi-pro team. The side on defense was matching the moves of the offensive players at whatever speed they went. And in appreciating the talent on display, she noticed something weird just below their bras. They were far away, but it wasn’t clothing, she thought maybe it was a tattoo. That would be in keeping with the team theory.
Christine saw Zoe stop and saw the open panels on the girls playing basketball. She nearly yelped before hurrying Zoe and Gretchen farther along their route. That was a little too close.
The four of them got to Dr. Dyson’s door without further incident. Although Dana and Christine could pick up on the moans seeping into the hallway, they were confident the organics hadn’t caught on. Zoe patted down her hair and checked her outfit one more time before she entered the office.
Elaine was sitting at her desk wearing a smart business outfit, leaving her lab coat on a peg to the left of her desk. Zoe’s first thought was how Jessica’s hotness was more explicable, and second thought was that the family resemblance to Neil wasn’t all that strong.
Elaine smiled and stood up from her chair, “Zoe It’s so nice to finally meet you in person.” Before Zoe knew it, she was in a hug with Dr. Dyson.
Zoe returned the hug, not as fervently as Elaine, but returned nonetheless. She was the one that nudged the doctor away. “It’s nice to meet you too, Dr. Dyson.”
“Please, Call me Elaine... or Mom.” The doctor flashed a big row of white teeth at Zoe.
“OK... Elaine. I’m just trying to figure out how you knew it was me.”
Dana and Christine, who were standing back a bit beside Gretchen, tensed up at the question. Dr. Dyson quickly picked between possible fake explanations.
“I have to admit, I played a little bit of a game with you. Since Neil was so reluctant to bring us together, I enlisted Dana and Christine’s help in bringing you here to meet me. Sorry for the obfuscation. I was just so excited to meet my future daughter-in-law.”
Any holes in the explanation were filled in by Zoe’s lingering irritation at Neil not bringing her to meet his family sooner. Zoe nodded and sighed in agreement and Elaine led them to the sitting area of her expansive office. The two of them made idle chit-chat and Zoe talked about herself a little bit.
Gretchen was still off to the side and getting a little impatient. She leaned over to Dana, “Do we need to be here for this?”
Dana whispered back, “just wait, you’ll definitely want to be around for what’s coming up.”
“What do you mean?”
Dana hushed her and redirected Gretchen’s focus to the conversation Dr. Dyson was involved in.
A little later, after being asked about her ‘career change’ to spa owner, Dr. Dyson took a pause, stood up, and begun her pitch.
“It’s not easy for women in the modern world. Between career and family and self-esteem there are so many directions you’re being pushed and pulled. I’m a highly capable woman, with a wonderful husband, and I couldn’t handle it. I wasn’t advancing in my career. I wasn’t spending time with my kids. My marriage was at its breaking point. And I hadn’t taken any time just for me in years.”
Neither Gretchen nor Zoe knew where Dr. Dyson was going with this, but Dana and Christine were listening with rapt attention.
“Then one day I and some colleagues came upon an idea. It was the solution to our common problem and we knew it would change the world. I threw myself into the idea. I neglected those other parts of my life because I knew this project was the only way I’d ever be able to devote the proper amount of time to them. I didn’t see Neil and Jessica, their father kicked me out. But Neil probably told you about that from his perspective.
“But it worked. All my sacrifice came to fruition and I’m able to improve the lives of modern women all over the world. I got back my marriage and my kids. I have a successful career. And I still have ample time for myself.”
Elaine began to undo her top enough to expose the area just below her breasts. Gretchen and Zoe were speechless at this development and what happened next didn’t jar them from that state. With a faint whirring sound, Dr. Dyson opened up one of her panels. Gretchen heard the same sound from either side of her and saw that Dana and Christine had similarly revealed open panels in their respective torsos. Small diodes flashed, albeit a little faster in the younger androids. Each of the organic women saw cable ports and multi-colored wires. And they saw that the space wasn’t cosmetic, it went deep into a dark cavity within each android’s chest.
“I developed not only female android bodies, but the technology to transfer someone’s consciousness into that body. For the past five years, I have been an android. In my entire life I have never felt so absolutely fulfilled. And I think Dana and Christine would agree.”
Zoe’s head whipped around and saw her two coworkers with similarly open panels. It then hit her that the girls in the gym had the same looking dark spot below their bras. If this was a trick, it was terribly elaborate.
“I’ve been an android for three months, but it’s been the best three months of my life. I’m less stressed, my job is easier, I unplug in the morning ready to go, and all my senses are more vivid than before. I just can’t imagine going back to the way I was before.” Dana gushed first and then Christine followed with a similar testimonial.
“You remember how we looked during and after our party night, right? That’s because Ava and Katie are androids too. We swapped out for well made-up head units and even after that late night, all it took was five hours connected to our service unit to emerge the next morning fresh as a daisy. No fatigue, no puffy eyes, no sore feet, no hangover, absolutely perfect. All we had to do the next morning was swap in our normal head module and change clothes.” Gretchen had to sit down. She and Zoe just sat there in silence for a moment. Gretchen spoke first, “Does it hurt? The transfer, I mean.”
Dr. Dyson smiled, “Not at all, it’s like going to sleep. Here, I want to show you something. Unit VX9348 is having some routine maintenance performed.”
The five of them went through a door in Dr. Dyson’s office to a private observation room. Zoe’s eyes went wide and Gretchen brought a hand to her mouth when they saw a blonde woman with the barn doors of her chest cavity opened wide, legs detached, and a technician rooting around inside her. It took a few beats, but they realized that the blonde was their boss, Camilla. It took another few beats before they realized she was alternating between moaning and grinning broadly.
