Part 9
"So… who do you want to be on your day off?"
Jane's bright smile warmed the room as she walked to the armoire and opened one of the top drawers, revealing an array of rubber garments and accessories that caught the morning light.
"The only rule is you need twelve hours out of your suit. Anything else is up to you." She ran her fingers across the various items. "You can stay naked and let your skin breathe, go comfy casual, or stay a little more 'on theme.' It's really up to you."
Alex, still recovering from her emotional drop, felt excitement brewing inside her. Her hands still trembled slightly, a hollow ache in her chest slowly filling with warmth as Jane's joy proved infectious, helping shake off the aftereffects of her breakdown.
"I… maybe something like what Ani was wearing?" Alex's cheeks flushed slightly.
Ani's off-duty outfit, sporty and cute, had made Alex feel things she wasn't quite ready to name.
"I think we can arrange something like that." Jane pulled out a pair of rubber boy shorts. "Here, try these. Lube's right there on the counter."
Alex squirted the silicone into her palm and rubbed it into the rubber shorts, marveling at how quickly they went from sticky to buttery smooth. The material slid over itself between her fingers, warming instantly to her touch, and suddenly a familiar warmth ran through her. Her mind flashed to the last two days, rubber gliding over rubber, that distinctive squeak-slide sound, being trapped and used, feeling so incredibly intoxicated with arousal. Heat rose to her chest, her cheeks burning, her breath catching as the scent of latex filled her nostrils.
"Hey, Alex." Jane said, looking up at Alex, and seeing her already lost in the reverie of playing with the smooth rubber shorts. "Oh, you're so cute…" Jane's voice was gentle. "I know, babe. Me too. But stay with me. Just slide them on."
Alex smiled sheepishly and stepped into the shorts, feeling them glide up her smooth legs with just enough resistance to make her shiver. The rubber gripped her skin, warming instantly as it molded to her body temperature, before snugging perfectly over her privates. They hugged her curves and bottom like they were made for her, somewhere between panties and boxer shorts, the material creating a gentle pressure that made her hyperaware of every movement.
"And then maybe something like this." Jane held up what looked like a rubber sports bra.
Alex nodded, and Jane handed it over. Following the same routine, Alex lubed the top, getting slightly lost in the sensation before snapping back and sliding it on. It was tight and slightly binding, molding perfectly to her chest.
"There." Jane stepped back to admire. "Now you're decent, but we've got all my other outfits and gear at your disposal. We're gonna have a little wholesome fun with some of the other drones today, so you get to design your fit. We can go flirty and femme, or industrial techno… The only rule is we gotta keep you out of the full suit for twelve hours. Give your mind and body just a little bit of time to breathe."
Alex sighed, looking at herself in the mirror, sporty, cute, slightly androgynous. She loved the shine of the sports bra and shorts catching the light.
Despite everything they'd shared, the thought of playing dress-up with Jane still made her shy. Part of her wanted to take control, to choose for herself, but a deeper part—the part that had spent two days in blissful submission—craved Jane's decisions, Jane's approval.
"Could…" she stammered. "Could you dress me the way you'd want me?"
"Oh, absolutely." Jane's eyes lit up behind her visor. "How do I want my sweet Alex when she's not in drone mode? I think… yes, perfect."
She pulled out thigh-high rubber stockings and fingerless rubber gauntlets.
"I think these would do nicely. A little bit of cute femme energy. What do you think?"
Alex bit her lip and nodded, blushing again. She loved how Jane saw her, how playful she was. She loved being cared for and dressed. She just wanted to be Jane's perfect thing.
Jane helped her lube and roll the stockings, then pushed her gently so Alex sat on the bed's edge.
"Foot," she said, taking a knee in front of Alex.
Alex presented her foot, and Jane lovingly slid her toes into the stocking's bottom. The rubber caught slightly on her skin before the lube took effect, then glided up with delicious resistance. Jane's fingers pressed into her calf muscles as she smoothed the material, working out every air bubble, the warmth of her hands transmitting through the thin latex. Jane rolled it sensuously up her leg, past her knee, over her thigh. Alex felt herself drifting into that deep, submissive arousal she'd lived in for the last two days, her breathing deepening, the rubber creaking softly with each inhale. She moaned softly.
