FembotWiki - User contributions [en]

File:Asheera test render.jpg

2025-02-28T18:06:36Z

Fection: Uploaded own work with UploadWizard

=={{int:filedesc}}==
{{Information
|description={{en|1=Someone said they preferred my 2D animations, so I've had a go at doing a 2D-style 3D character? Is this something worth pursuing?}}
|date=2025-02-28
|source={{own}}
|author=[[User:Fection|Fection]]
|permission=
|other versions=
}}

=={{int:license-header}}==
{{self|cc-by-sa-4.0}}

[[Category:Fection]]
[[Category:Malfunction]]

Fection

2022-12-09T14:13:19Z

Fection: /* Art */

=Manips=
<gallery>
File:Fection1.jpg
File:Fection4.jpg
File:Fection7.jpg
File:Fection10.jpg
File:Fection13.jpg
File:Fection12.jpg
File:Fection14.jpg
File:Fection15.jpg
File:Fection16.jpg
File:Fection18.jpg
File:Newsreader.jpg
File:HenWeekendHorseplay.png
</gallery>

=Art=
<gallery>
File:PerfectGirl.jpg
File:Amy the PerfectGirl.jpg
File:Fection5.jpg
File:Fection17.jpg
File:Lina.jpg
File:Meltdown.jpg
File:Post-9-219-Model Citizen.jpg
File:RoboDoll.jpg
File:Room Service.jpg
File:Stephanie L-Q-T.jpg
File:TheMagi.jpg
File:Ballerina.jpg
File:Ballerina2.jpg
File:Model Citizen.jpg
File:Industridoll.jpg
File:RoboGirl.jpg
File:Officer207.jpg
File:Candy maid.jpg
File:Fection9.jpg
File:Fection6.jpg
File:Candy initial 3D render.jpg
File:Candy processing 3D.jpg
File:Candy processing 02.jpg
</gallery>

=Animations=

*[[:File:Candy2000 - fection.swf|Candy2000]]
*[[:File:Fection2.swf|Fection2]]
*[[:File:Fection3.swf|Fection3]]

==Candybot007 - Worst Spy Ever==
<youtube>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T4jARiVDpI Candybot007 - Worst Spy Ever]</youtube>

==The PerfectGirl Project==
<youtube>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBciH_gH3Tg The PerfectGirl Project]</youtube>

==The Prototypists==
<youtube>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4L4HVrEvGg The Prototypists]</youtube>

=="A Thoughtless Vendetta"==
<youtube>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHnnsNtPyck A Thoughtless Vendetta]</youtube>
<gallery>
File:Vendetta still01.jpg
File:Vendetta still02.jpg
File:Vendetta still03.jpg
File:Vendetta still04.jpg
File:Vendetta still05.jpg
File:Vendetta still06.jpg
</gallery>

==A Thoughtless Vendetta 2: I, Candy==
<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSamLve-wyo</youtube>
<gallery>
File:I Candy screenshot 01.jpg
File:I Candy screenshot 02.jpg
File:I Candy screenshot 03.jpg
File:I Candy screenshot 04.jpg
File:I Candy05.jpg
File:I Candy06.jpg
File:I Candy07.jpg
File:I Candy08.jpg
File:I Candy09.jpg
File:I Candy10.jpg
File:I Candy11.jpg
File:I Candy12.jpg
File:I Candy13.jpg
File:I Candy14.jpg
File:I Candy15.jpg
File:I Candy16.jpg
</gallery>

{{Backtogallery}}

[[Category:Fection]]
[[Category:Photo manipulation]]
[[Category:2D art]]
[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:FembotWiki user galleries]]

File:Candy 3D 02.jpg

2022-12-09T14:12:42Z

Fection: Uploaded own work with UploadWizard

=={{int:filedesc}}==
{{Information
|description={{en|1=Latest render of Candy in 3D. If anyone knows how to generate animated smoke in Blender (and sparks, obviously) please let me know.}}
|date=2022-12-09 14:08:52
|source={{own}}
|author=[[User:Fection|Fection]]
|permission=
|other versions=
}}

=={{int:license-header}}==
{{self|cc-by-sa-4.0}}

[[Category:Fection]]

Fection

2022-12-09T14:10:39Z

Fection: /* Art */

=Manips=
<gallery>
File:Fection1.jpg
File:Fection4.jpg
File:Fection7.jpg
File:Fection10.jpg
File:Fection13.jpg
File:Fection12.jpg
File:Fection14.jpg
File:Fection15.jpg
File:Fection16.jpg
File:Fection18.jpg
File:Newsreader.jpg
File:HenWeekendHorseplay.png
</gallery>

=Art=
<gallery>
File:PerfectGirl.jpg
File:Amy the PerfectGirl.jpg
File:Fection5.jpg
File:Fection17.jpg
File:Lina.jpg
File:Meltdown.jpg
File:Post-9-219-Model Citizen.jpg
File:RoboDoll.jpg
File:Room Service.jpg
File:Stephanie L-Q-T.jpg
File:TheMagi.jpg
File:Ballerina.jpg
File:Ballerina2.jpg
File:Model Citizen.jpg
File:Industridoll.jpg
File:RoboGirl.jpg
File:Officer207.jpg
File:Candy maid.jpg
File:Fection9.jpg
File:Fection6.jpg
File:Candy initial 3D render.jpg
File:Candy processing 3D.jpg
File:Candy processing 02.jpg
File:Candy 3D 02.jpg
</gallery>

=Animations=

*[[:File:Candy2000 - fection.swf|Candy2000]]
*[[:File:Fection2.swf|Fection2]]
*[[:File:Fection3.swf|Fection3]]

==Candybot007 - Worst Spy Ever==
<youtube>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T4jARiVDpI Candybot007 - Worst Spy Ever]</youtube>

==The PerfectGirl Project==
<youtube>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBciH_gH3Tg The PerfectGirl Project]</youtube>

==The Prototypists==
<youtube>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4L4HVrEvGg The Prototypists]</youtube>

=="A Thoughtless Vendetta"==
<youtube>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHnnsNtPyck A Thoughtless Vendetta]</youtube>
<gallery>
File:Vendetta still01.jpg
File:Vendetta still02.jpg
File:Vendetta still03.jpg
File:Vendetta still04.jpg
File:Vendetta still05.jpg
File:Vendetta still06.jpg
</gallery>

==A Thoughtless Vendetta 2: I, Candy==
<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSamLve-wyo</youtube>
<gallery>
File:I Candy screenshot 01.jpg
File:I Candy screenshot 02.jpg
File:I Candy screenshot 03.jpg
File:I Candy screenshot 04.jpg
File:I Candy05.jpg
File:I Candy06.jpg
File:I Candy07.jpg
File:I Candy08.jpg
File:I Candy09.jpg
File:I Candy10.jpg
File:I Candy11.jpg
File:I Candy12.jpg
File:I Candy13.jpg
File:I Candy14.jpg
File:I Candy15.jpg
File:I Candy16.jpg
</gallery>

{{Backtogallery}}

[[Category:Fection]]
[[Category:Photo manipulation]]
[[Category:2D art]]
[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:FembotWiki user galleries]]

Fection

2021-03-15T10:10:20Z

Fection: /* Art */

Fection

2021-03-15T10:09:18Z

Fection: /* Art */

=Manips=
<gallery>
File:Fection1.jpg
File:Fection4.jpg
File:Fection7.jpg
File:Fection10.jpg
File:Fection13.jpg
File:Fection12.jpg
File:Fection14.jpg
File:Fection15.jpg
File:Fection16.jpg
File:Fection18.jpg
File:Newsreader.jpg
File:HenWeekendHorseplay.png
</gallery>

=Art=
<gallery>
File:PerfectGirl.jpg
File:Amy the PerfectGirl.jpg
File:Fection5.jpg
File:Fection17.jpg
File:Lina.jpg
File:Meltdown.jpg
File:Post-9-219-Model Citizen.jpg
File:RoboDoll.jpg
File:Room Service.jpg
File:Stephanie L-Q-T.jpg
File:TheMagi.jpg
File:Ballerina.jpg
File:Ballerina2.jpg
File:Model Citizen.jpg
File:Industridoll.jpg
File:RoboGirl.jpg
File:Officer207.jpg
File:Candy maid.jpg
File:Fection9.jpg
File:Fection6.jpg
File:Candy initial 3D render.jpg
File:Candy processing 3D.jpg
File:Candy processing 2.jpg
</gallery>

=Animations=

*[[:File:Candy2000 - fection.swf|Candy2000]]
*[[:File:Fection2.swf|Fection2]]
*[[:File:Fection3.swf|Fection3]]

==Candybot007 - Worst Spy Ever==
<youtube>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T4jARiVDpI Candybot007 - Worst Spy Ever]</youtube>

==The PerfectGirl Project==
<youtube>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBciH_gH3Tg The PerfectGirl Project]</youtube>

==The Prototypists==
<youtube>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4L4HVrEvGg The Prototypists]</youtube>

=="A Thoughtless Vendetta"==
<youtube>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHnnsNtPyck A Thoughtless Vendetta]</youtube>
<gallery>
File:Vendetta still01.jpg
File:Vendetta still02.jpg
File:Vendetta still03.jpg
File:Vendetta still04.jpg
File:Vendetta still05.jpg
File:Vendetta still06.jpg
</gallery>

==A Thoughtless Vendetta 2: I, Candy==
<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSamLve-wyo</youtube>
<gallery>
File:I Candy screenshot 01.jpg
File:I Candy screenshot 02.jpg
File:I Candy screenshot 03.jpg
File:I Candy screenshot 04.jpg
File:I Candy05.jpg
File:I Candy06.jpg
File:I Candy07.jpg
File:I Candy08.jpg
File:I Candy09.jpg
File:I Candy10.jpg
File:I Candy11.jpg
File:I Candy12.jpg
File:I Candy13.jpg
File:I Candy14.jpg
File:I Candy15.jpg
File:I Candy16.jpg
</gallery>

{{Backtogallery}}

[[Category:Fection]]
[[Category:Photo manipulation]]
[[Category:2D art]]
[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:FembotWiki user galleries]]

File:Candy processing 02.jpg

2021-03-15T10:08:30Z

Fection: Uploaded own work with UploadWizard

=={{int:filedesc}}==
{{Information
|description={{en|1=Another rough still from a 3D work in progress}}
|date=2021-03-15 10:01:29
|source={{own}}
|author=[[User:Fection|Fection]]
|permission=
|other versions=
}}

=={{int:license-header}}==
{{self|cc-by-sa-4.0}}

Fection

2020-07-31T10:45:42Z

Fection: /* Art */

=Manips=
<gallery>
File:Fection1.jpg
File:Fection4.jpg
File:Fection7.jpg
File:Fection10.jpg
File:Fection13.jpg
File:Fection12.jpg
File:Fection14.jpg
File:Fection15.jpg
File:Fection16.jpg
File:Fection18.jpg
File:Newsreader.jpg
File:HenWeekendHorseplay.png
</gallery>

=Art=
<gallery>
File:PerfectGirl.jpg
File:Amy the PerfectGirl.jpg
File:Fection5.jpg
File:Fection17.jpg
File:Lina.jpg
File:Meltdown.jpg
File:Post-9-219-Model Citizen.jpg
File:RoboDoll.jpg
File:Room Service.jpg
File:Stephanie L-Q-T.jpg
File:TheMagi.jpg
File:Ballerina.jpg
File:Ballerina2.jpg
File:Model Citizen.jpg
File:Industridoll.jpg
File:RoboGirl.jpg
File:Officer207.jpg
File:Candy maid.jpg
File:Fection9.jpg
File:Fection6.jpg
File:Candy initial 3D render.jpg
File:Candy processing 3D.jpg
</gallery>

=Animations=

*[[:File:Candy2000 - fection.swf|Candy2000]]
*[[:File:Fection2.swf|Fection2]]
*[[:File:Fection3.swf|Fection3]]

==Candybot007 - Worst Spy Ever==
<youtube>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T4jARiVDpI Candybot007 - Worst Spy Ever]</youtube>

==The PerfectGirl Project==
<youtube>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBciH_gH3Tg The PerfectGirl Project]</youtube>

==The Prototypists==
<youtube>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4L4HVrEvGg The Prototypists]</youtube>

=="A Thoughtless Vendetta"==
<youtube>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHnnsNtPyck A Thoughtless Vendetta]</youtube>
<gallery>
File:Vendetta still01.jpg
File:Vendetta still02.jpg
File:Vendetta still03.jpg
File:Vendetta still04.jpg
File:Vendetta still05.jpg
File:Vendetta still06.jpg
</gallery>

==A Thoughtless Vendetta 2: I, Candy==
<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSamLve-wyo</youtube>
<gallery>
File:I Candy screenshot 01.jpg
File:I Candy screenshot 02.jpg
File:I Candy screenshot 03.jpg
File:I Candy screenshot 04.jpg
File:I Candy05.jpg
File:I Candy06.jpg
File:I Candy07.jpg
File:I Candy08.jpg
File:I Candy09.jpg
File:I Candy10.jpg
File:I Candy11.jpg
File:I Candy12.jpg
File:I Candy13.jpg
File:I Candy14.jpg
File:I Candy15.jpg
File:I Candy16.jpg
</gallery>

{{Backtogallery}}

[[Category:Fection]]
[[Category:Photo manipulation]]
[[Category:2D art]]
[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:FembotWiki user galleries]]

File:Candy processing 3D.jpg

2020-07-31T10:41:33Z

Fection: User created page with UploadWizard

=={{int:filedesc}}==
{{Information
|description={{en|1=Another test still of animated 3D Candy, this one with alpha hair and skin reflections}}
|date=2020-07-31 11:37:13
|source={{own}}
|author=[[User:Fection|Fection]]
|permission=
|other versions=
}}

=={{int:license-header}}==
{{self|cc-by-sa-4.0}}

File:Candy initial 3D render.jpg

2020-07-25T11:03:52Z

Fection: User created page with UploadWizard

=={{int:filedesc}}==
{{Information
|description={{en|1=An initial render from a (hopefully) forthcoming 3D animation. Now I just need to write the script....}}
|date=2020-07-25 10:06:33
|source={{own}}
|author=[[User:Fection|Fection]]
|permission=
|other versions=
}}

=={{int:license-header}}==
{{self|cc-by-sa-4.0}}

Fection

2019-06-25T17:22:53Z

Fection: /* "Stills from "I, Candy" */

==Manips==
<gallery>
Image:Fection1.jpg
Image:Fection4.jpg
Image:Fection7.jpg
Image:Fection10.jpg
Image:Fection13.jpg
Image:Fection12.jpg
Image:Fection14.jpg
Image:Fection15.jpg
Image:Fection16.jpg
Image:Fection18.jpg
Image:Newsreader.jpg
Image:HenWeekendHorseplay.png
</gallery>

==Animations==
*[[Fection/Candy2000|Candy2000]]
*[[Fection/Fection2|Fection2]]
*[[Fection/Fection3|Fection3]]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T4jARiVDpI Candybot007 - Worst Spy Ever]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBciH_gH3Tg The PerfectGirl Project]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHnnsNtPyck A Thoughtless Vendetta]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4L4HVrEvGg The Prototypists]

==Stills from "A Thoughtless Vendetta"==
[[Image:vendetta_still01.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still02.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still03.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still04.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still05.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still06.jpg]]

=="Stills from "I, Candy"==
<gallery>
Image:I_Candy_screenshot_01.jpg
Image:I_Candy_screenshot_02.jpg
Image:I_Candy_screenshot_03.jpg
Image:I_Candy_screenshot_04.jpg
Image:I_Candy06.jpg
Image:I_Candy07.jpg
Image:I_Candy08.jpg
Image:I_Candy09.jpg
Image:I_Candy10.jpg
Image:I_Candy11.jpg
Image:I_Candy12.jpg
Image:I_Candy13.jpg
Image:I_Candy14.jpg
Image:I_Candy15.jpg
Image:I_Candy16.jpg
</gallery>

==Art==
<gallery>
Image:PerfectGirl.jpg
Image:Amy the PerfectGirl.jpg
Image:fection5.jpg
Image:Fection17.jpg
Image:Lina.jpg
Image:Meltdown.jpg
Image:Post-9-219-Model Citizen.jpg
Image:RoboDoll.jpg
Image:Room Service.jpg
Image:Stephanie L-Q-T.jpg
Image:TheMagi.jpg
Image:Ballerina.jpg
Image:Ballerina2.jpg
Image:Model_Citizen.jpg
Image:Industridoll.jpg
Image:RoboGirl.jpg
Image:officer207.jpg
Image:candy_maid.jpg
Image:Fection9.jpg
Image:Fection6.jpg
</gallery>

[[Gallery|Back to the gallery]]

[[Category:2D art]]
[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Fection]]
[[Category:Manips]]

Fection

2019-06-25T17:22:07Z

Fection: /* "Stills from "I, Candy" */

==Manips==
<gallery>
Image:Fection1.jpg
Image:Fection4.jpg
Image:Fection7.jpg
Image:Fection10.jpg
Image:Fection13.jpg
Image:Fection12.jpg
Image:Fection14.jpg
Image:Fection15.jpg
Image:Fection16.jpg
Image:Fection18.jpg
Image:Newsreader.jpg
Image:HenWeekendHorseplay.png
</gallery>

==Animations==
*[[Fection/Candy2000|Candy2000]]
*[[Fection/Fection2|Fection2]]
*[[Fection/Fection3|Fection3]]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T4jARiVDpI Candybot007 - Worst Spy Ever]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBciH_gH3Tg The PerfectGirl Project]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHnnsNtPyck A Thoughtless Vendetta]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4L4HVrEvGg The Prototypists]

