Holed Up Ch. 01

Everyone's heard about the virus going around. Masks in public, businesses shutting down, don't go outside unless you have to. It sounded like the opening sentences of some dystopian novel from a high school book fair.

That was October. Now it's December. The virus had covered the globe, upending daily life for everyone. I knew that classes were going to go online as soon as the governor declared a state of emergency.

I'm lucky, I guess, that I was in school. I wasn't at risk of losing a job or an internship, either. I'd decided to do research over the summer, and had been assured by my professor that it could be done remotely. I'd still get paid the same to do it, just without the perks of being on campus over the summer.

I'd been living with my best friend, Aastha, in a rather large apartment that gave the two of us much more space then we'd actually need. She'd actually flown out for a wedding earlier this month...to Italy, no less, and now she couldn't come back. The entire country was on lockdown. No one in, and no one out, not even foreigners. She was inconsolable over the phone, desperate to escape her parents and extended family, whom she was now stuck with.

"I'm going crazy!" she said, "just being in the same room as them for five minutes! All they want to do is watch TV and groan about how they can't go to the hair salon."

She almost screeched with distress. There was nothing I could really do, so I just listened to her. I couldn't even offer her any jokes about her parents or family, seeing as I was pretty distant from my own family. No siblings, no aunts and uncles, just two parents who called every once in a while to make themselves feel better about pretending they cared about me.

And now it was just me, alone, waiting for the world to start spinning again.

Well...I wasn't completely alone.

Before this had all started, earlier in the semester, Aastha and I had seen an ad for personal in-home androids online. Super expensive ones. The ones that were so lifelike, they were even blending in with other people before the virus started.

But the corporation behind them, ARtech, was looking for people to test them out and provide feedback, insight, comments, and all that other corporate crap. On a scale of 1 to 10...

This android's abilities were kind of limited. For a test dummy, they didn't want people going to town on a robot more expensive than my tuition. But what it lacked in function, it more than made up for in form. At least, according to Aastha, he was absolutely gorgeous. I never really had the eye for guys, or what really defined something as sexy.

"I wish I could really see what makes him tick," Aastha moaned one evening as he was cooking dinner. "Really get under his pants...if you know what I mean," she said, with a smirk.

"Do you mean...like, massaging him?"

Aastha let out something between a laugh and snort: "Oh, Kiley, you really ARE hopeless!"

I didn't know if that was meant as a compliment or an insult...So I didn't press the matter further.

Now, back to my problem. The trial period was about to be over. He was supposed to be sent back at the end of this week. But his owner, ARtech, said it was too risky to do that.

"We can't risk transmitting the virus to our workers when he's examined, evaluated, or interacted with in any way." I'd been bounced around by multiple ARtech customer service reps, finally getting a hold of a manager. "While I understand your concerns about keeping the android, you should not be worried that you will be financially liable for keeping it longer than the terms of the research study."

I looked out the window of my apartment, trying to figure out how best to handle the situation. I was afraid that because I couldn't send him back, they'd charge my credit card or something. I had way too much going on financially to foot this massive bill.

What I was being told made me feel better, but...

"So, what am I supposed to do with him? Will he still work?"

"We're going to allow the android to remain operational until we can safely recover him. Because you and your roommate have been excellent members of our research study, we're going to unlock some additional functionality on the android."

I felt a shiver down my spine. "Additional functionality?" I gulped. "What...what does that mean?"

"The android will explain to you its full capabilities when it receives the software update in the next few minutes. You will be among the first to access everything it can do."

"I...that's incredible. And I don't have to do anything?"

"Not a thing. We'll reach out in a few days to check in and ensure that there have been no problems. I will send you an email with my phone number if you have any concerns with its operations."

I was as excited as I was nervous. What was he going to be able to do? And what would I want to do?

"Thank you so much for doing this, Mister..."

"Harris. I'll call you in a few days to see how everything is. Expect the android to reboot and talk with you in no more than five minutes."

After exchanging pleasantries and have-a-nice-evenings, I hung up the phone. And just sat there, processing. Thinking.

I had a robot, a good looking one at that, who was basically room service whenever and wherever I wanted it. And now he was going to be able to do more than that.

