The Massage Robot

Author's note: This is one of my longer stories and it's a bit of a slow burn, but I'm pretty sure it's worth it.

***

One of the perks of my job is that I get to choose my own hours. For me the best thing about this is being able to make it to the gym during the mid-afternoon sweet spot when it's nice and quiet. On this particular day I was in a good mood and looking forward to dressing down to my yoga pants and tuning out for an hour or so. I always loved coming to the gym, and I was looking forward to getting in a good sweat and feeling strong and energised.

As I made my way to the cardio machines, I spotted a familiar face out of the corner of my eye. It was Amber, a fellow gym goer who seemed to be about my age, and sort of a friend given that she always seemed to be in the gym around the same time as me and we always said hi. Amber was fit and athletic, with long wavy brown hair and a bright smile. I admired her dedication and discipline, how she was always pushing herself to be better.

I had always wanted to know more about Amber, and I remembered that she had once told me that she was some kind of engineer. She hadn't given me any details though, and I had always been a little curious about what kind of work she did.

After I finished my session on the cross trainer I spotted her again. She was on the treadmill, absolutely killing it as usual, with sweat dripping down her face and a determined look in her eyes. The form fitting jumpsuit she was wearing hugged her curves in all the right places, showcasing her figure. I made my way over to the weight room and started my own routine, stealing glances at her every now and then. She had always been an inspiration to me, and I confess I was also a little jealous of her, and a little intimidated.

After finishing up my workout, I decided to say hello to Amber before heading home. As I approached her, she smiled and greeted me warmly. "Hey Cat! How's your workout going?" she asked.

"It's going great, thanks for asking," I replied. "I saw you going for it over there and I knew that meant I didn't have any excuse to slack off."

"Aw, thank you Cat," she said with a chuckle. "I'm happy to be of help. I know how hard it can be to find the time and energy to work out, especially with everything else going on in our lives."

"Oh," I said, "now that reminds me. I've always been curious since you told me that you were an engineer. You never said what sort of engineering."

Amber grinned and shook her head. "Oh, I'm a robotics engineer," she said.

"Oh wow!" I said. "Who do you work for?"

"I work for me." Amber said, an amused smile on her face. "It's one of those situations where your hobby gets out of hand and all of a sudden you're an entrepreneur."

I couldn't believe it. A robotics engineer! I had never met anyone like Amber before, and I was fascinated. "That sounds amazing," I said. "I've always been interested in technology, but I've never really considered engineering as a career. What sort of things do you engineer?"

"I work on all sorts of projects," Amber said. "Right now, I'm really excited about a new massage robot I'm developing. It's designed to provide comprehensive full-body massages, using multiple arms and different techniques to target different areas of the body. It's really state-of-the-art."

I was amazed. "That sounds incredible," I said. "I've never heard of anything like that before. I can't wait to try it out."

Amber seemed to think for a moment, then she said. "Do you want to give it a try? I'm actually working with the gym and I have the robot set up in a back room here. I've had it working now for a couple of weeks and I'd love to get your feedback."

I couldn't believe my ears. "Are you serious?" I asked, my heart racing with excitement. "I would love to try it out! Thank you so much for offering."

"Of course," Amber said, grinning. "Come on, I'll show you."

Had she known that I'm a total massage junkie? She had definitely chosen the best time to ask me, with my muscles feeling heavy from the time I'd just spent with the weights.

I followed Amber to the back of the gym and to one of the doors I'd never seen opened. She held up an RFID card to a reader to unlock the door, opened it and ushered me inside. There was a privacy screen just inside the door so I couldn't see anything immediately. I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and curiosity, but when I stepped around the corner I was blown away by what I saw.

The small room was minimalist and clinical and everything was matt white and spotless. The soft lighting in the room came from strip lights along the walls, and when the door closed I realised that the whole room must also be soundproofed. When Amber had said engineering and robots I had expected to see boxes and cables everywhere, but apart from a large touch screen control panel at waist height there was only one other piece of furniture in the room.