==Stills from "A Thoughtless Vendetta"==
[[Image:vendetta_still01.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still02.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still03.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still04.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still05.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still06.jpg]]

=="Stills from "I, Candy"==
[[Image:I_Candy_screenshot_01.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy_screenshot_02.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy_screenshot_03.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy_screenshot_04.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy06.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy07.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy08.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy09.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy10.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy11.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy12.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy13.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy14.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy15.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy16.jpg]]

==Art==
<gallery>
Image:PerfectGirl.jpg
Image:Amy the PerfectGirl.jpg
Image:fection5.jpg
Image:Fection17.jpg
Image:Lina.jpg
Image:Meltdown.jpg
Image:Post-9-219-Model Citizen.jpg
Image:RoboDoll.jpg
Image:Room Service.jpg
Image:Stephanie L-Q-T.jpg
Image:TheMagi.jpg
Image:Ballerina.jpg
Image:Ballerina2.jpg
Image:Model_Citizen.jpg
Image:Industridoll.jpg
Image:RoboGirl.jpg
Image:officer207.jpg
Image:candy_maid.jpg
Image:Fection9.jpg
Image:Fection6.jpg
</gallery>

[[Gallery|Back to the gallery]]

[[Category:2D art]]
[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Fection]]
[[Category:Manips]]

Fection

2019-06-25T17:21:32Z

Fection: /* "Stills from "I, Candy" */

==Manips==
<gallery>
Image:Fection1.jpg
Image:Fection4.jpg
Image:Fection7.jpg
Image:Fection10.jpg
Image:Fection13.jpg
Image:Fection12.jpg
Image:Fection14.jpg
Image:Fection15.jpg
Image:Fection16.jpg
Image:Fection18.jpg
Image:Newsreader.jpg
Image:HenWeekendHorseplay.png
</gallery>

==Animations==
*[[Fection/Candy2000|Candy2000]]
*[[Fection/Fection2|Fection2]]
*[[Fection/Fection3|Fection3]]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T4jARiVDpI Candybot007 - Worst Spy Ever]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBciH_gH3Tg The PerfectGirl Project]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHnnsNtPyck A Thoughtless Vendetta]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4L4HVrEvGg The Prototypists]

==Stills from "A Thoughtless Vendetta"==
[[Image:vendetta_still01.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still02.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still03.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still04.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still05.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still06.jpg]]

=="Stills from "I, Candy"==
<gallery>
[[Image:I_Candy_screenshot_01.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy_screenshot_02.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy_screenshot_03.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy_screenshot_04.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy06.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy07.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy08.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy09.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy10.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy11.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy12.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy13.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy14.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy15.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy16.jpg]]
</gallery>

==Art==
<gallery>
Image:PerfectGirl.jpg
Image:Amy the PerfectGirl.jpg
Image:fection5.jpg
Image:Fection17.jpg
Image:Lina.jpg
Image:Meltdown.jpg
Image:Post-9-219-Model Citizen.jpg
Image:RoboDoll.jpg
Image:Room Service.jpg
Image:Stephanie L-Q-T.jpg
Image:TheMagi.jpg
Image:Ballerina.jpg
Image:Ballerina2.jpg
Image:Model_Citizen.jpg
Image:Industridoll.jpg
Image:RoboGirl.jpg
Image:officer207.jpg
Image:candy_maid.jpg
Image:Fection9.jpg
Image:Fection6.jpg
</gallery>

[[Gallery|Back to the gallery]]

[[Category:2D art]]
[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Fection]]
[[Category:Manips]]

Fection

2019-06-25T17:20:12Z

Fection:

File:I Candy16.jpg

2019-06-25T17:18:46Z

Fection:

File:I Candy15.jpg

2019-06-25T17:18:23Z

Fection:

File:I Candy14.jpg

2019-06-25T17:18:05Z

Fection:

File:I Candy13.jpg

2019-06-25T17:17:45Z

Fection:

File:I Candy12.jpg

2019-06-25T17:17:25Z

Fection:

File:I Candy11.jpg

2019-06-25T17:17:04Z

Fection:

File:I Candy10.jpg

2019-06-25T17:16:45Z

Fection:

File:I Candy09.jpg

2019-06-25T17:16:26Z

Fection:

File:I Candy08.jpg

2019-06-25T17:16:02Z

Fection:

File:I Candy07.jpg

2019-06-25T17:15:38Z

Fection:

File:I Candy06.jpg

2019-06-25T17:15:19Z

Fection:

File:I Candy05.jpg

2019-06-25T17:14:43Z

Fection:

Fection

2016-07-09T10:19:42Z

Fection:

==Manips==
<gallery>
Image:Fection1.jpg
Image:Fection4.jpg
Image:Fection7.jpg
Image:Fection10.jpg
Image:Fection13.jpg
Image:Fection12.jpg
Image:Fection14.jpg
Image:Fection15.jpg
Image:Fection16.jpg
Image:Fection18.jpg
Image:Newsreader.jpg
Image:HenWeekendHorseplay.png
</gallery>

==Animations==
*[[Fection/Candy2000|Candy2000]]
*[[Fection/Fection2|Fection2]]
*[[Fection/Fection3|Fection3]]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T4jARiVDpI Candybot007 - Worst Spy Ever]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBciH_gH3Tg The PerfectGirl Project]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHnnsNtPyck A Thoughtless Vendetta]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4L4HVrEvGg The Prototypists]

==Stills from "A Thoughtless Vendetta"==
[[Image:vendetta_still01.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still02.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still03.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still04.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still05.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still06.jpg]]

=="Stills from "I, Candy"==
<gallery>
Image:I_Candy_screenshot_01.jpg
Image:I_Candy_screenshot_02.jpg
Image:I_Candy_screenshot_03.jpg
Image:I_Candy_screenshot_04.jpg
</gallery>

==Art==
<gallery>
Image:PerfectGirl.jpg
Image:Amy the PerfectGirl.jpg
Image:fection5.jpg
Image:Fection17.jpg
Image:Lina.jpg
Image:Meltdown.jpg
Image:Post-9-219-Model Citizen.jpg
Image:RoboDoll.jpg
Image:Room Service.jpg
Image:Stephanie L-Q-T.jpg
Image:TheMagi.jpg
Image:Ballerina.jpg
Image:Ballerina2.jpg
Image:Model_Citizen.jpg
Image:Industridoll.jpg
Image:RoboGirl.jpg
Image:officer207.jpg
Image:candy_maid.jpg
Image:Fection9.jpg
Image:Fection6.jpg
</gallery>

[[Gallery|Back to the gallery]]

[[Category:2D art]]
[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Fection]]
[[Category:Manips]]

Fection

2016-07-09T10:17:46Z

Fection:

==Manips==
<gallery>
Image:Fection1.jpg
Image:Fection4.jpg
Image:Fection7.jpg
Image:Fection10.jpg
Image:Fection13.jpg
Image:Fection12.jpg
Image:Fection14.jpg
Image:Fection15.jpg
Image:Fection16.jpg
Image:Fection18.jpg
Image:Newsreader.jpg
Image:HenWeekendHorseplay.png
</gallery>

==Animations==
*[[Fection/Candy2000|Candy2000]]
*[[Fection/Fection2|Fection2]]
*[[Fection/Fection3|Fection3]]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T4jARiVDpI Candybot007 - Worst Spy Ever]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBciH_gH3Tg The PerfectGirl Project]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHnnsNtPyck A Thoughtless Vendetta]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4L4HVrEvGg The Prototypists]

==Stills from "A Thoughtless Vendetta"==
[[Image:vendetta_still01.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still02.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still03.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still04.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still05.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still06.jpg]]

=="Stills from "I, Candy"==
[[Image:I_Candy_screenshot_01.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy_screenshot_02.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy_screenshot_03.jpg]]
[[Image:I_Candy_screenshot_04.jpg]]

==Art==
<gallery>
Image:PerfectGirl.jpg
Image:Amy the PerfectGirl.jpg
Image:fection5.jpg
Image:Fection17.jpg
Image:Lina.jpg
Image:Meltdown.jpg
Image:Post-9-219-Model Citizen.jpg
Image:RoboDoll.jpg
Image:Room Service.jpg
Image:Stephanie L-Q-T.jpg
Image:TheMagi.jpg
Image:Ballerina.jpg
Image:Ballerina2.jpg
Image:Model_Citizen.jpg
Image:Industridoll.jpg
Image:RoboGirl.jpg
Image:officer207.jpg
Image:candy_maid.jpg
Image:Fection9.jpg
Image:Fection6.jpg
</gallery>

[[Gallery|Back to the gallery]]

[[Category:2D art]]
[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Fection]]
[[Category:Manips]]

File:I Candy screenshot 04.jpg

2016-07-09T10:14:12Z

Fection: Screenshot from an as yet unreleased animation.

Screenshot from an as yet unreleased animation.

File:I Candy screenshot 03.jpg

2016-07-09T10:13:36Z

Fection: Fection uploaded a new version of File:I Candy screenshot 03.jpg

Screenshot from an as yet unreleased animation.

File:I Candy screenshot 03.jpg

2016-07-09T10:12:56Z

Fection: Screenshot from an as yet unreleased animation.

Screenshot from an as yet unreleased animation.

File:I Candy screenshot 01.jpg

2016-07-09T10:12:21Z

Fection:

File:I Candy screenshot 02.jpg

2016-07-09T10:11:07Z

Fection: Screenshot from an as yet unreleased animation.

Screenshot from an as yet unreleased animation.

File:HenWeekendHorseplay.png

2015-05-15T14:08:32Z

Fection: uploaded a new version of "Image:HenWeekendHorseplay.png": After putting up with her unrelenting vanity for most of the hen weekend, the girls decided it was time to put Reg’s new ‘perfect girlfriend’ to the test...

After putting up with her unrelenting vanity for most of the hen weekend,
the girls decided it was time to put Reg’s new ‘girlfriend’ through her paces...

Fection

2015-05-14T18:07:55Z

Fection:

==Manips==
<gallery perrow="5">
Image:Fection1.jpg
Image:Fection4.jpg
Image:Fection7.jpg
Image:Fection10.jpg
Image:Fection13.jpg
Image:Fection12.jpg
Image:Fection14.jpg
Image:Fection15.jpg
Image:Fection16.jpg
Image:Fection18.jpg
Image:Newsreader.jpg
Image:HenWeekendHorseplay.png
</gallery>

==Animations==
*[[Fection/Candy2000|Candy2000]]
*[[Fection/Fection2|Fection2]]
*[[Fection/Fection3|Fection3]]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T4jARiVDpI Candybot007 - Worst Spy Ever]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBciH_gH3Tg The PerfectGirl Project]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHnnsNtPyck A Thoughtless Vendetta]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4L4HVrEvGg The Prototypists]

==Stills from "A Thoughtless Vendetta"==
[[Image:vendetta_still01.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still02.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still03.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still04.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still05.jpg]]
[[Image:vendetta_still06.jpg]]

==Art==
<gallery perrow="5">
Image:PerfectGirl.jpg
Image:Amy the PerfectGirl.jpg
Image:fection5.jpg
Image:Fection17.jpg
Image:Lina.jpg
Image:Meltdown.jpg
Image:Post-9-219-Model Citizen.jpg
Image:RoboDoll.jpg
Image:Room Service.jpg
Image:Stephanie L-Q-T.jpg
Image:TheMagi.jpg
Image:Ballerina.jpg
Image:Ballerina2.jpg
Image:Model_Citizen.jpg
Image:Industridoll.jpg
Image:RoboGirl.jpg
Image:officer207.jpg
Image:candy_maid.jpg
Image:Fection9.jpg
Image:Fection6.jpg
</gallery>

[[Gallery|Back to the gallery]]

[[Category:2D art]]
[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Fection]]
[[Category:Manips]]

File:HenWeekendHorseplay.png

2015-05-14T18:00:53Z

Fection: After putting up with her unrelenting vanity for most of the hen weekend, the girls decided it was time to put Reg’s new ‘girlfriend’ through her paces...

After putting up with her unrelenting vanity for most of the hen weekend,
the girls decided it was time to put Reg’s new ‘girlfriend’ through her paces...

The Magi and the Harem

2009-05-25T07:24:31Z

Fection:

<small>''Author's Note: There is a character in this story with a strong accent, written semi-phonetically. This is not intended to offend anyone (like the concept of a Harem isn't offensive enough!) Knowing almost nothing about middle-eastern culture, I have written this story educated only by 1960's Sinbad films. Also I hope you can decipher what the hell the character is supposed to be saying.''</small>
-----

The morning was clear the visitors to the kingdom arrived. From high up in a palace window Helena watched as the risen sun steadily warmed the city spread out below her. Presently in the distance, far out over the northern city wall, Helena noticed a cloud of dust rising up from the road and shimmering in the emerging heat of the day. She ran to tell the others.

By mid morning the welcoming party was assembled in the Sultan's court. Diplomats, Advisors, Generals and The Elite Guard, as well as the Sultan's Harem - amongst whom Helena stood - all struggling to appear completely at ease. Even the Sultan, despite his regal facade as he sat upon the throne, could not help but betray some glimmer of increasing impatience.

Presently a blast of trumpets was heard from outside the great hall and a pair of soldiers darted from their positions flanking the court's great gates and pulled the heavy wooden doors open to reveal a group of decoratively dressed, momentarily anxious looking men. Their forerunner smiled generously and bowed his head as he moved through the great doorway. His companions followed - a half dozen similarly dressed men and perhaps two dozen soldiers, bearing between them many solid wooden chests, pieces of ornately carved furniture and a long, narrow, brightly painted cabinet about the width and length of a burial casket. The entourage advanced purposefully toward the steps below the throne, then their leader spread his hands and bowed low.

"Greetings, oh Sultan Malhat, from My Lord and Master, Emperor Potanthet." the prostrate ambassador intoned richly, "My Master sends good tidings and prayers for a life both long and abundant."

The Sultan nodded graciously.

"Likewise, good tidings be unto Your Master and all His servants."

The visitor pressed his hands to his chest earnestly as he remained bowed.

"This humble servant is Al'Kasha, Chief Courtier to Emperor Potanthet, Treasurer of The Holy Riches and Keeper of The Forgotten Things. May you know Him simply as The Magi."

"Arise Magi, you are among equals." the Sultan commanded. The Magi arose and gestured broadly again, his hands sweeping out to his sides.

"As evidence of My Master's benevolence, I am sent bearing gifts." he began, and on cue the soldiers moved forward, still weighed down with their burdens. In turn, each chest was opened and the Sultan was presented with golden urns, jewels and priceless artifacts. The Sultan nodded appreciatively and The Magi enlightened him as to the significance of each piece as it was paraded before him. The furniture was then presented and again The Magi intoned in time, praising the unsurpassed skills of the artisans until finally the garishly decorated cabinet remained solely un-presented. Four soldiers brought the casket forward and placed it on one end beside The Magi, so that it stood taller even than he.

"And finally, the most valuable gift My Master could offer. The gift of eternal youth." The Magi nodded at the soldiers and a pair of them pulled feverishly at the front panel of the cabinet. Presently it came away in their grasp and, as they moved it aside, Helena and the rest of the court were intrigued to see within the cabinet an extremely attractive woman. Her eyes were closed, her expression serene as if in a deep slumber, yet somehow her shapely legs kept her body upright within the padded cabinet.A soldier handed The Magi a small suede pouch, then he and the other soldiers rejoined the ranks gathered behind the ambassador. The Sultan and indeed the whole court looked on curiously.

The breathtakingly beautiful woman had olive skin and jet-black hair - the long shining locks arranged decoratively over her head in a form not unlike that of an opening flower. Amongst the delicately arranged tresses, her head was surmounted by a tall silver shining tiara, adorned with a single glittering sapphire and decorated - strangely, it seemed to Helena - with two sets of four downward strokes - slitted holes cut away from the surface of the silver head-dress, to either side of the central shimmering stone. Though her eyes remained closed, Helena could see that they had been flawlessly prepared. The lashes were long and dark, a mauve tint spread over the eyelids up to serenely arched brows. The lower portion of her face was obscured slightly under a thin veil, though Helena could make out a fine narrow nose, steeply angled cheekbones and full, generous lips. At her neck a solid silver necklace or collar, likewise adorned with another glistening azure stone. The woman's bosom was covered only in a thin veil which seemed held in place by only a fine silver chain that looped from the upper corners of the thin fabric, around the back of the woman's slender neck. Though slightly obscured, Helena could see that the woman's bust was full and firm; rivaling even the hewn statues she had seen in the Harem. Below this rather enviable bust, a flat abdomen and narrow waist led down to broadly curved hips, covered in another veil of shimmering fabric. Within the veil, Helena could see that the woman's chastity seemed protected by an extremely slight silver belt - though it hardly warranted such a name, having been crafted so finely. The scant silver undergarment scarcely concealed the woman's most private place but was decorated with yet another sapphire, glistening less brightly than the others from beneath it's veil. The veil draped down to the woman's knees where those long shapely legs exposed themselves completely. The woman's slender hands were poised delicately at her sides, the wrists clasped in wide bands of tightly fitting silver. Finally, Helena noticed the woman's feet were also clad in silver - fine toeless slippers with slightly raised heels.

"Behold!" The Magi exclaimed, "Saphira!"