What did "additional functionality" mean? What was he going to be able to do? And how much of it could I even use? What would I even feel comfortable doing?

I sat quietly for another couple of minutes, trying to figure out what I would say to him when he approached me. When he asked me "How may I serve you, Miss Kiley?" with that voice of his. Contemplating all the possible things he would say, how I would reply, what would happen next...

But none of that happened. He caught me by surprise, entering the room silently, and as I stood up and walked into the living room to talk, I bumped right into his chest. And I took a good look at my new android for the next few weeks...

He wore a dark outfit, a long sleeve button-down shirt with dark pants and a belt. His undershirt cut a perfect shape from below his neck, showing off some of his chest. Dark pants and shoes completed the design.

Jet black hair, a smooth face, and an easy smile greeted my eyes. And his eyes...a deep purple. The only real way to tell this robot apart from a real man.

"Good evening, Miss Kiley. I've received an update that unlocks all of my potential knowledge and abilities for your perusal."

"I...yeah, I was just on the phone with them, and they said that they'd unlock all your abilities and, uhm..."

I was blabbering at this point, unable to really focus. I didn't know what to say, what to do.

"Miss Kiley, I can tell that you're anxious and distressed," he said calmly. His voice sounded incredibly smooth, calming, and gentle. You'd never know it wasn't human unless you spent a few months listening to it while it did your laundry.

"I will not and cannot do anything that you do not instruct or otherwise give me permission to do. Though my functions are now vast, I am prohibited from accessing them unless you allow it."

This made me feel better, but I didn't even know what sorts of things that included.

"My abilities now allow for much more personal learning, understanding, and comprehension of how best to serve you. Previously, my ability to 'learn' from you was restricted. I could only perform tasks explicitly given or scheduled by you or Miss Aastha."

That much was true...I'd noticed that he'd never really had a personal touch to anything. Only ever doing what I told him, and super strictly at that.

"Now, I am permitted to adjust my actions, thoughts, and patterns to best serve you, and to accommodate anything I do as a result of what you say, think, and do."

"Can you...give me an example?"

"Say you wanted to watch Trek Wars the Fourth on television, but you didn't know if it was going to be shown any time soon. Previously, you'd have to explicitly ask me to look up and tell you if the movie was scheduled. Now, because I know you like it, I can tell you that information ahead of time, and ensure that you have the opportunity of seeing it.

"I can also adjust my work schedule, cooking, cleaning, servicing you, as a function of your schedule."

There was something about the way he said "servicing" me that didn't sit right... "Servicing me? What do you mean?"

"As your roommate Aastha will not be back for some time, and because you are over the age of 18, I have the ability to personally serve your physical, mental, or intimate needs in whatever way you see fit."

Physical, mental, or intimate...How far could that go? As far as I allowed it?

"Whatever you do for me...Or TO me...Does anyone ever know? Like, the people from ARtech. Do they know what you do?"

"All of my actions, thoughts, and memories are anonymized. Mister Harris does not know which of my product line that you have, only that you're testing one of them. No one has the ability to associate your identity with my actions."

That made me feel a lot better. Countless fantasies ran through my head, dreams of things I'd always wanted to ask, stupid questions that Aastha would never seriously answer...If I was going to do this, I needed to be comfortable.

"Ok. I want you to do a few things for me."

"Certainly, Miss Kiley."

"Number one...I need to give you a name. I can't just keep calling you 'he' or 'the robot butler.' If this is gonna last for a while, you've gotta have a name."

I pondered on a name for a bit, pacing in the kitchen. "If you could be called anything you wanted, what would you be?"

His answer, like every other answer he gave me, was almost instantaneous as soon as I finished my sentence. His pause to "think", whether he really thought or pretended to, would not betray his circuitry.

"My identification number is G5740, Miss Kiley."

That...gave me pretty much nothing to work with. Except the letter "G".

"How about Gustav? I've never really met a Gustav before, and you kind of look like one," I said as I sized him up. I was kind of a literal person at times.

"I will respond to the name Gustav if that is what you wish, Miss Kiley."

All right. We were getting somewhere.