There was a complex padded table in the centre, and it was immediately clear that this was the focus of the room. What drew the eye, however, was the robot mounted to the ceiling above the table. It had more arms than I could count, and it looked a bit like a giant spider, though it too was white, minimalist, and spotless. It was clear that this was a highly advanced piece of technology, and I couldn't wait to see it in action.

"Did you make all of this?" I asked Amber, my eyes wide with awe.

"Yes, I did," she replied with a smile. "Well, I bought a lot of the parts off-the-shelf and 3D printed the rest. I have robots making robots, welcome to the future."

"It looks so professional." I said, still taking it all in.

"Thanks. I've been working with the gym to make sure everything looks good and the experiences feel right for clients. I know how important it is to have a space that is comfortable and welcoming, and I wanted to make sure that this room fit that bill."

She swiped her keycard over the control panel and it lit up with a friendly looking user interface.

"It's very easy to use. It's all controlled by a very sophisticated human interaction artificial intelligence based system and that takes care of the massage program. All you have to do is choose a program - see here: 'Post-Workout Recovery Massage'" she tapped an option on the screen. "You don't have any injuries or medical conditions do you?"

"Not really."

"Great." She tapped another option. "And, you're good to go."

The screen flashed up green and I heard a warm artificial female voice say "Thankyou. Please stand on the platform and enjoy your massage."

"Oh, and remove your shoes." Amber said.

As I kicked off my trainers, I scanned the room for the platform. I spotted a circular pad next to the table, marked with the outlines of two feet facing away from the table. Until now I had been excited, but now as I looked up at the robot arms my nerves started to kick in.

"I stand here?" I asked, trying to steady my voice.

"Yep. Right there. Facing this way," Amber replied.

I looked at the robot again, then at the table. I couldn't figure out how I would even get onto the complex machine, let alone lie on it.

"What's going to happen?" I asked nervously.

"You'll see. I think it's quite fun," Amber said with a reassuring smile.

I took a deep breath and stepped onto the platform, starting to wonder what I had got myself into.

"I love this part" Amber said.

The robot arms were completely silent and I never heard them coming down behind me. When they touched me I was so surprised that I froze, not sure what to do. Padded manipulators gently wrapped around my arms and thighs and before I knew it I was being lifted off the ground. My heart raced with nerves as I was turned around and placed face down onto the table.

I gasped as the table re-shaped itself to comfortably hold my body. It was such a strange and unexpected sensation, but I couldn't deny that it was also kind of cool. As the arms released me I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement mixed with a little bit of fear. I had never experienced anything like this before and I had no idea what to expect.

"Umm..." I said.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine," Amber reassured me. "Just relax and let the robot do its thing. Trust me, it's going to feel amazing."

I took another deep breath and tried to let go of my nerves. There was a ring-shaped headrest in front of my face and I let my head settle onto it. It was actually very comfortable.

I felt more robot arms touch my body. They were so gentle and precise, carefully making their way over my back, my shoulders, and down my arms. I could feel them touching me in all sorts of places, and the sensation was unlike anything I had ever felt before.

"They're performing a scan," Amber explained. "They're using sensors to detect any areas of tension or stress in your muscles, so they know how to tailor the massage program to your needs."

I nodded, still feeling a little bit overwhelmed. I couldn't believe how advanced the technology was.

I could feel when the massage began. Some kind of rollers or ball-shaped attachments start to gently knead my neck and shoulders, working out any knots or tension in the muscles. There were several of them, and some worked a particular spot, whilst others started to roll up and down my back. I let out a little sigh of relief as I felt the knots start to loosen under the robot's touch.

"Oh that's the good stuff." I heard myself saying.

"Good huh?" Amber said.

I let out a little yelp as I was surprised by the distinctive buzz of a sports massage gun tip start pummelling one of my buttocks. The vibration and pressure were intense, but in a good way. It was soon joined by two more, and like the other arms these started to move over my body seeming to focus on specific muscle groups in my back, arms, and legs. I was surprised by how precise and targeted the massage felt, and I couldn't help but let out a little moan as the robot worked out a particularly stubborn knot in my back.