The ambassador bowed low once again, his hands raised up over his prostrate head, holding aloft the suede pouch. The Sultan's countenance darkened somewhat as he surveyed both the idle woman and the prostrate ambassador. Shortly he rose slowly from his throne and descended the steps to the court floor. He gingerly received the pouch offered to him and The Magi stood upright once more, smiling benevolently. A solid silver key was withdrawn from the small purse and the Sultan examined it, his expression wavering darkly almost to suspicion. The key was almost as wide as his hand though no longer than a finger. It was comprised of a short narrow shaft and a pair of circular wings at the one end, the other end of the shaft widening to perhaps the width of the Sultans thumb, though with eight quite distinct sides. The Sultan surveyed the piece for some time, his face still clouded in consternation. Presently The Magi cleared his throat politely and offered his hand in assistance.

"Your Eminence, if you would allow this humble servant to demonstrate...." he suggested. The Sultan hesitated for a moment then relinquished the key. The Magi moved quickly to the immobile woman. He clasped the octagonal end of the key over the azure stone set in the woman's collar and turned the piece slowly clockwise. As he did so there came a gentle clicking sound, as of a finely crafted time-piece being wound. The woman failed even to appear to notice, remaining in her oblivious serene slumber. As The Magi gave the key at her neck several more turns, the sound seemed to become more increasingly pronounced and resistant. Eventually he retreated from the woman once more and, with a sweeping gesture indicating the key protruding there from her silver necklace, bowed his head to the Sultan yet again. The Sultan's bewilderment lay completely unmasked as he stood looking the woman up and down.

"Your Eminence, yours is the honour of removing the key." The Magi prompted after a time. Without looking away from the motionless woman, The Sultan nodded stiffly, acknowledging The Magi and advanced cautiously, reaching out gingerly and then suddenly plucking the key back into his grasp. Immediately there came the sound of slowly spinning clockworks, increasing steadily in speed. Yet still the woman remained motionless. The jewel to which the key had been fastened seemed to begin to sparkle faintly from within as the sounds of delicate machinery simultaneously sped and softened to a barely discernable whirring. Suddenly there came a brief crackling, as of the stirred embers of a cooling fire and finally the woman's heavy eyelashes parted slightly. Cool, shimmering azure irises rose to meet the Sultan's own eyes as the woman's head rose slightly and turned smoothly toward him. Her poised hands swung into motion and her hips swayed as she stepped elegantly down out of the cabinet. As the toe of her silver slipper met the stones of the court it chimed brightly and for a moment she seemed to pause, then the silvery melodious tone was followed shortly by another as her other foot likewise descended. Then within the veil at her face, those generous lips parted.

"Hi leave chew sarve my Mahstare." the woman breathed, an alluringly thick foreign timbre in her voice immediately apparent. That steady blue gaze never shifted from the Sultan as she slowly approached, hands and hips swaying, silver shoes chiming with each step. Though her movements were poised and precise, there seemed something strangely mechanical about the way the striking woman paused between each step. Finally she stopped before him and that icy azure gaze was downcast to the floor, her head bowed slightly.

"Hi jyam jyewer ombel zarvand." Though the angelic, enchanting voice was heavy with breath, the veil at those moving lips remained strangely still. The Sultan just looked on, dumbfounded, as the faint sounds of steadily whirring clockworks continued, still just barely audible in the near silence of the court. His expression no less troubled, he looked eventually to The Magi once more.

"She is......" the Sultan began, but seemed at a loss to continue. The Magi bowed his head slowly in confirmation.

"Conceived and constructed by the finest craftsmen in my Master's kingdom." he explained. The Sultan looked back to the woman then to the key in his grasp, then he addressed The Magi once more.

"Surely there is some form of trickery involved here." he insisted. The Magi smiled graciously.

"With deepest respect Your Eminence, indeed there is no deception. " he affirmed, "If His Eminence would but instruct Saphira to turn away from him, I will disprove his most honourable suspicions."

The Sultan's dumbfounded expression remained unmoved. The Magi smiled diplomatically and continued.

"Saphira lives by your command alone Your Eminence. If you would kindly request that she turn her back to us, I may demonstrate the manner of her living."

The Sultan frowned uneasily, but then turned to the once more idle woman.

"Saphira. Turn away from me." he commanded firmly, as if for the whole court to obey. Immediately the woman's head bowed still lower.

"Hi jhear han hobey." she breathed, then she turned smoothly, revealing her flawless, bare back to both the Sultan and The Magi. The Magi nodded his thanks to the Sultan then reached out toward the woman, one hand reaching up to the back of her silver collar, the other down to the rear of her scant shining undergarment, both hands pressing at clasps there which sat almost flush with her silver adornments. There came a distinct click and suddenly a narrow seam appeared down the length of the woman's naked back. The Sultan, and the whole court besides, gasped in alarm as The Magi grasped either edge of this gap and pulled open the woman's back as like a pair of hinged doors. Within, there lay a network of spinning cogs, fine ratchets and silver springs, all whirring and clicking busily. The Sultan stared wildly, his mouth opening and closing several times as alarm spread across the court and then gradually faded to murmurs of astonished disbelief.

"This is a powerful magic your craftsmen have mastered." he muttered eventually, still glancing feverishly here and there at the plethora of spinning mechanisms.

"With respect, it is neither magic, nor deception. If His Eminence will look here, he will see the secret to Saphira's living." All but concealed amidst the mechanical ballet surrounding it, The Magi was indicating a solid looking iron box, set deeply within the mechanical woman. The box featured on its outward face several small round pieces of coloured glass, which flickered brightly in steady continuing succession. Out from the top of this box, arranged carefully amongst the spinning clockworks, there led what appeared to be several ropes. Though the darkly woven pattern of the ropes was extremely fine, they seemed unnecessarily broad, suggesting to the Sultan that perhaps the cords were hollow, or perhaps filled with some substance of magical origin. The Magi continued as, with his eyes, the Sultan tracked each cord as far as he could amongst the busy clockworks.

"From here Saphira is given her movement. I am told it is a forgotten science from the Old Age known as Eltrenics. I am told the clockworks provide the force by which the Eltrenics are allowed to course throughout the body." The Magi concluded with a flourishing gesture. The Sultan seemed still lost in another world, then appeared to notice that The Magi had concluded his explanation.

"A forgotten science? You say it is known as El....?" the Sultan pressed.

"Eltrenics, Your Eminence." The Magi repeated and he leaned forward and returned the panels of the woman's back to their closed position where they locked with another distinct click, the seam all but invisible.

"Turn toward me, Saphira." the Sultan ordered gently.

"Jyewer weesh his my coahman, Mahstare." the woman immediately replied, turning back toward the Sultan smoothly, her gaze still cast down at the floor.

"Look up at me, beautiful one." the Sultan commanded softly.

"Jyass Mahstare." The woman's glistening jewel-like eyes met the Sultan's again and he smiled as he examined her once more. Yet suddenly he frowned, having noticed in the shade of her veil a tiny dark blemish on her right cheek.

"And yet here a subtle flaw." he pointed out curiously, gesturing toward the small mark, "Why tarnish a face so otherwise flawless?"

The Magi smiled as if repressing a laugh.

"If Your Eminence will excuse the craftsmens' superstitions..." he began, "Though crafted in the light of re-emerging sciences, they believe their creation so utterly flawless that they fear the Gods themselves might think one of their own has been cast down to Earth, and thusly fetch her back up to the heavens. Saphira was marked in such a way to prevent the Gods making so understandable an error."

The Sultan nodded.

"It is true. Never have I seen one so fair." he agreed, continuing with a chuckle, "I am tempted to think similarly, mark or no."

Something else seemed to take the Sultan's attention. He gestured up to the woman's silver head-dress.

"And here, what meaning is there to these marks?" he demanded, indicating the dark slitted holes in the surface of the decoration. For a moment The Magi seemed uncharacteristically lost for words and he cleared his throat hesitantly. Presently he smiled.

"I have been told that Saphira has a great deal of warmth within her and these decorations allow her to share that warmth with everyone she meets." he explained smoothly. The Sultan considered this for a few moments and then laughed heartily.

"Poetically told indeed!" he chuckled, "but I understand your meaning." He turned back to the serenely waiting woman and seemed about to speak to her, but then was lost once again in his thoughts as he gazed into those glistening blue eyes. Shortly, the Sultan turned suddenly to the Magi.

"I must let it be known that I approve of the gifts your Master has presented and invite you and your associates to feast with me now. Later we will discuss the purpose of your visit."

The Magi bowed slowly still yet again.

"And Saphira?" he inquired, gesturing toward the immobile woman. The Sultan frowned, looking her over again.

"She will be taken to my chambers. I am intrigued to speak with her in private, and to ascertain if she is so sound of character as to be welcomed into the Royal Harem." The Sultan looked away for a moment and clicked his fingers twice. An advisor approached briskly. Then the Sultan addressed the passive woman, "Saphira, this is Fal-Halosh. You will accompany him to my chambers and wait for me there."

"Hi leave chew sarve my Mahstare." the stunning woman intoned huskily. The Sultan passed the silver key and pouch to the advisor and nodded that he should proceed as directed. Fal-Halosh gestured to Saphira for her to follow him.

"Ma'am" he murmured. That icy gaze swung to meet his own eyes and he hesitated for a moment, before striding off in the direction of the main doors. The curvaceous mechanised woman turned smoothly and followed him, pausing once again with each poised step, her shoes chiming brightly, her hands swaying at her sides like hypnotised serpents. As she proceeded slowly across the court, her head turned slightly from side to side in time with her steps, her expression utterly content as if acknowledging the admiration of those watching. Indeed, the whole court was silent, seemingly captivated with the woman's serene, elegant motion. To Helena she seemed to take an eternity to cross the hall, Fal-Halosh waiting patiently at the gate. The Sultan watched her depart, likewise enthralled in the flawless ballet of her motion, then - only once the curvaceous chiming creation was completely out of view- did he address the court, calling for the banquet to begin......

-----

"Why me?" Helena protested, though somewhat meekly, doubting her words would count for much.

"Because you are the youngest." Balhalm insisted, "Now go up there and invite her to meet us. She must be made to feel welcome among us."

Helena bowed under the stern gaze of Balhalm and all the others.

"As you wish." she sighed, and she turned and set off for the Sultan's chambers......

There was no reply to Helena's tentative knock. Presently, and against her better judgment, she tried the door. The handle swung freely and the door opened inward, revealing a lavishly decorated chamber within. Helena called out, but still received no reply. She stepped gingerly through the doorway and immediately noticed Saphira standing off to her left, with that flawless bare back toward her. She approached briskly and bowed her head.

"Most gracious Saphira, I am sent to welcome you on behalf of the Sultan's Harem. We wish to invite you to meet those with whom you will be serving." Helena explained hurriedly. She waited, but still no reply came. Shortly she raised her head. The mechanical woman was utterly motionless, still standing with her back to Helena.

"Saphira?" Helena murmured nervously. She reached out and touched her gently on the shoulder. The immobile woman remained silent. Helena moved around to the front of the stunning woman and found that her eyes were closed, her expression serene as if once again in a deep slumber. Helena glanced at the glistening jewel in the woman's collar noticing that the key was absent and then looked about the room. Almost immediately she spied the suede pouch, laid on a nearby table, and went to it. She retrieved the key from within and returned to the immobile woman, key in her somewhat quivering grasp. She clasped the key over the azure stone as she had seen The Magi demonstrate and twisted it clockwise slowly. As she turned the key, there came a delicate clicking sound - and again, as she turned the silver key several more times. Then she removed it from over the stone. Delicate rasping sounds emanated from within the motionless woman. Slowly they sped and faded to a gentle whirring sound. Helena noticed the sapphire at the woman's silver collar begin to glow with a shimmering, flickering light, then there came a faint crackle from within the woman's curvaceous torso. Her eyes opened smoothly and those icy irises regarded Helena aloofly before the lips parted and she spoke.

"Hi leave chew sarve my Mahstare."

Helena bowed again.

"Most gracious Saphira, I am sent to welcome you on behalf of the Sultan's Harem. We wish to invite you to meet those with whom you will be serving."

"Hi halon can plays my Mahstare." the faintly whirring woman replied immediately. Helena looked up again into those shimmering blue eyes.

"But surely you wish to meet those with whom you will be serving...." she pressed.

"Hi halon can plays my Mahstare." the striking woman repeated coldly. Helena frowned. The divinely conceived woman just stared steadily back at her through long, heavy lashes.

"You mean to say that......But......." Helena was dumbfounded, "How could but one woman keep the Sultan happy?" she managed finally.

"Joonod my hies sheemar has shewels hin the zon? Hjis nod my boozahm fool han farm? Joo hi nod leave chew sarve my Mahstare? Hjis nod my boady parfec hin hevry whay?"

"But you are still but one woman." Helena reiterated, "We must all serve the Sultan together."

"Hi jyam parfec. Jyew har nod. Jyew can honly brang sorrow chew my Mahstare. Theez hi cannod hallow." Saphira explained. Helena's brown eyes widened.

"But we are his Harem. Chosen to serve him." she insisted.

"Jyew whill hall bhe hreplazed." the serenely staring woman replied.

"Replaced? With whom?" Helena asked, but prior even to receiving a reply, the grim answer occurred to her and her bewildered expression sank steadily to shock.

"Mhy seeztars whill com. Whee whall sarve hour Mahstare. Whee halon can plays hjeem." the mechanical woman confirmed.

Suddenly out in the hall Helena heard approaching footsteps and recognised the voice of the Sultan. Saphira too seemed to notice this and turned smoothly as, in a panic, Helena reached out to replace the key over the jewel in the mechanical woman's collar.

"Hi leave chew sarve my Mah...." Saphira began, but as she finished her sentence, the key clicked into place. Immediately the gentle whirring within her clattered and clicked, slowing down rapidly. Her breathy sultry voice seemed suddenly inhuman, stopping and starting mechanically and as the slowing mechanical clamour within her ground quickly to a halt, her voice faded. Her eyelids closed slowly and she stood motionless once again, her mouth hanging slightly open. Helena reached out quickly to push the jaw closed and it yielded, though only with some force and in several ratcheted steps. She then darted toward a nearby ornately carved wardrobe and hid within, pulling the door closed after her.

Almost immediately, the Magi appeared through the still open door to the chamber.

"And here she waits for you, as instructed." the Magi explained, gesturing and bowing generously once more as the Sultan swept into the room accompanied by a pair of elite guards and his chief advisors. Helena found she could see out into the room through the many tiny holes in the carved door. The Magi moved up to the inanimate mechanical woman and gave the key clasped at her collar a generous turn. Helena could faintly hear that familiar delicate clicking as he did so. Then in a typically lavish gesture, he plucked away the key and bowed. From within the wardrobe, Helena could only just make out the steady whirring she had heard just a few moments earlier, then it faded. A moment later there came the crackling sound from within the mechanical woman and Saphira's eyes opened once more and focused longingly on the Sultan.

"Hi Leave chew sarve my Mahstare." she breathed. The Sultan smiled.

"Saphira, I wish to ask you some questions to ascertain if you are fit to be welcomed formally into the Royal Harem." he began, but was then interrupted by the attractive woman.

"Hi halon can plays jyou Mahstare." the woman replied in a purling breath, her cerulean gaze still fixed steadily on him. The Sultan frowned andlooked to The Magi for explanation. The Magi smiled uncomfortably.

"As His Eminence will no doubt come to know, Saphira is so supremely confident of her ability to pleasure her Master, she believes that were He then to accept the crude pleasures of a lesser woman, they would be as burning hot coals to His lips. She wishes simply for Him to be eternally happy, and to have Him experience such bitterness would cause her great grief. With deepest respect, it is this conviction that causes her to desire to serve Him solely."

The Sultan pondered this and nodded slowly, a wry smile spreading at his lips.

"Indeed you are well called to the office of diplomacy, Magi. But is it not true that what one woman lacks yet it will appear in another?"

The Sultan's advisors nodded appreciatively as The Magi bowed his head.

"It has indeed been said, but with deepest respect, I speak as one who has seen proofs of heaven. My Master, Emperor Potanthet but three years ago was first pleasured by a woman such as the lovely Saphira here, and today His entire harem consists of such exquisite creations."

Wide eyed, the Sultan once more surveyed the motionless woman.

"His entire harem, you say?"

The Magi nodded again and smiled, spreading his hands.

"The melodious chimes of their feet and the soothing sounds of their most delicate movements are a constant blessing to his soul. He never wants for affection and confidence, and has yet to find nuisance or displeasure among them, as so often he did before."

"Yet if each woman wants to serve her Master solely, how then can there be peace between them?" the Sultan inquired.

"With respect, as I have said, my Master's entire harem consists of such beacons of perfection, each as beautiful and capable as the next. Therefore there is not a lesser woman among them and they are each content to allow all to serve and pleasure their Master."

The Magi seemed to notice how captivated the Sultan seemed with Saphira, and added, with a wry smile, "Do you not deserve a demonstration your eminence?"

The Sultan seemed to consider this for a moment, then nodded solemnly, still surveying the shapely mechanical woman standing before him. Immediately she stepped toward him, hips and hands swaying elegantly, that soft, busy whirring continuing from within. As she approached, her left hand rose smoothly to the side of her face and unclasped the small chain holding the thin veil at her lips. Then both hands rose up to the Sultan's own face and caressed him, drawing his face down toward her own where their lips finally met. The Magi smiled as the kiss lingered. Shortly the Sultan's hands began gently caressing the mechanical woman's back and while the Sultan's advisors began to look increasingly uncomfortable, the Magi continued.

"And I am instructed to inform you that my Master offers the skills of His craftsmen to allow His new ally to share in such joys of heaven." the Magi explained, hovering now at the Sultan's right ear as the increasingly impassioned embrace continued still. Helena felt suddenly tempted to warn the Sultan of some impending danger, but what that danger was she was not sure, and her better judgment prevented her. The Magi was continuing still.