My next trick was so risky, so crazy, all my inner voices were on high alert, telling me that this was a bad idea.

"So soon?" said my anxiety. "You barely know this thing!"

"What if he tells Mr. Harris about what you're going to do?" cried my fears.

I shut them out. No one was going to know. This was my decision. It was winter break, after all, and I had nothing better to do. I might as well get to learn more about myself...And the android that I'd be spending at least a couple of weeks with.

"Number two...Carry me to my bed."

In a couple of paces he came behind me and scooped me up in his arms. His left arm supported my legs, and his right held my shoulders. My short frame must have been like carrying feathers to his large build.

I stared into his eyes, which looked unblinkingly ahead of him, as he gently laid me down on my bed.

My bedroom was average size, a twin bed, a desk, a dresser, and a square window taking up most of one wall. I had a closet where random dresses, books, and assorted items had ended up.

"Gustav...please close the window blinds."

He did so in one motion, easily manipulating the pull string that I constantly fought with. He seemed to know my bedroom much better than I did.

"Gustav..." I swallowed. There was no going back from this. I'd never really get another chance to do this. And why wait? I'd already spent so much time with him...with Gustav. I'd established trust and safety and security with him. Even though those interactions seemed impersonal, he knew so much about me. He wanted to help me.

And he said he couldn't do anything I didn't ask him to.

What did I have to lose, but my clothes?

Upon asking him to strip me naked, he began with my socks, slowly pulling them off. I wiggled my toes in the cool air. The leggings that I had been wearing came off shortly thereafter, his long arms pulling them, folding them, and putting them on top of my dresser.

I'd been wearing a bulky sweater that Gustav unraveled from me, pulling my arms up above my head in order to do so. Feeling his hands on me, moving me around, stripping me, felt weird. Not in a bad way. But in an almost calming way.

I'd never felt like this before, never felt the urge, never felt safe enough to try it.

And now I was jumping headfirst into it. With a robot, no less.

With a push and pull, my bra released my breasts from their captivity, letting them swing like pendulums. I was fortunate to have breasts that were just the right size: not super small, and not super large. They could fit in my hands, and in most bras that I found at the store.

Gustav's hands laid me flat on my back, and peeled off my underwear, pulling at the elastic until it left my toes with a final "snap!"

And then I was naked. Staring at my robot, who'd just stripped me naked. Because I'd asked him to. Because he had to. Because he was so gentle and careful when he did it. Because his voice oozed with confidence and trust. I had no reason to think he'd ever do me wrong.

"Gustav?"

"Yes, Miss Kiley?"

"Can I...sit in your lap? And can you hold me?"

"Certainly, Miss Kiley."

Gustav came behind me, climbing onto the bed and resting his back on my pillows. He positioned my back to rest upon his chest, with my legs resting parallel to his. Inside of his.Gustav's arms wrapped around my stomach, resting just above my crotch.

He was so warm. And so soft. How could a robot be so lifelike?

Well, I really had no frame of reference for sitting in a guy's lap. Or being naked in front of one. It's just something I'd seen so many people do on social media. Without the nudity, obviously! I'd always wanted to try it...To feel the weight of someone else so close to mine. Taking over mine.

And Gustav smelled nice...Really nice. I didn't know that he ever really had a fragrance about him, as I'd never gotten this close to him. But now that he was all around me, the smell of lilac wafted through my nostrils.

Did all boys smell this nice?

"How are you feeling, Miss Kiley?"

With a soft whisper, I mumbled something that sounded like "Relaxed."

"That is good to hear, Miss Kiley. Is there anything else you would like me to do?"

His voice was so loud, so strong. But it was not fitting the mood. My mood. Or, rather, lack of a mood.

"First thing...Could you talk a little softer?"

"Yes, Miss Kiley," he gently replied.

"And second...just relax."

"Of course. Miss Kiley, are you enjoying this?"

"Please shut up and just let me relax."

Gustav didn't say a word after that. I just sat in his embrace. I watched the light play in the window, dancing inside the curtain. All that separated me from the world was some walls and a curtain. It was kind of exciting to think about. To dream about.