"Not yet, sweetheart. Other foot."
Despite telling Alex it wasn't playtime, Jane seemed to take extra time and pleasure rolling the second stocking, her fingers drifting up the inside of Alex's thigh as she smoothed it tight. Alex looked down at her legs, now gleaming from thigh to toe, the cute black and white striped detail at the top catching her eye.
She flexed her toes and wriggled, loving the feeling.
"Now the gauntlets. Right arm."
Alex pressed her arm down into the tube, feeling her thumb and fingers pop free. The rubber reached just to her elbow. Then the other arm.
"Like a cute little rubber fembot. How do you feel?"
"I love it," Alex said, turning to the mirror. She twisted her hip, lifted her foot, admiring herself from different angles.
She felt fucking adorable, and she couldn't believe it was her reflection looking back.
Jane approached from behind, pressing her rubber-covered body against Alex. Rubber sliding against rubber, heat building instantly between the layers as they molded together. The thrill was electric, every point of contact sending sparks through Alex's nervous system, and she instinctively pushed back against Jane's hips, feeling the rubber slide and grip in equal measure.
"Now accessories."
Jane opened another drawer, revealing various collars, manacles, chains, and straps.
"How about a simple set of cuffs and a collar? Something cute and feline? Seems about right for you today."
Alex felt her breath deepen and nodded, knowing Jane could see her arousal spiking through the HUD.
"You know," Jane said, buckling one of the thin rubber cuffs around Alex's arm, the material compressing slightly before finding its perfect fit, effectively locking the gauntlet in place. "I think maybe I'll just keep the keys for these."
She clicked a lock through the locking buckle with a grin. The metallic snick echoed in the quiet room, final and absolute.
"Ohhh," Jane purred as Alex's expression slackened, her pupils dilating, her eyes going heavy-lidded, her lips parting slightly. "There's my sweet little drone, so lost in it, just aching to be locked in. Just my plaything, huh? Well, just because you're out of the suit doesn't mean we can't have a little fun with that."
She clicked the second buckle, another definitive snick, and Alex moaned again, her knees weakening slightly, catching herself against the dresser.
Jane held up the collar, and Alex lifted her chin, letting Jane wrap it around her neck. The material was soft and supple, feeling right against her skin. Jane buckled it closed, but not too tight.
"How does it feel to wear my collar?"
"It feels like home."
The words came unbidden, but they were true. To be Jane's thing, collared and locked, dressed exactly how Jane wanted, this felt safe and calm and protected. It felt more like home than anywhere had in a very long time.
"Oh, you do know how to push my buttons." Jane pressed harder against Alex's backside, gripping her hips, one arm wrapping around her stomach while the other ran across her chest. "'Home,' like you could just live here as my toy. Fuck. That sounds so perfect."
She turned Alex's chin and kissed her deeply. Alex turned in the embrace to kiss back, feeling Jane's rubber body press against her, that deep carnal longing rising. She was ready to take Jane right there, but Jane had other ideas.
"Now that you're presentable, we have plans today. Ready to go meet the other drones while you're off duty?"
Alex was sad to break the embrace, disappointed it wasn't time for play, but she trusted that Jane and the AI had her best interests in mind.
She smiled and nodded.
"All right." Jane opened the door and they walked into the hallway. Early morning sun gleamed through the loft's windows, and the incredible smell of a farm breakfast filled the air. Alex's stomach grumbled hard, she'd barely eaten since arriving.
"Oh, I hear that. Just wait… This will taste like the best meal of your life. We can get a little distracted as drones and forget to take care of our bodies. After a good long fast, there's nothing better than one of Sam's breakfasts. Come on."
They padded down to the kitchen where Sam was working at the stove.
"Hey, good morning, " Sam's eyes widened as she saw Alex out of her drone uniform. "Oh my God. Wait, wait, wait."
She moved the pan from the burner and came around the counter.