"And all my Master asks in return is one member of your Harem per exquisite, flawless creation. And after all, what use will your Harem be to you once you have tasted of fruit so ripe and sweet as those Saphira and her kind will provide for you?"

With that the embrace ended, and the Sultan was almost gasping for breath. Saphira took a single step backwards as she reattached the veil to the clasp over her ear. The Sultan nodded somewhat stiffly, as if still lost in a daydream.

"Yes. You are quite right. She is......flawless." he murmured. Slowly he caught his breath, his gaze never shifting from the penetrating icy eyes staring passively back at him. Shortly he nodded once again and looked to the Magi.

"Make the appropriate preparations. I accept your Master's most gracious offer."

The Sultan's advisors went to protest, but the Sultan raised a hand and they fell silent. He glanced once more toward the still steadily staring Saphira, smiled somewhat uneasily, and then retreated from the chamber, followed by his entourage.

"As you wish, your Eminence." The Magi called after him. After a moment he nodded to himself then turned to the still passively waiting woman.

"Excellent. You have performed well, oh perfect princess. Soon the Sultan's entire Harem will be in my Master's possession."

From within her hiding place, Helena restrained a gasp as The Magi reattached the large silver key to the jewel at the mechanical woman's collar. There came once again the clamorous mechanised clatter of slowing ratchets and then Saphira's eyes closed smoothly. The Magi looked her immobile body up and down appreciatively for a few moments, then swept out of the room. A few moments later Helena burst out of the wardrobe, scampered past the inanimate curvaceous creation and fled.

-----

"Replaced? But with whom?" Balhalm demanded, her voice echoing in the ornate marble halls of the Harem. The others were trying to calm Helena, who herself was gasping for air.

"With more of her kind!" she managed finally, "We are to be given in payment for others like her!"

As one, the Harem gasped incredulously.

"This is outrageous!"

"But WE are the Sultan's Harem."

"Why would the Sultan betray us so?!"

Collecting herself, Helena spoke up once more.

"It was Saphira. She kissed him...."

"Well then, a single kiss from any of us would win him back." Balhalm insisted.

"But the Magi said that after tasting the pleasures of Saphira we would seem as but burning coals to our Master's lips." Helena explained desperately.

"Hah! I'd like to see that clockwork contraption......" Balhalm hesitated, glancing around the group briefly, then indicated a dark-haired woman, seated on a cushion to her left.

".....massage away our Master's worries as well as Ji-olla here...." Balhalm continued, and indicated a tall blond woman, "...or dance as well as Cathina.."

"Or tell stories as well as Diashell!" Cathina lauded eagerly.

"Any of us are a match for her. It is this 'Magi' who is the burning coal. He has filled our Master with hot-headed foolishness, and it is up to us to free him of it...."

There was a pause as Balhalm fell silent, her eyes squinting, deep in thought. Then she smiled wryly and nodded to herself.

"What is it you have planned?" Ji-olla asked curiously, and with some obvious trepidation. Balhalm glanced around at the group once again.

"I will go to our Master and request an opportunity to prove our skills." she explained evasively, apparently still constructing the plan fully. She fell silent once again for a moment, then turned and headed in the direction of the Sultan's chambers, saying only....

"I will return soon...."

...leaving the others to wonder what was in store for them all.

-----

It was almost an hour later when finally Balhalm returned, smiling triumphantly. The others gathered around her once again.

"It is agreed. There is to be a special audience this evening where we will demonstrate our skills and persuade our gracious Sultan to see the error of his decision."

"But what of The Magi? Will he not be angered when he hears of such dealings?" Cathina suggested.

"To the contrary, he was present at my meeting with the Sultan - the silver-clad mechanical one too - and agreed to the contest."

"Contest?" Helena gasped. Balhalm nodded graciously.

"We will entertain the Sultan in any skill we choose, then The Magi's clockwork companion will perform likewise and after three such tests, the Sultan will choose his preference and make his final decision. All we need now do is choose how the Sultan is to be entertained...."

Cathina stepped forward.

"I will dance for him. I shall dance as fast as lightning. The clattering contraption will dance herself into pieces should she try and better me!"

The others agreed. Diashall spoke up next.

"And I feel a tale of trust and betrayal taking shape as yet we speak. What does such a mechanical maid know of human character?"

There was an awkward silence as collectively the group's attention swung to Ji-olla who was still sitting silently.

"Well, I...." she began awkwardly, under the increasingly expectant gaze of all around her, ".....If everyone so desires, I will soothe him with oils and massage...."

A small cheer went up and the women began to talk amongst themselves, offering advice to the three duly elected representatives. Shortly Balhalm clapped, to silence the excited throng and addressed the Harem's chosen trio.

"Very well, it is decided. Now I suggest the three of you spend some time honing your skills in preparation for his evening."

The group broke up quickly, several women accompanying each of their representatives to offer any further assistance. Helena and a few others remained with Balhalm.

"Do you really think we will win back the Sultan?" Helena asked uneasily. Balhalm sighed as she watched the others begin their preparations for that evening.

"We shall see.....We shall see....." she murmured as if only to herself.

-----

In addition to the silvery light of the moon flooding into the arched hall, the Sultan's private audience chamber was lit here and there by oil lamps and candles, suspended on chains at its perimeter. The Sultan himself was lying amongst a set of large cushions positioned at the far end of the hall. To his left and right, standing patiently, a pair of his elite guard, and his advisors.

Helena and the others of the Harem had assembled before him, where the floor of the chamber was lowered, and were now waiting in increasingly awkward silence to one side. Presently, Helena thought she heard a familiar chiming sound. Indeed, a moment later the faint sound rang again....and again, louder and clearer with each step. After several more silvery chimes, the shapely figure of Saphira appeared at the shadowy open doorway to the Sultan's chamber, the silvery-golden light of the moon and lamps reflected here and there on her shining silver adornments. At her side, the still decoratively dressed Magi, his expression, as always, utterly self-satisfied. Likewise, Saphira's serene expression regarded them all aloofly as she approached methodically - the hands and hips swaying with poised precision, the head swinging slightly to the left and right in synchronicity with each chiming step.

Eventually the mechanical woman came to rest before the Sultan and her head bowed slightly.

"Hi leave chew sarve hmy Mahstare." said that breathy voice, the moving lips barely visible behind their veil. Helena noticed that the Sultan seemed once again utterly enthralled with the raven-haired maiden, his face surveying her as if caught in a trance. There was near silence for a few moments, during which Helena became aware once more of Saphira's faintly whirring innards. The Sultan alone seemed content to wait, still staring down at Saphira with a dreamy, appreciative smile on his face. Eventually it was Balhalm who cleared her throat and stirred him from his thoughts.

"Ah, yes. Balhalm." the Sultan began, somewhat startled, "I believe the evening's proceedings are of your conception. How would you have us begin?"

Balhalm stepped forward.

"With respect my lord, I believe you have been deceived into believing this man-made woman would be of more service to you than we of flesh and blood. As we discussed earlier this day, I request that you behold how sweetly your Harem is able to serve you, and compare our skills with the trinket whom some would have replace us." With this last remark, Balhalm cast a disdainful glance in the Magi's direction.

"Very well, proceed." the Sultan intoned, and Balhalm continued, introducing the Harem's first representative.

-----

Little over an hour later, it seemed to Helena that things were progressing less than favourably. Ji-olla had first comforted the Sultan with fragrant oils and massage, to his seeming pleasure. But then Saphira had likewise comforted him, though as she proceeded she spoke in breathy tones of her own beauty and how she lived to serve him alone. It was Balhalm who interrupted when finally Saphira asked...

"Han now..Shyall hi hundrez far jyew?"

The Sultan had seemed less than impressed with Balhalm's interruption, though agreed somewhat reluctantly that the next representative should beintroduced.

Cathina then danced for the Sultan, and as promised, it was both an elegant and powerfully athletic display. As Cathina danced the Sultan looked on appreciatively, and when the display drew to a close he had clapped excitedly. Cathina bowed, maintaining her elegant poise despite her shortness of breath. Then Saphira had moved forward once again. In contrast to Cathina's balletic energy, the mechanical woman moved with subtle precision, her movements accented by the chiming of her slippers on the stones, and of the silver bands at her wrists against each other. As she danced, she moved forward and ascended the steps toward the Sultan, until finally she stood before him and asked,

"Han now..Shyall hi hundrez far jyew?"

Once again, Balhalm was forced to interrupt proceedings, to the Sultan's apparent displeasure. He reluctantly instructed Saphira to return to the Magi's side.

Next - and finally - it was the turn of Diashall. Balhalm had introduced her as bringing the pleasures of reflection and philosophy to the Sultan. Diashall told the story of a king who, having been concerned at the risk of thieves stealing the royal riches, had taken the advice of a malevolent aide. The aide suggested placing the riches in plain earthenware urns about the palace, and to weigh down the decorative storage urns intended for the royal riches with dirt. The King agreed. Years later the King's daughter was kidnapped and the bandits demanded ransom. The King could only agree to the demands and instructed his aide that a portion of the royal riches should be gathered to accompany him to the agreed point of exchange. The following day, as the King prepared to depart, he saw the decorative storage urns being loaded onto wagons and called for his aide, asking if the urns - though beautiful on the outside - were those filled with worthless dirt. The aide seemed shocked by the King's suggestion and insisted that such finely decorated vessels must surely contain the riches the bandits demanded. Overcome with worry, and pressed for time, the King agreed. After all, they were indeed beautiful vessels. So, the King departed, leaving his aide in command of the palace. It was with great woe however, that the King discovered the vessels he had brought in exchange for his daughter's life were indeed filled with worthless soil. The bandits, outraged that they should be tricked so, slew his daughter there before him and fled once again to the hills, and when the King returned to his capital city, he found no sign of the aide to which the city had been entrusted, nor of the earthenware urns in which he now knew the royal riches had truly been placed. At the completion of Diashall's tale, the Sultan had smiled and nodded knowingly, suggesting he understood Diashall's message to him - That which seems beautiful on the outside might in fact be worthless within, and what is of true value may in fact lie within those! things we see every day. Diashall suggested he take heed before making his final decision that evening.

Then finally, it was the turn of Saphira. Having been instructed to provoke reflection and thought in the Sultan, the mechanical woman stepped smoothly forward once again. The dark-haired woman asked that the Sultan reflect on her beauty and how she lived only to serve him. Once again the Sultan seemed enraptured in the smooth, breathy tone of her voice, and in the poise of her movements. It was the Sultan's complete captivation that now had Helena somewhat concerned.

"Joo nod my hies gleetar has shewels hin the zon?" the mechanical woman asked. The Sultan nodded.

"Indeed they do, oh beautiful one."

Helena heard Balhalm whisper to Cathina...

"See how she tempts him still?"

Cathina nodded, looking on with distain.

"Shoo not hhhmy hhhhies sheeeeemar?" she mimicked in a hoarse whisper, the veil hanging at her face flicking up with each breathy word. Helena frowned and looked to Saphira again. The mechanical woman was once again ascending the steps toward the Sultan, her hips swaying alluringly.

"His nod my boozahm fool han farm?" she breathed longingly, her silver slipper chiming brightly on yet another step as she drew still closer to the Sultan. The Sultan's eyes wandered over her shapely form and he nodded again.

"Indeed it is."

"We are lost." Diashall whispered in Helena's ear. But Helena shook her head slowly, surveying the elegantly moving mechanised woman.

"No, not yet. I have an idea."

She moved stealthily through the group to Balhalm's side and addressed her softly.

"Gracious Balhalm, all is not lost. If our Sultan would grant us but one more trial, I have conceived a test in which I am certain we will prove superior."

Balhalm spoke without taking her eyes off the proceedings before her.

"What is this test?" she whispered desperately.

"I need but two lit candles." Helena explained. For a moment Balhalm's brow furrowed a little. Helena continued.

"And all other lights in the chamber extinguished."

"Hi leave chew sarve honly jyew." came that breathy voice, as Saphira ascended the final step to where the Sultan lay, "Han now, shyall hi hundrez far jyew?"

As the Sultan was about to reply, Balhalm gave a quick surreptitious nod to Helena and stepped forward yet again.

"Gracious Sultan, your Harem would make but one more attempt to win back your affections." she demanded. The Sultan seemed reluctant even to acknowledge her, still all but enraptured in the shapely silver-clad woman before him. Balhalm turned quickly back to Helena.

"Gather what you need quickly." she instructed. Helena nodded and ran off to one side of the chamber, where a pair of candles hung suspended a few feet from the floor.

"Gracious Sultan, will you permit us one more chance to prove our worth?" Balhalm insisted strongly.

The Sultan frowned and glanced away from the elegantly poised Saphira. He sighed.

"Very well. Saphira return to the Magi's side." the Sultan commanded once more.

"Hi jhear han hobey." the olive-skinned woman intoned and she turned smoothly and made her way back down the steps, the delicate chiming of her slippers ringing out across the hall. By this time Helena had returned to Balhalm's side, a flickering candle held in each hand. Balhalm continued.

"We would ask that all lamps and candles, save these two be extinguished." she requested. The Sultan frowned quizzically, but after a moment sighed resolutely, clapped twice and ordered for it to be as Balhalm instructed. A pair of guards circled the chamber quickly, extinguishing the lamps and candles as they went. The chamber darkened, lit only by the full moon which hung low over the city outside and faintly also by the candles in Helena's grasp.

"Very well. All is as you wish." the Sultan prompted. Balhalm nodded graciously and turned to Helena, whispering hoarsely,

"Our fate is in your hands, little one. Please do not fail us."

Helena stepped forward and bowed her head.

"Oh Gracious Sultan, have you not always spoke in wonder of the light of the moon?"

The Sultan, and everyone besides frowned curiously, in consternation at where Helena's line of questioning would take her. The Sultan nodded slowly.

"Indeed I have." he conceded.

"And have you not oft remarked that how on warm summer nights, you like nothing more than to be bathed in it's silver light and it's light alone?"

The Sultan considered this for a few moments, then nodded again.

"Indeed, yet I have."

"Then on such a warm summer night, let me bestow upon you this tiniest of pleasures." Helena offered, and with that she put one candle behind her back and the other near her mouth, extinguishing it in a single puff of breath. Helena smiled and the Sultan's frown deepened.

"Thank you my little one." he praised, somewhat hesitantly.

"Now would not Saphira wish to offer you the same tiny pleasure?" Helena suggested, holding out the still ignited candle toward the immobile mechanical woman. The Sultan nodded and addressed her.

"Very well. Saphira, blow out this candle, that I might be illuminated by the light of the moon alone." the Sultan instructed. Immediately the woman's head bowed slightly.

"Jyewer weesh his my coahman, Mahstare." came that husky recitation, and the woman turned smoothly toward Helena, those icy blue eyes firmly set upon her as she approached. Helena bowed slightly as she offered up the candle and the mechanical woman's left hand rose smoothly to take it delicately from her. Helena bowed still more and backed away as the dark-haired woman held the candle up to her face, it's golden light glistening off her head-dress, and in her shimmering eyes. Behind their veil her lips formed an 'o' shape and for a moment that is how the woman remained - utterly immobile. The veil at her lips failed even to flutter and the candle continued flickering. A moment later, the hand lowered delicately and the mechanical woman's gaze rose once again to the Sultan, her expression utterly content and self-satisfied.

"Han nyow, shyall hi hundrez far jyew?" she suggested. The Sultan frowned.

"And yet the candle is still burning..." he pointed out. Saphira hesitated for a moment then her head turned smoothly to look at the still flickering candle in her grasp. She seemed to survey it curiously for a time before her hand moved it closer to her face once more. Once again her lips formed an 'o' and she leaned forward slightly. There she froze, and Helena could faintly hear a busy whirring coming from inside the woman. As the woman remained motionless, the whirring became more pronounced and steadily slowed. Then suddenly the flickering candle lowered once again and her posture straightened, her confident icy gaze rising to meet the Sultan's yet again.

"Han nyow, shyall hi hundrez far jyew." she intoned smoothly. In addition to the soft, steady whirring coming from inside the woman, Helena thought she could now hear a faint though repetitive metallic squeaking.

"And yet still the candle remains alight...." the Sultan repeated.

Again the mechanical woman hesitated, then her head turned to the candle held daintily in her hand. Immediately the hand rose again to her face, her lips formed an 'o' and her body leaned a little toward the candle in her grasp. That steady whirring sounded again from within her and wound heavily. For some time the curvaceous creation remained motionless, the steely winding continuing with apparent deliberation. Then after a moment her posture straightened, the candle still undisturbed. Helena could now more distinctly hear that repetitive squeaking sound, as if something within the mechanical doll was askew somehow. The curvaceous construction smoothly turned her head to face the Sultan once again and the lips parted to speak, but he interrupted her.

"Yet still, the candle remains burning..." he repeated still more firmly, with some displeasure. The mechanical woman's mouth closed and her head turned yet again to the flickering candle in her grasp. It's golden light reflected in those azure eyes as the mechanical woman surveyed it curiously, then she leaned forward once more, the lips yet again poised as if to blow it out. That same mechanical grinding sounded, winding furiously this time, as the shapely woman remained posed utterly motionless. As she stood immobile, the mechanical doll began to emit a repetitive metallic clattering, softly at first, then more immediately apparent. Helena noticed an expression of concern on the face of the Magi. Suddenly the mechanical woman's posture straightened stiffly and her gaze shifted to the Sultan as the clattering and squeaking continued still inside her.