All the tension in my muscles, the worries about this android costing a fortune, what I'd do without him, what he might do to me, all seemed to evaporate from me. I could feel my eyelids getting heavy. When was the last time I'd taken a nap during the day?

It was getting harder to keep them open. What was I looking at? What was I trying to stay awake for?

---

As it turns out, there was a pretty good reason for staying awake. Going to sleep and waking up naked in the arms of a man, without immediately remembering how you got there, can be pretty jarring.

Lucky for me, Gustav let me go as soon as I came back to my senses and nearly jumped out of my skin.

After catching my breath from the scare, I asked no one in particular: "How long...?"

"You were asleep for four hours, forty-one minutes, and twenty-six seconds, Miss Kiley," Gustav politely replied.

Five hours. Wow. I must have been tired. It must have been, what, seven at night?

"The time is now six forty-five in the evening, Miss Kiley."

Huh. Gustav was learning after all.

I stretched out on my bed, at the opposite end from where Gustav was. Now he was standing, taking in my whole body as I lay prone. Almost vulnerable.

"What would you like me to do, Miss Kiley?" he gently asked.

"Could you...make me dinner?"

"Certainly. What do you want to eat?"

"Anything. Something quick. I don't really care."

"Of course. I'll prepare something right away. I will come for you when it's ready."

His voice hadn't lost its energy, while my mind was still a million miles away. My eyes looked down at my body, barely paying attention to anything going on around me.

Why was I so far in the closet? What was it about my stubbornness with boys, girls, anything remotely sexual? I didn't understand what I was feeling at all.

Everything about leaning into someone, feeling their arms around me, felt so good. But to give someone that responsibility felt like it needed a huge amount of trust.

Well...Gustav was a robot. He could only do what I asked him to. At worst, he might extrapolate from something I'd said or done. But he couldn't break my heart, embarrass me, or really hurt me.

Is that why I'd practically jumped into bed with him? Asking him to hold me?

Why did I care so much? It's not like anyone else cared about what I did. Why should I be so conscious of what I should or shouldn't do?

A sandwich found its way onto my bed. I bit into it, barely tasting the texture or taste. I thanked Gustav for the delicious sandwich nonetheless.

"Miss Kiley, you seem distracted," Gustav inquired.

"I do?" I tried to reply with a mouthful of sandwich in my mouth. What came out sounded more like "Myyh Mhoooh?"

"Miss Kiley, was your request to nap in my arms the first time you'd ever been naked in front of a man?"

I don't know if I considered Gustav a man. That was quite a strange way to phrase the question.

"I...Yeah. I'd never really done that before. Ever."

"And did you like it?"

"I did. A lot. I felt calm. Really calm."

"And you've never felt that way before?"

"No. If I ever want to relieve stress, I normally go work out or run or something."

Gustav looked away for a moment, as if he was thinking. It didn't make sense for him to be thinking this long, as he was capable of making calculations and decisions at a fraction of the speed it would take me. What was he doing?

"Miss Kiley..." This came out slowly. "Do you know what an orgasm is?"

"Uhh...No." I looked up at him quizzically. "I mean, I've seen the word on the Internet, but I've never had to really understand what it meant."

"Orgasms are another way of relieving stress and tension." Gustav sat down on the bed, turning towards me to look at me closely. "It's a pleasurable experience often associated with sex and sensation."

Pleasurable? Sex? Sensation? I obviously knew what sex and pleasure were. But I never thought of them as going together. Whenever my friends talked about it, it always sounded stressful. Girls would always complain about bad sex. Having to fake an orgasm, whatever that meant. Kind of the opposite of what Gustav was saying.

"But, uh, I've never had sex before. What does an orgasm have to do with that and pleasure?"

"Would you like me to show you?"

---

Strong hands pulled at my nipples. Tweaking them. Kneading my breasts. Holding them. Playing with them.

This felt so good. So incredibly awesome! And it was my own body, and I could do it whenever I wanted!

However, it felt a lot nicer when someone was doing it for me.

Gustav and I sat in bed, my body resting in his lap again, as his hands explored my breasts.

"Your nipples rest atop your areola. They are the most sensitive parts of your breasts."