"Let me get a look at you. Oh my God, I love this outfit." Sam circled Alex excitedly, taking in every detail, the way the stockings caught the light, how the gauntlets framed Alex's arms. Sam stopped in front of Alex, taking in her face without the mask for the first time. She looked at Jane. "And Jane, you didn't tell us she was this cute! God, you're just adorable. We're gonna have so much fun. But breakfast! You must be starving."
"Ravenous," Alex admitted, suddenly aware of how desperately her body needed food.
"Well, don't worry, we're gonna fix you right up. Remember I was telling you about those eggs yesterday? Start with this."
Jane led Alex to a seat, and as she sat down, Sam slid a plate in front of her, two poached eggs with yellow hollandaise sauce draped artfully across them.
"Now watch," Sam said as she split the eggs with a knife.
They were perfectly poached, deep reddish-orange yolks with a jelly-like texture flowing out slightly.
"Organic, free-range, from a heritage breed at a local drone farm. A little sea salt, a little pepper, and my own hollandaise. Tell me what you think."
Alex had never really been a foodie. She ate when she needed to and didn't think much about it. But this was an exquisitely prepared bite made with love, grown with care, fresh off the stove and absolutely exploding with flavor.
Maybe it was the unintentional fast, or the love put into the meal, or the ingredients, but as soon as the first bite hit Alex's mouth, she melted. Her eyes fluttered closed, her jaw working slowly to savor every nuance of flavor, the yolk coating her tongue with rich, creamy texture. She moaned almost like she had last night, her whole body relaxing into the sensation.
"Eee! That's why I do it!" Sam squealed with delight. "Right? The best!"
"How? How is that so good?" Alex asked, her mouth still full and reeling with the flavor.
"It's the simple things, babe. You just enjoy that. I'll get the rest whipped right up."
For the next few minutes, Alex simply enjoyed as Sam and Jane pampered her. An incredible cold brew iced coffee that tasted like manna from the gods. Some of the droney-aid she'd had earlier, which satisfied a deep thirst.
Then Sam brought out the main courses, perfectly sautéed broccoli rabe, fried pork belly like the best bacon she'd ever had, and sautéed flank steak with a savory yet tangy sauce. Everything was artfully presented and complemented each other perfectly.
"The AI wants me to make sure you get enough protein today, but we've got to start you a little slow after your first long fast. So we'll come back around to this a little later. Satisfied for now?"
"Oh my God, I am stuffed." Alex laughed. "Sam, that was better than the best restaurant I've ever been to."
"Service is pleasure." Sam beamed, then looked Alex in the eyes and kissed her cheek. "I love making people happy," she said quietly, almost intimately, before returning to her cooking and dishes with a slight blush.
"Well, some creature comforts taken care of." Jane stretched. "We've still got about ten hours of you being off duty. There's a couple things we're supposed to take care of today. First, why don't we take a little drive? You can take me back to your place."
Alex looked up, feeling a pang of fear that started in her stomach and spread cold through her chest. Her breath caught, her fingers tightening on the edge of the table. She wasn't ready to face her old life. This had all felt like a magical dream, and the thought of her apartment, that tomb of her former existence, made her throat constrict.
"I…" she stammered, conflicted. She wanted to do what Jane asked, but this felt uncomfortable.
"I know…" Jane said, soothing Alex's worry. "You're here with us now, and it seems strange to think about what came before. Don't worry. You don't have to make big decisions today. This is just a touch point. A chance for you to grab anything you need, any meds, any favorite stuff. Sort of pack a day bag. And then, assuming you want to come back, you can stay with us as long as you like. Does that sound good?"
"Okay." Alex thought about it more. She couldn't imagine going back to her place alone right now. "I think it'd be… I think it'd be really helpful to have you there."
"I thought so. And we can throw your street clothes on over your outfit in case we bump into anybody."
Alex laughed roughly. "Oh, don't worry. I never see anyone around my place anyway. I don't think I even know my neighbors' names. You know what? I think it'd be kind of fun to go like this."