"Hi muz hobey hmy Mahstare." she breathed longingly. Her head turned stiffly back toward the candle, her mouth formed itself again into an 'o' shape and her head leaned forward slightly. For some time the furious mechanised grinding sounded from within the crookedly posed doll and the clattering and squeaking became gradually still more pronounced. Then suddenly there was a single sharp metallic bouncing sound, as of a coiled spring suddenly released. There came some faint tinkling sounds as the mechanical woman's posture straightened stiffly, and Helena realised the squeaking and clattering within her seemed suddenly to be speeding up. Helena also thought she noticed the jewel at the woman's collar glowing more brightly. The shapely automaton turned smoothly toward Helena and the other women of the Harem, her expression utterly serene.

"Hi jyam parfec." the shapely woman assured them all. She stepped forward, though to Helena the formerly flawless ballet of her motion seemed somewhat hurried and unbalanced. As the whirring and squeaking within her sped, there came still more tinkling sounds and amidst the metallic clattering, the occasional mechanical crunch. Her silver slippers rang brightly against the stones as she stepped stiffly forward, pausing ever more briefly between each step.

"Hi jyam bill chew hobey."

[[Image:TheMagi.jpg|thumb|300px|right]]
There came yet another steely crunch and another coiled spring was released somewhere within her. The jewel at her neck glowed ever more brightly as that mechanical whirring sped still more. Helena thought she noticed smoke appearing from the slitted holes in the mechanical doll'ssilver head-dress as she continued toward them.

"My boady his parfec. Hi halon can plays hmy Mahstare." the faltering mechanised woman insisted, "Hi jyam parfec. Jyew har nod. Hi jyam ay roobod."

Still another mechanical crunch sounded, followed by the sudden release of another internal spring, and the far side of the hall was filled suddenly with flickering multi-coloured light. For the first time Saphira seemed to be smiling, though strangely with only one side of her mouth. Several shining silver springs and cogs clattered to the ground and when the mechanical doll spun around to face the far side of the hall, Helena realised the panels of her bare back had burst open, exposing the frantically whirring mechanisms within. The multi-coloured glass fittings set within her flashed in increasingly rapid succession as she headed back toward the Magi, silver shoes clanging as she walked, ratchets and cogs whirring and spinning ever more quickly within the exposed cavity of her back.

"Hi jyam parfec. Theez his himposable. Hi jyam parfec. Hi jyam jyewer roobod."

As she stepped quickly across the hall and the mechanised whirring and clattering increased in speed, sparks began to flash from the solid iron box nestled deeply amongst the spinning ratchets and cogs within her. Another metallic springing sounded and the jewel at her neck clattered to the ground. Thick smoke billowed up from her back and from her silver head-dress.

"Hi leave chew sarve. Leave chew sarve. Muz hobey."

The mechanically grinding woman walked stiffly past the Magi, much to his apparent alarm, and straight into the pillar of a nearby arch. She spun around again, the panels of her back bouncing closed and open as she marched ever more stiffly back across the hall, silver slippers clanging loudly, head swinging mechanically from side to side with each hurried step.

"Hi muz.....muz hobey. Hoverlod. Hoverlod."

The furious whirring and clattering continued as she lurched awkwardly forward, then with a final frenzy of sparks and several more metallic 'sproings', the shapely mechanised woman's unsteady forward motion ground to a halt near the centre of the hall. The frenetic whirring of ratchets and cogs slowed gradually, as that curvaceous torso tipped inexorably forward.

"H..h..hi hi j..j..jyam par par par f..f...fec.....fec....par.....par....parrrrrrr.......parrrrrrrrrrrrrr............."

That husky breath-heavy voice cut in and out unnaturally as the shapely doll leaned slowly forward at the waist, one panel of her bare back coming to rest mostly closed, the other lying fully open. Finally, the candle was released from the curvaceous machine's delicate grasp and extinguished itself as it fell. The court was utterly silent as the mechanical woman finally wound down, completely motionless, her silver adorned head and arms hanging limply down toward the ground. A pair of twisted springs protruded up from the open panel of her back and a thin trail of smoke spiraled into the air above the exposed cavity.

Presently the Sultan stood and stepped tentatively down to the court room floor. He circled the defunct mechanical woman, stopping at her head and reaching down with one hand toward her silver head-dress. He pulled her head upright gently, with a steely squeak. Those formerly serene azure eyes were wide and vacant. A puff of smoke appeared from her parted lips, flowing up through the thin veil still covering her mouth. Somewhat startled by the sight, the Sultan released the head-dress and the mechanical woman's head swung freely down to face her own legs once again.

He seemed to compose himself and nodded solemnly. Presently he turned to address the Magi.

"Magi, you will depart immediately. Tell your master there will be no exchange of Harems."

The Magi went to protest, but the Sultan continued.

"For that is, I suspect, the nature of your master's plan - to exchange his mechanical Harem for my own, yes? It is sad indeed that he had to learn the value of true life, only in it's absence."

The Magi smiled diplomatically and went to leave, but the Sultan spoke again.

"And take your broken-down perfect princess with you. She will not be needed here."

The Sultan then turned to address Helena.

"Indeed you have made me see the error of my ways, little one. For it is your breath of life that truly I would have lacked and desired."

Helena bowed and the Sultan exchanged glances with Balhalm, then he bowed low and spread his hands.

"My humblest apologies to you all. I pray you can all forgive me."

Balhalm bowed graciously, acknowledging the Sultan's apology.

"Guards! Escort the Magi, his entourage, and this ill-conceived contraption out of my palace." the Sultan suddenly boomed. A pair of his guards tentatively approached the crookedly posed mechanical woman. Presently one guard ducked down under the woman's torso and lifted her up, the lifeless doll draped stiffly over his shoulders. The other collected the few cogs and springs that lay about on the floor, and placed the pieces gingerly in the open cavity of the smouldering doll's back. He then approached the Magi and gestured politely toward the door. The Magi smiled diplomatically and obliged. As the group departed, Helena and the others watched them go, the light of the moon still glinting here and there on the inactive shapely mechanical woman's silver adornments, her silver slippers chiming faintly against each other as she was carried from the great arched hall.

The End.

-----

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[[Category:Fection]]
[[Category:Stories]]

File:Vendetta still06.jpg

2009-04-15T21:51:06Z

Fection:

File:Vendetta still05.jpg

2009-04-15T21:50:48Z

Fection:

File:Vendetta still04.jpg

2009-04-15T21:50:29Z

Fection:

File:Vendetta still03.jpg

2009-04-15T21:48:19Z

Fection:

File:Vendetta still02.jpg

2009-04-15T21:47:52Z

Fection:

File:Vendetta still01.jpg

2009-04-15T21:47:28Z

Fection:

File:Candy maid.jpg

2008-12-11T18:10:36Z

Fection:

Charlie's Second-Hand Angel

2008-08-17T09:20:35Z

Fection:

Episode 2 of "Destined For The Junkpile"
-----
The voice inside the apartment door was not the one Camilla had expected to hear. To begin with it was a woman's.

"Just a second, honey!" the girl had called out from inside, a moment after Camilla's firm knock.

As she waited, Camilla pondered how Charlie could have found himself a new partner so quickly. It had been scarcely a month since their divorce and, in her admittedly subjective opinion, Charlie was hardly Prince Charming. Perhaps he had been able to patch things up with the 'other woman' somehow. Then Camilla remembered the other woman's parents had tracked her down and sent her away to a modeling college in Europe somewhere. For a moment she toyed with the thought that the woman might be Charlie's maid, but then it occurred to her that maids don't generally call their employer "honey". Her perplexed train of thought was interrupted when the door opened.

"What do you think of....Oh!" said a startled voice.

Camilla was suddenly face to face with a very attractive young woman, who's enthusiastic smile was already fading. The girl had long dark brown hair, and glistening brown eyes. She was wearing bright white high heels and a rather scant floral dress, which Camilla could only assume she had been expecting to model for Charlie. No doubt the brightly colored dress would have met with Charlie's approval. It revealed most of the girl's long, toned, shapely legs, and featured a low neck-line, exposing much of the young woman's conspicuously silicon-enhanced cleavage. The whole outfit seemed to be held up by a single fine strap that curved around the back of the girl's neck. There was no denying the young woman was strikingly attractive - a beacon of exotic beauty - if a little stereotypically so. She looked to have some Spanish blood, with those deep brown eyes and that olive complexion. Her hair was perfectly styled and shining with health. Her face too was stunning - flawlessly made up. And her body belonged in a fashion magazine - though with that enlarged bust, Camilla doubted the girl would fit into most cat-walk fashion.

There was an awkward pause.

"I think it looks wonderful." complimented Camilla eventually, though somewhat reluctantly. The girl still seemed startled.

"Who are you?" she asked, at last acknowledging that she did not recognize Camilla.

"I'm Camilla Harcourt, Charlie's ex-wife...." Camilla extended her right hand. "I take it he's not returned from work yet...." It seemed that the girl was too preoccupied with taking in Camilla's comment to offer her the courtesy of shaking her hand. Instead, the girl frowned and crossed her arms. It also occurred to Camilla that due to the size of the girl's bust, crossing her arms might prove a difficult task, but she seemed to manage it all right.

"That's right. He's not home yet." the shapely girl confirmed coldly.

"Well, I've arranged to meet him here after work. We've a few things to discuss relating to our divorce." continued Camilla.

The girl pouted a little suspiciously, and shifted her weight to one leg, staring defiantly at Camilla. Camilla was becoming increasingly annoyed. She waited, determined that the scantily clad brunette should speak next. As she waited, she decided the girl wore too much makeup, and had spent too much time at tanning clinics. The girl's skin now seemed unnaturally brown, and unnervingly radiant.

Eventually, Camilla's patience wore out.

"Well, do you know when he'll be in?" she inquired. She began to wonder if all conversations with this girl took this long. Camilla was surprised by the girl for once, who responded immediately.

"Charlie should be home shortly." she said. There was another pause. The girl flicked her head gently, tossing her hair gracefully off her shoulders. Then she continued staring.

"Well, would you mind if I waited for him inside?" suggested Camilla impatiently. Once again the inquiry seemed to be taking some considerable time to make sense to the attractive girl. Her mouth seemed poised to speak, but her now slightly glazed eyes just stared inertly. She said something quietly, that Camilla did not quite catch.

"Pardon me?" Camilla said, leaning forward a little, but the girl did not respond. Her plastic earrings glistened garishly as she continued staring with a somewhat startled expression. Shortly she smiled and chirped,

"Okay, sure Camilla!"

She stepped back and invited Camilla in. Camilla moved through the doorway finally into the apartment which, she immediately noticed, was remarkably tidier than when she last had had to visit Charlie. Gone were the dishes from the coffee table. Gone were the scattered pieces of clothing from the furniture, and floor. It actually seemed pleasant. Camilla also noticed that there no longer seemed to be that repugnant odor emanating from the kitchen area off to her left. Camilla's astonishment was distracted by the sound of the apartment door clicking firmly shut. She turned to face the voluptuous young woman who was now smiling broadly. The girl had a nice smile, Camilla conceded. Having finally been allowed into the apartment Camilla resolved to give the girl another chance.

"And what's your name?" Camilla asked, returning a friendly smile. The girl's brown eyes sparkled.

"Candice." she replied proudly, walking to the couch. She sat and crossed her legs elegantly, placing her hands one over the other on her knee, "but you can call me Candy."

Camilla restrained a laugh.

"Candy?" she repeated doubtfully. The girl nodded a couple of times, oblivious to Camilla's disbelief.

"Uh huh." the girl assured her. Camilla slowly found herself a seat opposite the elegantly poised woman and placed her briefcase uneasily beside her chair. Candy just sat there smiling, staring at Camilla with those deep brown sparkling eyes.

"So," Camilla started, "how long have you been living with Charlie?"

Candy shrugged, suddenly aloof.

"Oh, I dunno. Not long." she sighed. Her elevated foot began bouncing restlessly and she looked around the lounge in apparent disinterest. Camilla continued.

"How..." she paused, trying to be diplomatic, "How 'secure' are you in your relationship?"

This remark seemed to regain Candy's attention. She looked somewhat perplexed and put her head slightly to one side.

"What do you mean?" she asked, frowning faintly.

"What I mean to say is..." Camilla hesitated again, then decided to screw diplomacy. She sat forward in her chair. "The main reason Charlie and I divorced was because he was unfaithful." Camilla explained. Candy began smiling and nodding, a smug look of realization on her face. Camilla continued.

"How much do you trust him?" she pressed.

"I trust him very much." Candy assured Camilla, "We're very much in love. He gives me everything I need, and I give him everything he wants."

Camilla hesitated to be too judgmental, but the young woman really did give the impression of being a rather stereotypical 'bimbo'. It seemed to Camilla that the girl was reading a description of her relationship off the back of a sugary cereal box. Camilla persevered.

"Okay, but, he was unfaithful to me." she stressed again, "Doesn't that make you even a little concerned?"

The smug smirk on Candy's face didn't falter.

"Oh Charlie told me all about that." she explained, rolling her eyes, "and from the sound of it, the woman was actually a lot like me. Y'know. Young. Attractive. Quite a lot different to you. I think Charlie just needed a change."

It was clear to Camilla that the girl was speaking without the slightest hint of malice, but it was the fact that she was so utterly unaware of her remarks' tactlessness that made her all the more offensive. That the girl had only heard Charlie's side of the story bothered Camilla too. She could only gasp a disbelieving laugh. Naturally, Candy failed even to notice.

"Charlie says I'm the kind he really goes for." Candy continued. Her posture straightened a little as if to accentuate her preposterously proportioned figure. One hand moved delicately to her narrow waist.

"With a body like mine, I think I'll keep him around." she said playfully, for the first time displaying sarcasm. Camilla sat there, trying to restrain herself from clobbering the vacuous girl right then and there. Camilla decided instead that the girl needed her help.

"Candy, do your parents know you're here with Charlie?" she pried. Candy continued smiling, but for a moment did not seem to know how to reply.

"My parents?" she asked quizzically, her serene expression fading a little.

"Yes. Y'know. Your Mom and Dad." Camilla pressed, "Do they know you're here?"

Candy's mouth opened, but she failed to speak. She seemed confused by Camilla's simple inquiry. Her sparkling eyes glazed over slightly.

"Searching." she said flatly, staring straight through Camilla.

Now Camilla was confused.

"What, your parents are searching for you?" she proffered. Candy did not reply, staring vacantly. Camilla leaned further toward the obviously troubled young woman. "Candy, is that it? Are your parents looking for you?"

"Searching." Candy repeated, in that same uncharacteristically unenthusiastic tone. Then suddenly the focus returned to her eyes, and the smile to her face. "I finished college a couple years ago and have done the odd bit of modeling here and there," she explained, "but Charlie gives me something I've never got from any other man - real love." Candy beamed, clearly proud of her deep admiration for Charlie.

Camilla could not hide her bewilderment. It occurred to her that this girl might have been brainwashed - How else could they be talking about the same Charlie? And what was with her sugar-coated lines? Too many day-time soaps, Camilla decided. Perhaps she suffered some sort of mental illness. Camilla began to wonder if it was in fact Charlie that needed her help. She considered warning Charlie that he might be living with a dangerous psychotic, but then she decided that it might be more interesting not to warn him.

Candy looked about the room, disinterested once again.

"Well, it looks like Charlie might be running a little late," she sighed eventually, "so you'll excuse me if I do a little last minute cleaning, okay?"

In one fluid motion, she uncrossed her legs, leaned forward and stood elegantly, her hands poised delicately at her sides.

"But this place is spotless!" Camilla pointed out, looking around the room for any sign of untidiness. Candy smiled down at her serenely.

"Maybe to you, Camilla, but not to me." She turned, rounded the couch and headed across the room.

As Camilla watched the girl walk across the room, it struck her how even her movements seemed sugary-sweet. Her poised hands. The toe-heel steps of a trained model. She seemed to have a meticulous elegance that pervaded everything she did. The young woman opened a cupboard and removed the main section of a vacuum cleaner, placing it on the floor. While the girl was bent over, Camilla could see how even the contents of the cupboard were arranged neatly. The voluptuous brunette seemed to know exactly where each required piece was stored and as she repeatedly reached from cupboard to floor, assembling the machine, the impression was one of clockwork efficiency - Like a robot on a car production line. Camilla's train of thought was interrupted when a stack of magazines suddenly fell from a shelf in the cupboard above the studious girl. Camilla was secretly pleased and could not restrain a smirk when Candy cried out as the magazines scattered about her, immediately interrupting her efficient assembly of the vacuum cleaner.

"Oh gee! What a mess!" she gasped, noticeably and overly distressed, "And Charlie will be home soon, too!"

She bent down and began regathering the offending articles. Camilla got up quickly.

"Here, I'll give you a hand" she offered, crossing the room toward the deeply bronzed brunette. Camilla crouched down to the floor and likewise began collecting magazines and stacking them in a pile in front of her.

"Thank you so much." Candy sighed over appreciatively. Looking across at Camilla, and still bent forward, she was clearly unconscious of how obviously her breast implants showed. Camilla suddenly felt sorry for the young woman. What drove the young woman to want to please everyone? - even to the extent of having her body altered? - and at such a young age....The picturesque woman seemed sadly devoid of her true personality.

"That's no problem." Camilla assured her, trying to smile. She glanced down at yet another stray magazine that lay open on the floor. She was about to add it to the tidy pile in front of her when the headline on the page to which it had fallen open caught her eye.

"This month's special feature," the headline read, "The All New Chantelle Series." It was the word 'Series' that intrigued Camilla. The page featured a large glossy photograph of a blond woman wearing only her black underwear whilst lying on a bed.