As the robot extended its massage down the back of my legs, I couldn't help but wonder why I had to be picked up and placed on the table by the robot arms instead of just lying on it myself. I turned my head to Amber and asked her about it.

"You'll find out," she replied with a smile.

Before I had a chance to ask any more questions, the robot's arms gently wrapped around me again, gripping me by the arms and thighs. I felt a little disoriented as I was lifted off the table, but the robot was so gentle that it didn't feel scary at all. In fact, it was kind of cool to be handled by a robot in this way. As I was turned over, the table re-configured itself again, this time to fit my body in a different position. I felt the cool surface against my skin as I was placed back down on the table.

The robot's manipulator arms released me and I took a deep breath, trying to take in everything that was happening. Now I could see what was going on and I watched in amazement as the robot's arms worked on my body. There was so much happening at once that it was almost overwhelming. The massage guns were buzzing away on my thighs, and a pair of manipulators were kneading my shoulders with gentle, precise movements. It was a strange sensation, feeling all of these different things happening to me at once, but it was also kind of amazing.

"The robot needs to be able to re-position you anyway," Amber explained, "so it makes sense to get you used to the idea of being manipulated by it right from the beginning."

I could feel a gentle vibration under my back and the seat and the surface was definitely getting warm, which felt very pleasant. My arms were sitting on padded armrests that had lifted up from the table. Two of the massage gun arms moved in and started to buzz their way gently down each arm.

"Wanna see something cool?" Amber said.

"Hmmm?" I was so lost in the sensation of the massage that I had barely noticed her words.

"Try moving one of your arms away from the armrest," she said.

I turned my head to look at her and then followed her suggestion, lifting one of my arms off of the armrest. I was surprised when one of the robot's manipulator arms zoomed in and gently placed my arm back on the armrest.

"Wow," I said, feeling a little bit shocked by the robot's quick reaction.

"Yeah, the robot is programmed to react to any movement out of position," Amber explained. "It will even hold you in position if necessary."

Feeling a little bit bolder, I decided to try moving my leg. I lifted it off of the table and swung it over to the side. Just as I expected, one of the robot's manipulator arms quickly moved in to gently place my leg back in position on the table. I couldn't help but laugh at how precise and efficient the robot was.

I wondered what would happen if I tried to get off the table. Quickly I pushed myself up and went to swing my legs over the side. I had barely moved a few inches when multiple manipulator arms moved in and gently but firmly placed me back in position on the table. I laughed nervously as I realised that there was no way for me to get off the table. The robot seemed to be programmed to keep me in position no matter what I did. It was a strange feeling to be held in place like this, but it wasn't uncomfortable or frightening. The manipulator ams had already let go of me and would leave me be as long as I stayed put.

I looked over at Amber, who was watching me with a look of amusement on her face. "Pretty cool huh? The robot takes care of everything, and it'll put you wherever it needs you to be. You literally don't need to pay any attention at all, in fact you could even go to sleep and the robot won't care, it will just carry on. I've done that a couple of times."

"What if I want it to stop?" I asked.

"Say 'pause'."

"Pause."

Instantly the robot stopped what it was doing. At that moment it had been using a pair of its manipulators to stretch out my left leg whilst a massage gun worked one of my calves. I felt my leg drop out of the robot's grip back onto the table.

"See? That easy." Amber said. "You can also say 'stop' or 'end massage' if you want the massage to end. But I suggest you just enjoy the rest of the program, you're nearly done. Say 'resume'."

With a smile, I said "resume" and the robot immediately sprang back into action. It was actually quite reassuring how responsive the robot was to my voice commands. I felt the gentle kneading of the manipulator arms on my neck and shoulders once again, and the buzz of the massage guns on my legs and arms. I closed my eyes and relaxed back into the massage, letting the robot do all the work.

Amber was explaining that the robot had a tonne of safety features with safeguards in the event of a fire alarm, or a power cut but I was basically putty in the robot's hands at this point and I wasn't really paying too much attention.