Dr. Dyson explained, “Almost all synthetic women relish their new nature, the nature which has brought them so much happiness and well-being. Maintenance is the purest expression of this, and thus highly pleasurable.”
Zoe didn’t know what to say, “How many of you are there?”
“I can’t tell you the exact number, that’s private, but we have institute branches on four continents and thirteen countries now.”
Zoe was wondering more about Stanley Enterprises, considering she had been working with at least five android women and didn’t know about it. She could respect the need for privacy, though.
“How quickly can this happen?” Zoe turned to see Gretchen almost hyperventilating. “I want it. I want to be an android. I want to feel like that and how Dana and Christine described it. I don’t want to feel like I’m being ripped apart every day.”
Zoe was surprised but could plainly see Gretchen’s excitement at the idea. Dr. Dyson put an arm around Zoe’s friend, “Wonderful, it’s the best decision you’ll ever make. Dana, Christine, show Gretchen to lab six and call in a scanning tech. Zoe, follow me, I want to show you something.”
Zoe brain was zooming with all the implications of what was happening. Her coworkers were robots. Another of her friends was about to become a robot. Her mother-in-law and probably her sister-in-law were robots too. And she had the opportunity to become a robot.
“Does Neil know?”
Dr. Dyson could guess what Zoe meant. “Yes, he’s known for quite some time. Both about me and his sister and about the scope of the operation. Actually, he used to help me test newly assembled androids.” Elaine omitted the sexual nature of these tests.
“Why didn’t he tell me?”
“He was afraid of your response, or he valued our secrecy. You’ll have to ask him.” Dr. Dyson wasn’t going to tell her the whole truth, so a sin of omission would have to suffice.
Zoe still couldn’t wrap her head around everything. She was barely paying attention to the world around her when she realized the two of them had entered a room. It was obviously some sort of laboratory, as the walls were littered with computers and various mechanical parts.
But in the center of the room, a woman stood in a wedding dress. At least that’s what Zoe first thought it was. She quickly realized the dress was only a bodice, and the ‘woman’ ended at the waist. She was hooked up to a metal stand of some sort. She was holding a bouquet in immaculately manicured hands, her breasts bulged slightly over the neckline of the dress, and her face was covered by a few veils. Dr. Dyson walked over and with a smile, lifted the veils to reveal to Zoe her own face, eyes closed and with a serene expression on her face. The hair was darker and more lustrous than her own. The little imperfections in her skin were washed away. Her lips puckered alluringly even in their restive state.
Zoe’s jaw had already dropped when the android opened its eyes, perfect matches for Zoe’s own. The half-robot straightened itself and smiled with a row of pearly white teeth before speaking in a hauntingly accurate rendition of Zoe’s voice.
“Hello, Zoe... if you choose to follow this course through to its conclusion, I will be part of the new you. I will be you. I have been fully tested and am ready to deliver unrivaled performance under all conditions... part of a perfect system of hardware and software designed and constructed for your pleasure, for your enjoyment, and Neil’s. Join us, Zoe... become the new you. Become a machine... become a perfect android woman.”
Zoe locked eyes with her double and time stood still for a bit. This had to be some strange nightmare. Too much booze, too much sugar, or maybe a radon leak. Dr. Dyson stepped behind the demonstration model, which still had a contented smile on its face.
“I love my son dearly, Zoe. And from what I can tell, you love him too. As an organic woman, I couldn’t be the type of wife my husband deserved. And I want to make sure Neil can have the type of wife he deserves. I rarely say this but Zoe, please, please become an android. If you don’t like it, your organic body is kept in storage and it’s easy to transfer back. You’re going to be part of my family, please become part of my larger family too. It’s ultimately your decision and yours alone, but I hope I’ve done an adequate job of making my case.”
Zoe heard it, but couldn’t move her eyes away from her doppelganger. It looked so... blissful. And of course, beautiful in a way Zoe had never been able to achieve on her own. Dana and Christine seemed to love it. And her best work friend looked like she would tear down walls to have it done.
“OK, I’ll do it.”
Dr. Dyson couldn’t help herself; she went over to Zoe and gave her a great big hug again. “I’m so happy for you. Go ahead and sit on the couch. We can get the transfer started immediately.”
Zoe’s heart leapt into her throat. “That soon? But the body isn’t even ready.”
“Oh, all the rest is just stock parts. Plus there’s a scanning period before any information is downloaded onto your hard drive. The couch is over there, and I’d be honored to perform the procedure myself.”
Zoe nervously made her way over there and lay down. Just because she was willing to do this, didn’t mean she wasn’t a little scared at the prospect. Elaine on the other hand was practically skipping around the lab gathering the necessary components.
“Ok, I’m going to give you a little sedative and when you wake up, you’ll be one of us. Don’t be surprised if you see a head’s up display and status messages.” Elaine was still grinning even as she placed electrodes on Zoe’s temples. Zoe was happy that she had eaten a light breakfast. She tried to get comfortable and calm her breathing, but it was tough. Without saying anything further, Elaine took Zoe’s arm, found a vein and dosed her with a full syringe of the sedative. Quickly, Zoe felt herself drifting away into la la land. Her last thought before passing out was, “Maybe I should have talked to Neil...”
Please, don't quit on me yet and don't start throwing things around the room at least until you read Part Eight
Let's see Dr. Dyson put that in her mouth and smoke it 
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