Frowning, Camilla checked the cover.

"AutoMates Inc." was the magazine's title. The cover featured a group of similarly tanned bikini-clad women, and the caption "The women of your dreams." Camilla flicked back to the page which had first grabbed her attention. She began to read the article. It opened with an introductory paragraph.

"Not since the Darlene 121 models has AutoMates Inc. put so many ground breaking innovations into one fantastic creation. From the Chantelle Entrancer model, right up to the luxurious Chantelle Xtasy 560, we've fashioned what we're calling.....'The Perfect Series'. Read on and discover......"

Camilla found that she couldn't in fact read on any further. She glanced feverishly at the array of photographs featured in the two page spread. All depicted the same attractive blond woman in various poses; Seated at a restaurant; Playing tennis; Kissing a man; Dusting an ornate china cabinet.

"Can I take those, Camilla?" Candy asked suddenly, distracting Camilla from the magazine. She was leaned forward with one hand outstretched to receive the small pile of magazines, the other clutching a larger stack at her bosom. The girl's blemishless smiling face was just inches from Camilla's. Staring into those glistening brown eyes, Camilla began to feel uneasy about how all too perfect they seemed. She managed a smile and cleared her throat.

"No, that's fine. I'll get them, Candy." she insisted.

The over-endowed brunette was clearly a little surprised by the reply.

"Oh, okay." she chirped. The shapely young woman stood and returned her pile of magazines to their place on the cupboard's top shelf. Camilla watched her as she moved to the vacuum cleaner, delicately taking its power cord and heading toward a power socket to plug it in - still moving with the same contrived elegance, an expression of overwhelming serenity on her flawless face.

Camilla looked back to the magazine once again and began flicking through the pages. Shortly she came to an alphabeticised section. Each page was highlighted by a new name - Barbera - Bianca - Blanche. Each featured a large photograph of the named woman, who was invariably mostly undressed, and a small section of text - presumably a profile of her more 'attractive characteristics'. Camilla continued flicking through the pages. She had heard from news reports in recent months of breakthroughs in cybernetic technology, but surely this had to be some sort of a joke. Or perhaps it was a novelty fantasy magazine. Nonetheless she continued. The names flashed by. Caitlan. Catherine. Darlene. Deborah. Camilla stopped abruptly and flicked back a few pages. Between Caitlan and Catherine, a page had been torn out.

Suddenly the vacuum cleaner started up. With a start, Camilla looked up. The brunette was bent forward with one hand placed delicately on top of the machine, the other taking hold of the cleaner's nozzle. Her sizable cleavage was clearly displayed.

The girl's ludicrous figure bore an alarming resemblance to those depicted in the magazine. Her body had the same blemishless complexion. An identical deep even tan. The same trim shapely legs, and an exaggerated pinched waist. And those breasts. They were so generously and shamelessly oversized. At that moment Candy looked across at Camilla and smiled. Camilla looked away, back at the magazine, and closed it, adding it finally to the pile in front of her. She closed her eyes for a second, and realized she was getting a little paranoid. There was nothing to say that Candy was one of these so-called 'AutoMates', if the magazine was even genuine. And where would Charlie find the money to buy one of these presumably priceless 'perfect women' anyway?

Camilla sighed and chuckled to herself, then took the pile of magazines and stood, moving to the cupboard. As she reached up to place them on the top shelf, she noticed Candy's name written below the shelf, on the back wall of the cupboard. A moment's closer inspection revealed that what Camilla had thought to be the back wall was in fact a large collapsed industrial cardboard box, folded up and resting at the back of the cupboard. Camilla noticed several markings on it.

"Hi there. I'm Candice." was printed on the large folded up box, just beneath a small clear plastic panel. Below that there was printed,

'Devonmall AutoMates Inc.' and, still further down and repeated off to the left side,

'Fragile. Electronics.'

Camilla gasped, and put her hands at her mouth. Her pile of precariously balanced magazines came tumbling back down around her.

Immediately the vacuum shut off. Camilla, still with her hands at her face, turned to face Candy who was approaching gracefully.

"Oh gee! What a mess!" Candy gasped, looking dispirited, "And Charlie will be home soon, too!" She bent forward at the waist and began collecting the magazines once again. Camilla eyed her suspiciously, then got an idea. She pushed the second stack of magazines down off the shelf. The scantily clad voluptuous girl had not yet rectified the first mess, but she stood and looked down around her.

"Oh gee! What a mess!" she gasped yet again, "And Charlie will be home soon, too!"

The emphasis and intonation were so noticeably identical to how she had made the same remark just moments earlier that it seemed as if Candy were replaying a recording. The girl leaned forward again and continued regathering the magazines. Camilla glanced once again at the large box folded up at the back of the cupboard. Something occurred to her.

"Candy?" she began firmly, "What's your last name?"

Candy was collecting the last of the magazines.

"What's that, Camilla?" she asked casually, though it was obvious that she must have heard the question. The voluptuous girl stood upright, still smiling serenely.

"What's your last name, Candy?" Camilla repeated, still more firmly.

"My last name, Camilla?" Candy asked, adopting her increasingly typical perplexed expression. Her head was slightly to one side, her arms crossed in front of her, clutching the magazines.

"Yes. You know. The name that comes after your first one?" Camilla demanded gruffly, "What's your last name?"

Once again the picturesque girl seemed unable to formulate a reply. Her deep brown eyes lost their focus. Her whole appearance suddenly seemed strangely and unnaturally inert.

"Hello? Anybody home?" Camilla pressed, tempted to wave a hand in front of the inanimate girl's face.

Shortly the girl spoke.

"Searching." she said softly, without expression. Camilla began to realize the significance of the word. She waited. After a moment the ridiculously proportioned girl spoke again.

"Searching." the statuesque brunette repeated automatically.

Then Camilla heard a sound that confirmed to her what she had suspected. A kind of mechanical buzz. It lasted only a moment, but Camilla was sure it came from inside the girl's body. A moment later the smile returned to that flawless face and those deep brown eyes refocused on Camilla.

"I'm Candice." the curvaceous brunette recited cheerfully, her enthusiastic eyes glistening with renewed playfulness, "but you can call me Candy." The caricature of feminine perfection then stepped past Camilla to the cupboard and returned the magazines once again to the top shelf.

Camilla was agape. She was now convinced that the unnaturally bronzed young woman was in fact nothing more than a life-sized Barbie-doll-like robot. Camilla watched the artificial 'dream girl' as she turned away and returned to the vacuum cleaner. Once there the leggy brunette leaned forward from the waist, collecting the vacuum cleaner's hose in one hand and reactivated the machine with the other, the girl's forward bent pose exposing her toned rear end for a moment. To Camilla, the girl's repeated body flaunting poses now seemed like an unconscious pre-programmed maneuver aimed at displaying as much of the robotic girl's cartoonish figure as possible - a figure of which her builders were undoubtedly so proud.

Camilla was annoyed that when she had earlier joked to herself about how the girl moved with uncanny robotic efficiency, she had failed to realize the simile was actually true. Camilla also suddenly realized that earlier she had actually felt sorry for the manufactured plaything. She knew now that the reason the vacuous nymph seemed so devoid of any personality was because it didn't even have one. Candy really was a robot. And most importantly of all - Charlie's robot. Though she knew she shouldn't care, this irritated Camilla more than anything. This big-breasted bionic bimbo was apparently Charlie's idea of the perfect woman! This made Camilla want to find out just how fragile the plastic girl's electronics were - by means of a large brick.

Returning to her seat and watching the idyllic fantasy girl continue her vacuuming, Camilla appreciated now just how things worked with 'Little Miss Perfect' around. The glorified Barbie-doll kept the apartment clean, kept herself pretty for Charlie, and gave him 'everything he wants', to use the charlatan's own words. Camilla was fast becoming furious - with Charlie, and with 'AutoMates Incorporated' for manufacturing such an unashamedly sexist reproduction of womanhood. She decided Charlie needed to be taught a lesson. She wasn't exactly sure what that lesson was, but she knew it involved getting the artificial archaic fantasy of a woman out of Charlie's life - preferably in several separate garbage bags. For a moment Camilla considered just prizing off the plaything's head with a large kitchen implement of some sort, but the prospect of then having to pay the bill lessened the impact of her protest somehow. And Charlie would simply be able to buy himself another 'dream girl'.

Perplexed, Camilla tried to come up with a way of taking the shapely doll out of the picture, without leaving any evidence of foul play. Eventually, she conceded that she would have to wait for another time, as Charlie was about to meet with her shortly, and if 'Little Miss Perfect' was in several smoldering pieces on his arrival home, Camilla would of course be prime suspect number one. Camilla could only sit and watch the long-legged, big breasted robo-bimbo continue vacuuming, blissfully unaware of how she offended Camilla so.

At that moment the phone rang. Immediately Candy leaned forward and delicately turned off the vacuum cleaner once again. As the machine ground to a halt, Camilla watched the shapely young woman walk toward the kitchen area at the far end of the room, and pick up the telephone receiver.

"Hello, Charlie's residence. Candice speaking." she chimed, her smooth, flawless back to Camilla. "Oh, hi honey!" she gasped excitedly.

Camilla glanced around the room and spied what she suspected was the door to the bedroom. Checking that Miss Perfect's faculties were completely engrossed in deep conversation with Charlie, she stood and moved quickly to the door. She pushed it open, moved inside and closed it behind her.

"Bingo!" she whispered, moving to the bed-side telephone. She picked it up gingerly and raised it to her ear.

"...has gone on longer than we'd expected, baby." Charlie was explaining, "So I'd like you to do me a favor, okay?"

"Uh-huh, anything." Candy gushed huskily from the other end.

"Well, with the meeting running late, I'd prefer not to have to pick up something to eat on my way home. I'd like you to cook me something, okay?"

"Uh-huh. What would you like?" Candy breathed.

"Thatta girl!" Charlie replied, "Surprise me. Just use the green cook-book, all right?"

As she listened, Camilla noticed a red sheet of paper lying beside the phone. She picked it up.

"Stop Press!" was printed in block letters across the top, "Quality second-hand AutoMates at bargain prices!" read the next line. Beneath that there were two columns of 'dream girl' names and serial numbers. Camilla noticed one was circled.

"Candice, Seductress Model." she read, "One owner. Excellent condition. Call Thomas at our Devonmall branch."

Now Camilla noticed a small jotter-pad, and beneath that what she quickly recognized as the missing page from the 'AutoMates Inc.' magazine. She picked this page up too. There she was, in only a tiny fluorescent green bikini, her unwieldy bust bulging out everywhere. Candy. Her hair was a different style - shorter, and teased untidily - but the resemblance was unmistakable. Below the photograph there were three paragraphs. While being careful to monitor the conversation still continuing between Charlie and his curvaceous trophy, Camilla began to read.

"With her year-round tan, and built-for-the-beach body, the 'Candy' series will appeal to the outdoor adventure seeker. Candy doesn't only look good on the sand......Now, with new Impulseals(tm) you can take her for a playful splash in the surf, or on an intimate stroll in the rain. Or if you're in an indoor mood, why not share a sensuous hot shower?"

This paragraph was immediately followed by a tiny asterisk. Camilla glanced to the bottom of the page to find an equally insignificant disclaimer.

"While the 'Candice' series is water resistant, total immersion in water is not recommended." Camilla made a mental note of that and continued reading the main text.

"But it's not just Candy's body that makes her so appealing. As you'd expect, with all that time spent at the beach getting the perfect tan, Candy doesn't care too much for boring reasoning and dizzying intellectualizations - she's the perfect beach bimbo! She much prefers just to have fun - a principle we're certain you'll more than approve of when you discover just what we mean by a body that's 'built for the beach'.

Candy's figure is clearly one intended for more revealing attire. Her 'dream-girl' contoured body features fantastic measurements - 39, 22, 36 - and is perfectly at home in the skimpiest swim wear. Candy's not built to be a genius with numbers, but we're sure you'll agree her voluptuous curves add up to fun, fun, fun! Check her out soon, at your nearest AutoMates Showroom."

The other side of the page featured more specific statistics, and prices of the different models. Camilla had to remind herself she was holding a live telephone receiver, and restrain a gasp at seeing the prices, some in excess of two hundred thousand dollars. She noticed however, that the 'Candice Seductress' was one of the cheaper models - more expensive than only the "Candice Entrancer'. She went to put both pages down, when she noticed the jotter pad again. It was covered in messy scribbles which Camilla recognized as Charlie's rushed dictation script.

"Candy Seduct." she began to decipher, "Re-cond. after mild short out (comp. overload) Programming intact. Difficulty with multiplication (irrep. circuit damage) Best avoid. All other func. 100%. Great body. Hou/wk programmed. Cash discount."

That was all. Charlie had presumably visited the Devonmall branch, made a deal, and the air headed artificial trinket of a woman in the other room had been delivered the next day.

"Difficulty with multiplication...best avoid" read Camilla again. Perhaps if the brunette dream girl in the other room had scrambled her circuits dealing with mathematics in the past, she could be led to do the same once again. Camilla's attention was suddenly turned back to the conversation drawing to a close on the phone receiver still pressed to her ear.

"Okay then, gotta go honey. I should be home in a couple hours or so." Charlie explained. Camilla noticed that Charlie had said he would be home late, but not that he would be late for his meeting with her. Could it be that he had forgotten about the appointment? If so, Charlie need never know Camilla had been there.

"Okay." Candy replied huskily, "I'll be waiting for you."

"All right babe. See you soon."

"I want you Charlie." Candy breathed softly. Camilla heard Charlie chuckle nervously.

"Okay, bye." He hung up.

Camilla put the receiver down, arranged the papers she had moved into the order she had found them and went back to the door. She opened it and stepped back into the lounge area. The artificial young woman had returned to the vacuum cleaner and seemed surprised to see Camilla emerging from the bedroom.

"I was just using the toilet." Camilla explained quickly as she sat down again. Candy absorbed that for a moment, then smiled and leaned forward, dismantling the vacuum cleaner. As Camilla watched the curvaceous creation pack the machine away, the tropically bronzed brunette appeared all the more startlingly artificial. That mysterious meticulous elegance now seemed mechanically conceived - every move elegantly poised for maximum visual appeal. Camilla started to wonder how she had even been taken in by the absurdly fantastical figure of the girl to begin with. Her outlandish body really did look like a life sized Barbie doll, and even her over-tanned complexion now appeared to exhibit an unnatural sheen.

By now Candy had finished putting the machine back in its cupboard. Camilla watched the robotic young woman delicately close the door to the cupboard, then walk to the far end of the apartment, around the kitchen counter into the black and white tiled kitchen area - every move made as if she were modeling on an invisible cat-walk. Camilla wanted so much to see that plastic caricature of femininity in several inelegant, broken pieces. The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became that Charlie had simply forgotten about their meeting. Which meant, provided she was gone before Charlie arrived home, Little Miss Perfect was fair game. There was just the small problem of leaving no evidence of foul play....

Camilla stood and, feigning disinterest, wandered over to the counter that divided off the kitchen from the rest of the apartment.

"So, who was that on the phone?" she asked casually.

Candy was half bent over a drawer on the opposite side of the counter, leafing through the drawer's contents - her unavoidable, over-inflated bust once again on display. She removed a small green book and pushed the drawer shut with her other hand.

"Oh, It was Charlie. He's running late." replied the girl, rolling her eyes and sighing, "He works so hard, the poor guy." She then placed the book on the kitchen counter and began flicking through the pages curiously.

"So, what did he want?" Camilla pressed. Candy replied without looking up,

"He wanted me to cook him dinner." She stopped searching through the recipe book, her deep brown eyes staring down at it while she held the pages carefully open with her impeccably manicured hands.

"Oh, that's nice. What are you going to cook?" Camilla asked.

Candy was frowning a little, still looking at the book.

"I think I'll cook him lasagna." she replied. She looked up, her flawless face suddenly excited.

"Charlie really likes lasagna!" the attractive girl explained clearly. "Uh-huh, lasagna it is."

"Right." Camilla breathed uneasily, trying - but failing - to look like she shared Candy's excitement. Candy returned her attention to the recipe book.

Suddenly Camilla got an idea - an idea that would test the beach bimbo's mathematical skills.

"How many people does the recipe serve?" she asked innocently.

"All the recipes in this book are meals for one." Candy replied, in deep consternation surveying the list of ingredients. Camilla frowned in feigned curiosity.

"But won't you be having any?" she asked. Candy looked up again and placed each of her hands on either side of her slender waist.

"Oh no." she gasped, clearly outraged, "I like to watch my figure." She resumed reading the recipe. Camilla thought for a moment.

"Candy," she began. Candy looked up again, utterly failing to look the slightest bit annoyed, as any real person would after being distracted so repeatedly. Camilla continued, "Waiting so long for Charlie's made me really hungry. Would it be too much trouble if I stayed for dinner as well?"

Candy just stared. Camilla waited. It took her a moment to realise that her request had completely immobilised the vacuous girl once again.

"Searching." the stunning brunette droned vacantly. Shortly that serene smile returned to her face.

"Oh sure, Camilla! You'd be more than welcome!" Candy gushed, her eyes sparkling playfully.

"Great." said Camilla, smiling. She composed herself and said very clearly, "So, just make a double serving, okay?"

Candy's smile faltered a little. Her head cocked to one side.

"A double serving?" she repeated, looking confused but still trying to smile.

"Yes." explained Camilla slowly, "Just double all the ingredients."

Candy just stared and blinked slowly. Camilla was desperately trying to think of the simplest way to put it.

"Times by two." she blurted suddenly.