"Yeah?" Jane asked, smiling. "All right, rubber femme Alex and her loyal drone Jane romping around your old pad. Sounds kind of fun."
"Let's go get your stuff."
***
"I'll warn you, my place is a little bit of a mess," Alex said as they pulled up to her apartment complex.
Her old apartment, she corrected mentally. She'd already made up her mind, if they'd take her at the loft, that's where she wanted to stay.
She led Jane through the parking lot and into the rear entrance. The smell of dampness and pets and old sheetrock met her nose, and her outfit felt incongruous with the low-rent building. The yellow light of the hallway was complete with dirty floral linoleum tile and splotches of brown paint from the last time the railing was repainted.
She fumbled with the keys in the lock, then the deadbolt, finally letting them clack open. The door swung inward to reveal her apartment.
Jane followed silently, clad completely in her drone gear. To Alex, she looked like a visitor from some cyberpunk future, her gleaming black form an impossibility against the water-stained ceiling and peeling paint. The rubber clothes on Alex's own body made her feel powerful, sexy, transformed, the squeak of her thighs rubbing together as she walked a constant reminder of her new identity.
Her apartment wasn't nearly as messy as she'd made it sound, just a few dishes in the dish drainer and clothes on the floor by her bed.
"I'd like to clean up a little for you, if that's okay," Jane's voice came through the visor. "In case you don't come back for a while."
Alex smiled at Jane, her expression turning slightly wicked. She knew Jane would receive reward and pleasure for following a human's command.
"Take out my trash, drone. Then put away the dishes. Then meet me in my bedroom."
Jane moaned, her shoulders relaxing, rolling back as tension released, her head tilting back ever so slightly, the rubber of her suit creaking as her posture shifted into submissive acceptance.
Alex longed for that feeling, to be rewarded for following orders, to simply let go and do what was required. The absence of it left her feeling hollow, untethered, like a marionette with cut strings. It was fun to tease Jane, but Alex felt herself longing to be back in that state, that perfect simplicity where every action had purpose, every movement brought reward. She didn't want to be here making decisions. This was hard in a way that made her feel tired.
She looked around her apartment for anything she might need. She grabbed her favorite hoodie, but the thought of bringing other clothes to the drone house felt wrong somehow. She was a drone now, and rubber was the only fabric that should ever touch her skin.
The thought sent a wave of pleasure through her, not from the suit's stimulation, but from her own body. Her nipples hardened against the rubber bra, her breath quickening, heat pooling low in her belly. The idea that she wasn't allowed to wear human clothes anymore sent deep thrills through her core, each pulse of arousal entirely her own.
In her horny state, she wondered where Jane was, then spotted her dutifully taking out the trash, her movements efficient yet graceful, the rubber suit catching the dim apartment light as she bent to gather the bag. Jane moved to the sink, putting away the remaining dishes with careful precision, each movement deliberate and focused. Alex watched her work, just as she'd watched her so many times before at the market, stunned by her beauty, entranced by her form, longing to be her.
Alex grabbed her bag and tucked in her meds and her laptop, her favorite hoodie, and her favorite stuffed animal, a big floppy gray shark she hugged tight under her arm. A comfort tied to her transformations, and now she was transforming again.
"So what are we packing?" Jane asked, looking at the sparse collection.
Alex looked up at her, clutching her shark tighter, feeling the words bubble up from somewhere deep and certain. "Jane… what if I don't ever want to come back here?"
"Then I think," Jane said carefully, her visor tilting as she considered, "the AI and I might have just made you the quickest convert in history. Usually people need a little more time to…"
"I don't," Alex interrupted, the words coming out fierce and certain, her whole body vibrating with the truth of it. "I was already done with this life. It didn't have anything for me anymore. I was just marking time. Now with you and the collective, it feels like… it just feels like I know where I'm supposed to be. Like I finally found the shape I'm meant to fit into. So… Can I stay?"
"Sweetie… The answer is yes, but it's slightly more complicated. When you come to stay, you're fully enrolling in the program, committing to the training, to following the AI's orders, all of it. I know you're excited, and believe me, I want you to be part of our house, but there's a few more milestones that the AI will want you to get through."