As the robot continued its massage, it started to focus on my scalp. One of the manipulators was supporting my head and I felt the gentle touch of some kind of attachment moving through my hair, massaging my scalp with just the right amount of pressure. It was a strange sensation, feeling the robot moving through my hair, but it was also surprisingly relaxing. I felt a big grin spread across my face.

Too soon the massage came to an end. As the robot stopped its movements, I felt it lift me up off the table. I was a little bit disoriented as I was turned around and gently placed back onto the pad where I had started. The robot's manipulator arms released me and I took a deep breath, trying to take in everything that had just happened.

I looked over at Amber, who was smiling at me. "Well, how was it?" she asked.

"It was amazing," I replied, still a little bit in awe. "I've never experienced anything like it before. Those arms were so gentle and precise, and I could feel them working out all of my knots and tension. I feel like I could take on the world now."

Amber chuckled. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. You should feel pretty relaxed now."

I nodded and tried to step off of the platform, but I was so spaced out and relaxed that I nearly fell flat on my face. Amber jumped forward and grabbed me by the arm, steadying me.

"Whoa, take it easy there." she said, laughing. "I think I really have to figure out that dismount procedure. I've nearly done that myself a few times."

"Can I use the robot again sometime?" I asked, suddenly feeling a little bit nervous. "I really enjoyed that massage and I'd love to have another one."

"Of course you can!" Amber replied with a smile. "In fact, I was hoping you would. I'm working on getting the robot available for hire, and I really need people like you to try all the different programs and give me feedback on them. That way I can make sure everything is perfect before we open up to the public."

"Oh, I'd be happy to help with that," I said, feeling relieved and excited at the same time. "I'm just a little worried about how much it will cost to use the robot."

"Don't worry about that right now," Amber said, waving her hand dismissively. "I'm just glad to have someone who is willing to test it out and give me honest feedback. Here, take this card. It will open the door to the room and allow you to access the robot. It's pretty intuitive to use, just follow the instructions on the screen. Just drop me a text message when you want to come in and use it. I'll let Andy know that you're one of my testers, so nobody will bother you."

I knew Andy, he was one of the lead personal trainers at the gym. Amber handed me a small plastic card and I took it gratefully, feeling a surge of excitement at the thought of being able to use the robot again. I couldn't wait to try out all the different programs and see what the robot was capable of.

As I walked home I couldn't help but smile and remember the sensation of the robot's massage guns buzzing away on my muscles and the gentle warmth of the table under my back. I had no idea what kind of magic Amber and the robot had worked on me, but I felt like a new person. I couldn't wait to come back and experience it again.

For some reason I also couldn't help but think of the sensation of soft but firm robot hands closing around my arms and legs, irresistibly moving my body to where they wanted it to be, but I just suppressed a giggle and shrugged that thought away.

***

I woke up the next day absolutely buzzing. Every single muscle in my body felt like it had been expertly kneaded and worked out by the robot masseur. I couldn't stop thinking about it and I really wanted to go back and try it out again. I couldn't believe how quickly I had become obsessed with the thing.

I wondered if it was too soon to go back. I didn't want to seem too eager, but I also didn't want to wait too long and miss out on the chance to use it again. In the end, I decided to text Amber and see if she had any availability that day for me to come in and use the robot again.

I sent her a message. I tried to play it cool, but I'm pretty sure she could tell that I was practically begging.

To my delight, Amber responded almost immediately with a message saying that she wouldn't be around that day, so I was welcome to use the robot any time that suited me. She said she was really looking forward to hearing my feedback on the different programs, and she reminded me to bring the RFID card so I could access the room.

I couldn't believe my luck. I practically danced around my bedroom as I got dressed in my favourite leggings and sports bra. I knew I was going to have an amazing time at the gym today, and I couldn't wait to get started.

When I arrived at the gym it felt strange to be back there so soon. As I walked through the main area I couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious, like everyone was looking at me, knowing exactly what I was up to. I tried to shake off the feeling and remind myself that no one else knew about the robot.