She watched the voluptuous young woman take in her explanation. From Candy's expression it seemed that the shapely machine's processors were once again having some difficulty formulating a reply. Her eyebrows were raised a little, her mouth opened slightly and her eyes unfocused in an altogether dumbfounded expression. Camilla began to suspect that the mere mention of multiplication had been enough to fuse the vacuous robot's brain, when the inanimate brunette spoke softly.

"Processing" she murmured automatically, still staring vacantly straight through Camilla. Camilla could imagine cogs ticking over feverishly in the young woman's brain. Suddenly that familiar playful smile returned to the robotic girl's face.

"Oh, I see!" she laughed in realization, her sparkling eyes rolling, "Times by two." The gorgeous young woman looked back down at the recipe book.

"Okay, so... eighty grams of lasagna." she read softly, immediately shaking her head and sighing, "No, that's too tough for me." She looked up, her eyes rolling in artificial embarrassment.

"I'm such an air-head!" she gasped, asking, "What's eighty times two, Camilla?"

The busty brunette stared, her head at a slight angle, awaiting the information with an expectant smile. It seemed a little ironic to Camilla that out of the two of them, it was the one with a computer mother-board for a brain that couldn't do mathematics. Still, that's how the 'perfect beach bimbo' was designed, so Camilla wasn't about to let her off the hook easily. She just shrugged, and lied.

"I don't know. You tell me. What's eighty times two, Candy?"

For the second time, Candy seemed a little taken aback by Camilla's reply.

"Gee, I never was too good with math." she explained, with a nervous laugh and she looked back down at the book in front of her. The fingernails of her right hand began tapping on the counter rhythmically.

"Eighty times two...Hmm....eighty times two..." she murmured softly. This presumably was when the helpless plaything's owner was expected to offer assistance, but Camilla declined. Candy's plastic earrings jangled uneasily. Camilla just waited as the attractive brunette lapsed into silence. She suddenly realized the curvaceous robot was once again completely inert. This time Camilla did not resist the temptation to wave her hand in front of the attractive girl's vacant face. Unsurprisingly, there was no response.

"Processing." the robotic young woman said flatly. Camilla was startled a little by a familiar but sudden mechanical buzz sounding from within the girl. However, where previously the voluptuous robot-bimbo had immediately sprung back to life, this time she remained immobile, just staring down at the recipe book with that same perplexed expression.

"Processing." The dream girl's lips were all that moved, mouthing the word automatically. There was yet another mechanical buzz from inside the girl's body, and when it was followed briefly by an abrupt abrasive crunching noise, Camilla could not help but wince. Candy's head twitched and she blinked, then finally that characteristic serene smile returned to her face. Her glistening eyes focused blissfully on Camilla.

"Eighty times two is one hundred and sixty." she gushed proudly, as if she deserved applause. Getting none, she turned away and stepped elegantly to the other side of the kitchen area, where she opened the pantry.

Camilla watched as she bent forward slightly, the back of her floral skirt lifting to reveal even more of those bronzed trim plastic legs of which the people at 'AutoMates Inc.' were presumably so proud. The girl's blemishless, deeply tanned, contoured back glistened unnaturally in the fluorescent lighting. Shortly the shapely female robot stood, turned to face Camilla and returned to where the recipe book lay on the counter - her gravity defying bust bobbing with each step. Once returned, she carefully placed a small packet of lasagna which she had retrieved from the pantry onto the counter, then delicately pointed her right index finger to the recipe book and continued reading.

"Now, forty grams of tomato paste." she chimed confidently, "Hmm....Forty times two...." Almost immediately she shrugged and gasped "Well, I dunno." then predictably looked across to Camilla again.

"What's forty times two, Camilla?" the automated bimbo asked, frowning quizzically and awaiting a reply. Once again Camilla just smiled back and said,

"Gee, I dunno Candy. What is forty times two?"

Candy stared, dumbstruck for a moment, then her brown eyes looked upward as if thinking. She brought her right index finger up to her bottom lip in yet another transparent attempt to strengthen the illusion that the 'AutoMate' was deep in thought and in need of assistance.

"Gee, I never was too good with math." Candy breathed, still looking upward, in fraudulent consternation. Camilla just waited - she could guess what was coming next.

Shortly the hand that was raised to the robot girl's chin lowered slowly, but then it jerked to a standstill a few inches from her face. The increasingly artificial appearing 'dream girl' was completely inactive yet again. To Camilla the vacant brunette seemed posed like a store-window mannequin - one that was obviously advertising silicon breast implants.

"Processing." the life sized figurine recited coldly. Immediately there was another mechanical buzz from inside the girl's chest. The statuesque brunette remained inactive, bar speaking again.

"Processing." she repeated instantly. The buzzing also repeated, followed again by a crunching sound, even more abrasive than before. Immediately she smiled dreamily at Camilla.

"Forty times two is eighty." she breathed softly, her right hand lowering daintily to her side finally. She turned away, faced the refrigerator on the far side of the kitchen, stepped gracefully toward it, delicately pulled the refrigerator door open and leaned forward. Camilla felt that the shapely robot was due for yet another taxing mathematical problem and glanced down at the recipe book, turning it around to face her.

"While you're there," she began, "the recipe here says you need twenty grams of cheese."

Candy was bent over provocatively, away from Camilla, in her characteristic leg-flaunting pose, with one hand resting gently on the open refrigerator door, the other outstretched toward the top shelf of the appliance.

"Uh huh." replied Charlie's 'perfect woman', her outstretched hand rising to her face. "Gee - twenty times two - that's a tough one." she sighed.

"Yeah." Camilla agreed, pre-emptively asking, "What is twenty times two, Candy?"

"Twenty times two is...Ummm..." sighed the crookedly posed 'dream girl'. Her dark brown trusses bounced in waves as she shook her head. "Boy, I'm such a bimbo..."

Ignoring the AutoMate's pre-programmed ploy to illicit her help, Camilla continued.

"Oh, and don't forget the tomato paste." she reminded the buxom young woman, "It says forty grams here, but we have to times that by two, don't we?" she pointed out.

"Forty times two....Hmm...Forty times two..." Candy chimed thoughtfully, her hand reaching back toward the top shelf of the refrigerator.

"Yes, what is forty times two, Candy?" Camilla pressed, checking the recipe book for more ingredients, before Candy could reply, "Oh! And one egg - but don't forget to times that by two." she blurted.

"Okay, so...One times two is....Umm..." Candy lilted automatically and her outstretched arm lowered to the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.

"Gee, I'm getting confused." she said, as if only just realizing the fact - It seemed an obvious understatement to Camilla, "How many eggs do I need?" Candy asked, still leaning forward toward the refrigerator. Camilla just sighed and said,

"I dunno, Candy. What's one times two?"

Camilla almost felt embarrassed asking the question, doubting that such a simple calculation could be too troublesome - even for the 'perfect beach bimbo'.

"One times two is..." the attractive young woman began confidently. Camilla was surprised when there was suddenly a faint crackling from inside the robot girl.

"Forty times two is..." said the girl, and her outstretched hand rose smoothly back toward the top shelf, only to jerk to a halt as another internal crackle sounded.

"Twenty times two is..." continued the young woman, and her arm lowered indecisively.

The confident, cheerful chime seemed to be fading from the shapely woman's voice, and the jerky, mechanized movement of her arm repeatedly raising and lowering betrayed the true origin of her mystical elegance. To Camilla she seemed like a clockwork toy - one that had obviously thrown a spring or two. There was yet another sharp crackle from inside the robot girl, and for a moment a faint flash of light showed through the flawless skin of her back.

The attractive young woman suddenly sprung to attention and whirled around, her floral skirt rippling daintily. She was smiling triumphantly, a single egg held carefully between the thumb and index finger of her right hand. She strode elegantly toward Camilla, those over-sized, plastic mammaries bobbing softly as she walked. Camilla felt compelled to call out.

"Oh, don't forget to times that by two." she began, "And what about the tomato paste, and cheese?" Then she added mercilessly, "Forty grams and twenty grams respectively - both times two."

Candy ground to an awkward, abrupt halt in the middle of the kitchen, her serene expression faltering.

"Searching..." she droned vacantly. A mechanical buzzing sounded briefly from inside her chest once again. Her soft brown eyes blinked repeatedly for a moment then she smiled playfully, apparently unaware of the problems her straining circuits were experiencing.

"Oh yeah! I must have forgotten." she explained, her deep brown eyes rolling in artificial embarrassment, "I'm such an air-head!"

Predictably, Candy's eyes looked upward and her right hand raised automatically toward her chin. However, while clearly attempting to adopt her patented 'help me - I'm thinking' expression, she failed to take the egg into account, and it cracked against her chin, shattering and spilling down her hand onto her bust below. Surprisingly, she failed even to appear to notice, which betrayed to Camilla the worsening state of the robot girl's inner workings. The tanned, shapely girl just stood there looking thoughtfully upwards with her index finger at her bottom lip and pieces of egg shell sliding inexorably down between her ludicrously pert breasts.

"One times two is....." she breathed huskily, and Camilla saw a flash of sparks illuminate the dream girl's perfectly contoured chest from within. The girl's serene expression twitched unnaturally for a moment - an eyebrow flickered, eyelids fluttered, the mouth sneered - then the composure returned to her face and she smiled yet again.

"Twenty times two is..." the over-sexualized AutoMate continued, cut short by a sharp internal crackle. Her flawless face once again contorted involuntarily for a moment, and her shamelessly over-endowed torso lurched awkwardly back, sending its bulbous breasts bouncing.

A soft electronic beeping began to emit from inside the curvaceous brunette Barbie-doll and Camilla thought she noticed the faint odor of burning plastic in the air. Candy frowned and her raised hand moved smoothly to the side of her head.

"Forty times twenty is..." began the automated plaything, interrupted yet again by a flash of internal sparks. Her body lurched, her head twitched, her eyes crossed for a moment, then she smiled awkwardly and continued.

"Twenty times one is..." she chimed, sparks crackling within her. The hand that was raised to the side of her head jerked suddenly into motion, lowering stiffly. Camilla could make out continuous flashes beneath the plastic skin of her upper body.

"Forty times forty is..." The brunette's stunning face twitched with each internal flash. Camilla now noticed faint wisps of smoke appearing from between Candy's long brown, perfectly styled and superbly conditioned, trusses. The pungent smell of burning electronics was strengthening in the air.

There was yet another loud grinding sound from within the girl, and she sprung into motion, pacing awkwardly toward Camilla. Though the kitchen counter was between them, Camilla felt compelled to back away from the starry-eyed overheating pleasure toy as it bumped awkwardly into the counter. Whilst still emitting that tell-tale beeping, the malfunctioning Candy had also begun to emit an electrified crackling fizzle. To Camilla, it sounded remarkably like the glorified sex doll had just drunk a large jug of water.

"I'm such an air-head." the AutoMate breathed dreamily - once again stating what had been clear to Camilla for some time. She turned stiffly counter-clockwise and stepped laboriously toward the refrigerator, her rather dated white high heels clicking an uneven rhythm against the tiled floor. After bumping into the large appliance, she came to an awkward stand-still once again.

"Don't you just love my boobs?" Candy asked, presumably addressing the inanimate machine. Getting no reply, she turned swiftly and headed toward the pantry, her expansive breasts bouncing with each jerky step. The robot girl jerked to a halt as she bumped clumsily into the closed cupboard.

"I'm just such a bimbo." lilted the electronically beeping brunette blissfully, and she spun around, her skirt flicking up off her curvaceous hips for a moment. She walked back across the kitchen toward Camilla. She took only three steps, before grinding to a halt in the centre of the kitchen, still smiling serenely, beeping and fizzling continuously.

"My body is just so great!" she proclaimed proudly as the crackling internal sparks intensified. Her torso began twitching repeatedly.

"I'm such an air..head." repeated the faltering 'perfect beach bimbo' yet again. Her deep brown eyes seemed dreamily excited as her head wobbled uneasily.

"I've got the per..fect..body." the AutoMate stammered unevenly. Two steady plumes of smoke were now clearly visible at either side of the robot's pretty head as it twitched and wobbled atop a body that continued lurching backward and forward.

"I nev..er....was..t.too...good..with..m.m.m.maths." stuttered the smoldering, beeping, twitching girl with apparent effort. Suddenly the all-too-confusable bimbo emitted that familiar abrasive grinding crunch - louder than ever before. Her back arched tightly, her egg-shell spattered bust bulging forward. Her toned arms stiffened, pointing at the ground. Her face contorted inhumanly - her eyes wide and crossed, her mouth an unnaturally twisted snarl. To Camilla the impression was of a beautiful celebrity's worst ever paparazzi photograph. The malfunctioning robot remained rigid - as if standing at attention grotesquely - as the grinding intensified. For a moment the abrasive sound faltered as if the teeth of grinding cogs were half catching each other. Then it abruptly stopped. Candy was completely inanimate, smoke issuing steadily from both ears.

Camilla waited for a moment, half expecting the inert creation to suddenly spring back to life. Eventually Camilla moved from behind the counter and nervously approached the broken-down 'Seductress'. Camilla could still hear a faint fading hiss, and the occasional crackle from inside that busty torso, but the supposedly 'perfect beach bimbo' remained frozen in that sadly unflattering pose. The thought of Charlie coming home to find that his request for a cooked dinner had fused his plaything's circuits, filled Camilla with the deepest sense of satisfaction - and there was no evidence to suggest that Camilla had even been there! Camilla suddenly remembered her briefcase, and retrieved it from the lounge, then looked the grotesquely posed, defunct pleasure doll up and down one last time.

"You would have been sooooo embarrassed." Camilla mused, rolling her eyes in a Candyesque fashion. She was startled by a sudden flash of sparks within the plaything, followed by several subsequent smaller crackles, but the 'dream girl' remained inert - its sugary brown eyes crossed and unlively. Camilla smiled and departed, closing the apartment door firmly behind her.

The expired AutoMate remained immobile in the silence of the apartment. Gradually the plumes of smoke issuing from the robot girl's ears waned, and eventually disappeared.

About two hours later, the profound silence of the apartment was broken by a key turning in the lock of the apartment door. The door opened and a slightly over-weight man in a slightly under-size business suit entered. Rubbing his eyes, he tossed his briefcase and jacket onto the couch as he made his way across the apartment toward the bedroom. He did not seem to notice the inanimate AutoMate standing in the kitchen at the other end of the apartment. Instead, he disappeared through the bedroom door.

"Candy?" he called from the bedroom a moment later. Immediately there was a small flash of sparks from inside the immobile brunette. A mechanical buzz sounded, followed by several short bleeps.

"Can I smell dinner burning?" called the man from the bedroom, emerging into the lounge a moment later, removing his tie. Candy emitted a brief electric hum, then suddenly the voluptuous young woman sprung back to life, smiling excitedly.

"Charlie!" she gasped, her eyes wide and enthusiastic. "How was your day, honey?" she asked, stepping from the kitchen.

"Oh, there you are, honey." said Charlie, noticing her finally, "Oh, fine - I guess. Is something burning?" he asked.

"Uh-uh." replied Candy, shaking her head mischievously as she approached.

Charlie smiled, threw his tie onto the back of the couch and walked toward his beautiful, perfect partner. They embraced and kissed, the buxom beauty moaning responsively. Shortly Charlie broke away from the kiss, and just stared into Candy's exotic brown eyes, holding her shoulders in each hand. He smiled.

"You are so gorgeous." he murmured sincerely. Candy's stunning eyes sparkled contentedly. Charlie frowned suddenly, staring down at the girl's cleavage.

"What's this?" he said, pointing at her right breast. Candy looked down at her over-sized brown bust. Charlie had noticed the spatters of egg and shell. He chuckled.

"Have a little accident cooking dinner?" he quipped. Candy looked up at Charlie and smiled sweetly.

"Oh, Charlie. You're so funny." she gushed, clearly mistaking Charlie's remark for an actually humorous joke. Charlie felt suddenly aware of the artificialness of the adoring girl as he stared into those perfect brown eyes. He looked away, across at the kitchen.

"So, what's for dinner then?" he asked, distracting himself. Candy did not reply. Charlie looked back at her. She was staring at him, trying to smile, but looked faintly confused.

"Dinner?" she breathed eventually.

"Yes. What did you cook for dinner?" he pressed. Candy went to speak, but froze. It took Charlie a moment to realize what had happened.

"Oh, no. Don't do that." he whined, snapping his fingers in front of the vacant girl's eyes, "Hello? Hello?"

"Searching..." the inanimate girl droned. Charlie sighed and waited patiently.

"Searching..." Candy repeated a short while later. A mechanical buzz emitted from the girl, then her eyes grew wide in realization.

"Oh gee! I must have forgotten." she gasped. She frowned, and shook her head, adding, "I'm such an air-head."

"You forgot?" said Charlie, outraged. Candy nodded shyly.

"Uh-huh. I'm sorry honey." she purred, leaning forward to kiss Charlie again, "Let me make it up to you." He pulled away, frowning.

"How could you forget?" he continued, "For goodness sake - you're a robot, right? You shouldn't just forget things!"

"I know." she sighed apologetically, putting her arms around his neck, "I'm just such a bimbo."

"That's becoming painfully obvious." said Charlie under his breath. He pulled her caressing arms away. "You know, I sometimes wonder how good a job Thomas' people did putting your brain back together."

Candy's confused expression did a lot to confirm Charlie's suspicion.

"Christ! I must have told you half a dozen times on the phone - just use the green cook book." Charlie continued, "How many times did I have to remind you?" Candy just stared blankly. Charlie turned away, frustrated.

"How many times?" he repeated softly to himself, flabbergasted.