Jane's hand found Alex's shoulder.
"What I can say is that you're welcome to stay with us as long as you like. It's just the AI will have you keep your apartment for a while, make sure you've got an exit hatch in case you need it. Some folks wake up after a while, as if this was all a bit of a dream and too much. And for others, after time, we just know it's right. Do you understand?"
"I do." Alex squeezed her shark tighter. "I don't think I'll change my mind, but I guess I appreciate you and the AI always keeping me safe."
"We never want to hurt you."
"I know… I trust you already."
Alex looked at the masked figure before her, feeling bold.
"Now, drone, lay with me and cuddle for a while."
Jane felt the thrill of the command run through her, the deep satisfaction of already wanting exactly that. Alex laid down on her bed, cuddling her stuffed shark, the smooth rubber of her outfit sliding over the covers with a soft whisper of latex on cotton. Jane slid in behind her, the bed creaking under their combined weight, rubber meeting rubber with that distinctive sound, part squeak, part sigh. Jane felt the electric thrill of the human's touch, the warmth building instantly between their pressed bodies, getting to hold her, comfort her, cuddle her while following a clear command. Rewards and pleasure coursed through Jane as Alex pressed back into her, Jane's hips rocking forward involuntarily, a soft moan escaping her mask.
They lay there for a while, Alex taking one last rest in her old bed, cuddled by a drone, by the woman she'd grown so attached to so quickly. She felt more safe and protected than she ever remembered feeling.
She closed her eyes and drifted in beautiful comfort.
"Hey, sweetie."
Jane's voice filtered through as Alex yawned and stretched, feeling Jane still behind her.
"I hate to wake you, you look so cute. But we've got more plans today, and if you've said goodbye here, we should head back."
"I'd like that."
With silent reverence, they walked through the apartment. Jane checked that everything was in order, powered down, and clean. Alex turned the deadbolt, then the door lock, and they walked to the car to begin the drive back.
"Okay, time to change the mood." Jane brightened as they pulled away. "Tell me about your favorite song when you were fifteen."
"Fifteen, huh? You're gonna make me embarrass myself."
"Listen, at fifteen, I thought I was some sort of fairy folk and was obsessed with Joni Mitchell. So I don't think you can top that."
"Don't it always seem to go, you don't know what you've got till it's gone," Alex sang, her voice beautifully mimicking Joni's falsetto.
"You know it?!"
"They paved paradise, put up a parking lot."
"Ooooh, lot, lot, lot" Jane sang with her, their voices harmonizing.
"Holy shit, you can sing too! Oh, Alex… honey, you can serenade me anytime. Well, now you know my secret. How about yours?"
"At fifteen? I was obsessed with pop-punk revival. There was this little band… Oh God, what was their name? Oh! South Arcade! Here…"
Alex touched the car's screen, pulled up a playlist, and a blue album appeared on the streaming service. Fast, upbeat guitars sounded, then the crash of drums, then an intense vocal reminiscent of young Gwen Stefani blared through the speakers.
Alex bopped in her seat, her rubber-clad body gliding against the car seat with each movement, drumming on the wheel as she drove. She sang "Take me to 2005!" along with the chorus, her whole body moving to the beat.
Jane watched with glee as Alex's mood turned bright, her spirit ebullient, the collar bouncing slightly with each enthusiastic head bob, looking like a teenager again. Dressed the way she was and bouncing in her seat with that energy, the rubber creaking and sliding with each movement, she reminded Jane of Ani.
It didn't take long to get back to the loft, and they were still smiling and talking as they entered.
"Hey hey, they're back!" Jay called out as they opened the door. "And look who's off duty… Hello, Alex!" Jay said, taking in his first view of Alex with her mask and hood off.
"Hello, Jay." Alex smiled up at him.
He was clad in his full drone gear but with his mask and hood off, his ice-blue eyes crinkling with warmth.
"Your just in time, festivities are about to start!"
"Festivities?" Alex asked.
"Like I said," Jane squeezed her shoulder, "the AI's got some plans for your first day off."