"How many times?" the voluptuous brunette chimed back. Charlie turned to face her again. She was now smiling excitedly - utterly failing to look the least bit sorry.

"Yes - how many times?" Charlie fumed. He suddenly noticed a faint odor again and looked toward the kitchen.

"Forty times two is..." began his perfectly formed partner. Charlie wasn't paying attention, sniffing the air instead.

"Shh. Can you smell something?" he asked, still looking curiously in the direction of the kitchen.

"Twenty times two is..." his voluptuous robot continued. Charlie stepped away quickly.

"Is something burning?" he asked, moving into the kitchen.

"One times two is..." Candy continued blissfully, staring into the empty space where Charlie had been. There was another mechanical buzz inside her, then her chest was briefly incandescent as a burst of sparks flashed within it.

"Forty times two is..." the serenely staring brunette repeated. By now Charlie had checked the oven for heat, to no avail. He returned to the lounge.

"Can you smell that?" he asked his luscious robotic playmate.

"Twenty times two is..." replied the sensuous girl, still staring blissfully. Charlie frowned and approached her.

"What did you say?" he asked, the burning odour becoming more noticeable.

"One times two is..." Candy lilted clearly. That mechanical buzzing sounded once again from inside her.

"Candy? Are you okay?" Charlie asked nervously. Immediately a flash of sparks inside his costly second-hand AutoMate suggested that she was, in fact, not okay. Her pretty face twitched and Charlie noticed a wisp of smoke trailing from her left ear.

"Forty times twenty is.." she continued, smiling sweetly as a soft electronic beeping began to emit from her curvaceous torso. Charlie swore, and Candy's stunning face contorted for a moment, another flash showing through the skin of her chest. Charlie could now make out a faint fizzling sound. He took the stunning brunette's shoulders firmly in each hand and shook her gently.

"Candy!" he demanded. She was staring right through him.

"Twenty times one is..." the robot girl replied, interrupted by an internal crackle. Candy's voluptuous torso jerked back of its own volition, her expansive, pert breasts bouncing in front of Charlie for a moment.

"No, Candy. No!" Charlie stressed, "That's multiplication. Thomas said you're not supposed to do that, okay?"

"Forty times forty is..." she continued nonetheless. There was another crackle, a mechanical hum, followed by an expensive sounding crunch. Candy's back arched, thrusting her bulging bust forward. Her normally beautiful face was suddenly distorted. One eyebrow was raised, the other lowered. Her eyes were crossed - one eyelid wide open, the other half closed. And those luscious lips were stretched into an inhuman sneer.

[[Image:Fection5.jpg|thumb|300px|right]]

Charlie backed away involuntarily from the internally grinding pleasure droid, as white smoke began issuing steadily from both her ears. Suddenly there was a sharp bang and something clattered softly to the ground behind the 'dream girl'. A thick cloud of smoke billowed up from behind the voluptuous robot girl as a degree of serenity returned to the plaything's face - those soft brown eyes, glassy and distant.

"I am so gorgeous." she purred contentedly.

Charlie wasn't exactly sure what had happened, but then, as the scantily clad brunette turned stiffly toward the kitchen, it became clear. A section of her skin about four inches square was missing from the middle of her back. A silver cylinder suspended on telescopic railings and connected to smoking electronics was protruding from the cavity. She stepped quickly away, leaving Charlie in her smoke-filled wake. Glancing down at the floor, Charlie noticed a square section of rubber lying near where she had been standing. He collected it and went after his faltering dream girl.

"Candy." began Charlie, rushing to her side and walking with her, "Just calm down, all right?"

The luxuriantly proportioned brunette failed even to acknowledge him and continued walking forward, her generous cleavage bobbing in time. Her eyes were wide and unnervingly doll-like. Charlie stopped, watching the malfunctioning AutoMate continue into the kitchen alone. She walked directly into the refrigerator, bouncing off of it and turning clockwise awkwardly.

"I am perfect." said the clearly erroneous robot girl as she stepped with renewed vigour across the kitchen. Charlie went quickly to the telephone and desperately dialed a number as his malfunctioning sexy android bumped into the opposite wall, a burst of blue sparks showering from the exposed mechanism protruding from her back.

"I am your AutoMate." she explained, spinning around again and pacing quickly toward the sink. Charlie heard someone answer his call.

"Welcome to Devonmall AutoMates," said a sultry woman's voice, "Rebecca speaking."

"Hi, I need to speak to Thomas." Charlie demanded, as Candy walked clumsily into the kitchen counter, beeping and sparking increasingly regularly.

"One moment please." replied 'Rebecca' softly.

"I am justabimbo." said Candy quickly. The voluptuous girl began to turn clockwise but instead suddenly jerked around in the opposite direction, her floral skirt flicking indecisively. Charlie meanwhile, had been put on hold, listening to advertisements for the latest AutoMate models. As he waited he watched Candy bustle to and fro around the kitchen. Her deeply tanned, shapely legs - the curves of her hips, and narrow waist - and her oversized bouncing breasts, of which he'd grown so fond - it all seemed to be failing. That perfectly formed luscious body bumped into the counter again and turned away, the grotesque smoldering mechanism in her back confirming to Charlie that the sensuous exotic beauty really was just a machine.

"Iamprogrammedtoloveyou." said the doll automatically, pacing rapidly toward the pantry, into which she collided - bust first - a moment later.

"IamaCandriceSeductress." she recited as she whirled around and walked quickly toward Charlie. Charlie found himself recoiling away from the wide eyed smoldering brunette again, then she suddenly ground to a halt amidst a flash of sparks.

"Iamoverheating." trilled the big breasted brunette. The beeping emitting from her suddenly began to rise in pitch, causing Charlie to cover one ear with his free hand, the other with the phone receiver. There was another shower of sparks, and several subsequent electrical crackles. Candy's torso lurched back, then bounced forward.

"Iamoverloading." she declared, leaned slightly forward, as if finally weighed down by the size of her bust. Several bright flashes filled the kitchen. The beeping rose to a piercing crescendo.

"Iamprogrammedtoloveyou." blurted the AutoMate, before a final distinctive 'pop' sounded. Charlie, who realized he had closed his eyes, could still hear Candy speaking.

"..programmed to love you..." she said. There was a sharp fizzle then she spoke again.

"...programmed to love you..." Charlie heard the same fizzling sound, and she repeated the words over again. He opened his eyes nervously.

The picture perfect shapely girl was frozen, posed crookedly, looking slightly down at the floor. Only her lips moved, mouthing the same sentence clearly over and over. Charlie was distracted by someone speaking suddenly from the other end of the telephone.

"Hi, Thomas speaking." said a voice. Charlie tried to compose himself.

"Oh, Yeah. Hi, Thomas. Ah..It's Charlie Harcourt here..." he began.

"Charlie! How are you? Hey, how's that little princess of yours doing?" Thomas replied.

Charlie hesitated, looking across at his costly voluptuous investment.

"Not too well, actually." he mumbled.

"Oh. Blown a servo has she? Not to worry. All covered in the warranty." Thomas explained. Charlie was still surveying the girl. Standing immobile like a mannequin, her tanned contoured body seemed suddenly too sleek. She really was plastic. With her trim, athletic calves, curvaceous thighs, her pinched waist and firm bulbous breasts, she was still just a machine.

"..programmed to love you...programmed to love you...programmed to love you..." the AutoMate repeated, still staring - those exotic brown eyes vacant, like a doll's.

"Actually, Thomas..." began Charlie, still gazing at the broken-down sensuously formed robotic woman, "I was wondering if there was anything like a thirty-day money back guarantee...."

The End.

-----

[[Stories|Back to the story archive]]

[[Category:Fection]]
[[Category:Stories]]

File:Officer207.jpg

2008-07-13T11:28:53Z

Fection: uploaded a new version of "Image:Officer207.jpg": Officer 207 from the BA story 'Special Agent'.

Officer 207 from the BA story 'Special Agent'.

File:Officer207.jpg

2008-07-09T20:37:01Z

Fection: Officer 207 from the BA story 'Special Agent'.

Officer 207 from the BA story 'Special Agent'.

Charlie's Second-Hand Angel

2008-03-19T21:48:37Z

Fection:

Episode 2 of "Destined For The Junkpile"
-----
The voice inside the apartment door was not the one Camilla had expected to hear. To begin with it was a woman's.

"Just a second, honey!" the girl had called out from inside, a moment after Camilla's firm knock.

As she waited, Camilla pondered how Charlie could have found himself a new partner so quickly. It had been scarcely a month since their divorce, and in her admittedly subjective opinion, Charlie was hardly Prince Charming. Perhaps he had been able to patch things up with the 'other woman' somehow. Then Camilla remembered the other woman's parents had tracked her down and sent her away to a modeling college in Europe somewhere. For a moment she toyed with the thought that the woman might be Charlie's maid, but then it occurred to her that maids don't generally call their employer "honey". Her perplexed train of thought was interrupted when the door opened.

"What do you think of....Oh!" said a startled voice.

Camilla was suddenly face to face with a very attractive young woman, who's enthusiastic smile was already fading. The girl had long dark brown hair, and glistening brown eyes. She was wearing bright white high heels and a rather scant floral dress, which Camilla could only assume she had been expecting to model for Charlie. No doubt the brightly colored dress would have met with Charlie's approval. It revealed most of the girl's long, toned, shapely legs, and featured a low neck-line, exposing much of the young woman's conspicuously silicon-enhanced cleavage. The whole outfit seemed to be held up by a single fine strap that curved around the back of the girl's neck. There was no denying the young woman was strikingly attractive - a beacon of exotic beauty - if a little stereotypically so. She looked to have some Spanish blood, with those deep brown eyes and that olive complexion. Her hair was perfectly styled and shining with health. Her face too was stunning - flawlessly made up. And her body belonged in a fashion magazine - though with that enlarged bust, Camilla doubted the girl would fit into most cat-walk fashion.

There was an awkward pause.

"I think it looks wonderful." complimented Camilla eventually, though somewhat reluctantly. The girl still seemed startled.

"Who are you?" she asked, at last acknowledging that she did not recognize Camilla.

"I'm Camilla Harcourt, Charlie's ex-wife...." Camilla extended her right hand. "I take it he's not returned from work yet...." It seemed to Camilla that the girl was too preoccupied with taking in what Camilla had just said to offer her the courtesy of shaking her hand. Instead, the girl frowned and crossed her arms. It also occurred to Camilla that due to the size of the girl's bust, crossing her arms might prove a difficult task, but she seemed to manage it all right.

"That's right. He's not home yet." the shapely girl confirmed coldly.

"Well, I've arranged to meet him here after work. We've a few things to discuss relating to our divorce." continued Camilla.

The girl pouted a little suspiciously, and shifted her weight to one leg, staring defiantly at Camilla. Camilla was becoming increasingly annoyed. She waited, determined that the scantily clad brunette should speak next. As she waited, she decided the girl wore too much makeup, and had spent too much time at tanning clinics. The girl's skin now seemed unnaturally brown, and unnervingly radiant.

Eventually, Camilla's patience wore out.

"Well, do you know when he'll be in?" she inquired. She began to wonder if all conversations with this girl took this long. Camilla was surprised by the girl for once, who responded immediately.

"Charlie should be home shortly." she said. There was another pause. The girl flicked her head gently, tossing her hair gracefully off her shoulders. Then she continued staring.

"Well, would you mind if I waited for him inside?" suggested Camilla impatiently. Once again the inquiry seemed to be taking some considerable time to make sense to the attractive girl. Her mouth seemed poised to speak, but her now slightly glazed eyes just stared inertly. She said something quietly, that Camilla did not quite catch.

"Pardon me?" Camilla said, leaning forward a little, but the girl did not respond. Her plastic earrings glistened garishly as she continued staring with a somewhat startled expression. Shortly she smiled and chirped,

"Okay, sure Camilla!"

She stepped back and invited Camilla in. Camilla moved through the doorway finally into the apartment which, she immediately noticed, was remarkably tidier than when she last had had to visit Charlie. Gone were the dishes from the coffee table. Gone were the scattered pieces of clothing from the furniture, and floor. It actually seemed pleasant. Camilla also noticed that there no longer seemed to be that repugnant odor emanating from the kitchen area off to her left. Camilla's astonishment was distracted by the sound of the apartment door clicking firmly shut. She turned to face the voluptuous young woman, who was now smiling broadly. The girl had a nice smile, Camilla conceded. Having finally been allowed into the apartment, Camilla resolved to give the girl another chance.

"And what's your name?" Camilla asked, returning a friendly smile. The girl's brown eyes sparkled.

"Candice." she replied proudly, walking to the couch. She sat and crossed her legs elegantly, placing her hands one over the other on her knee, "but you can call me Candy."

Camilla restrained a laugh.

"Candy?" she repeated doubtfully. The girl nodded a couple of times, oblivious to Camilla's disbelief.

"Uh huh." the girl assured her. Camilla slowly found herself a seat opposite the elegantly poised woman and placed her briefcase uneasily beside her chair. Candy just sat there smiling, staring at Camilla with those deep brown sparkling eyes.

"So," Camilla started, "how long have you been living with Charlie?"

Candy shrugged, suddenly aloof.

"Oh, I dunno. Not long." she sighed. Her elevated foot began bouncing restlessly and she looked around the lounge in apparent disinterest. Camilla continued.

"How..." she paused, trying to be diplomatic, "How 'secure' are you in your relationship?"

This remark seemed to regain Candy's attention. She looked somewhat perplexed and put her head slightly to one side.

"What do you mean?" she asked, frowning faintly.

"What I mean to say is..." Camilla hesitated again, then decided to screw diplomacy. She sat forward in her chair. "The main reason Charlie and I divorced is because he was unfaithful." Camilla explained. Candy began smiling and nodding, a smug look of realization on her face. Camilla continued.

"How much do you trust him?" she pressed.

"I trust him very much." Candy assured Camilla, "We're very much in love. He gives me everything I need, and I give him everything he wants."

Camilla hesitated to be too judgmental, but the young woman really did give the impression of being a rather stereotypical 'bimbo'. It seemed to Camilla that the girl was reading a description of her relationship off the back of a sugary cereal box. Camilla persevered.

"Okay, but, he was unfaithful to me." she stressed again, "Doesn't that make you even a little concerned?"

The smug smirk on Candy's face didn't falter.

"Oh Charlie told me all about that." she explained, rolling her eyes, "and from the sound of it, the woman was actually a lot like me. Y'know. Young. Attractive. Quite a lot different to you. I think Charlie just needed a change."

It was clear to Camilla that the girl was speaking without the slightest hint of malice, but it was the fact that she was so utterly unaware of her remarks' tactlessness that made her all the more offensive. That the girl had only heard Charlie's side of the story bothered Camilla too. She could only gasp a disbelieving laugh. Naturally, Candy failed even to notice.

"Charlie says I'm the kind he really goes for." Candy continued. Her posture straightened a little as if to accentuate her preposterously proportioned figure. One hand moved delicately to her narrow waist.

"With a body like mine, I think I'll keep him around." she said playfully, for the first time displaying sarcasm. Camilla sat there, trying to restrain herself from clobbering the vacuous girl right then and there. Camilla decided instead that the girl needed her help.

"Candy, do your parents know you're here with Charlie?" she pried. Candy continued smiling, but for a moment did not seem to know how to reply.

"My parents?" she asked quizzically, her serene expression fading a little.

"Yes. Y'know. Your Mom and Dad." Camilla pressed, "Do they know you're here?"

Candy's mouth opened, but she failed to speak. She seemed confused by Camilla's simple inquiry. Her sparkling eyes glazed over slightly.

"Searching." she said flatly, staring straight through Camilla.

Now Camilla was confused.

"What, your parents are searching for you?" she proffered. Candy did not reply, staring vacantly. Camilla leaned further toward the obviously troubled young woman. "Candy, is that it? Are your parents looking for you?"

"Searching." Candy repeated, in that same uncharacteristically unenthusiastic tone. Then suddenly the focus returned to her eyes, and the smile to her face. "I finished college a couple years ago and have done the odd bit of modeling here and there," she explained, "but Charlie gives me something I've never got from any other man - real love." Candy beamed, clearly proud of her deep admiration for Charlie.

Camilla could not hide her bewilderment. It occurred to her that this girl might have been brainwashed. How else could they be talking about the same Charlie? And what was with her sugar-coated lines? Too many day-time soaps, Camilla decided. Perhaps she suffered some sort of mental illness. Camilla began to wonder if it was in fact Charlie that needed her help. She considered warning Charlie that he might be living with a dangerous psychotic, but then she decided that it might be more interesting not to warn him.

Candy looked about the room, disinterested once again.

"Well, it looks like Charlie might be running a little late," she sighed eventually, "so you'll excuse me if I do a little last minute cleaning, okay?"

In one fluid motion, she uncrossed her legs, leaned forward and stood elegantly, her hands poised delicately at her sides.

"But this place is spotless!" Camilla pointed out, looking around the room for any sign of untidiness. Candy smiled down at her serenely.

"Maybe to you, Camilla, but not to me." She turned, rounded the couch and headed across the room.

As Camilla watched the girl walk across the room, it struck her how even her movements seemed sugary-sweet. Her poised hands. The toe-heel steps of a trained model. She seemed to have a meticulous elegance that pervaded everything she did. The young woman opened a cupboard and removed the main section of a vacuum cleaner, placing it on the floor. While the girl was bent over, Camilla could see how even the contents of the cupboard were arranged neatly. The voluptuous brunette seemed to know exactly where each required piece was stored and as she repeatedly reached from cupboard to floor, assembling the machine, it occurred to Camilla that Candy seemed to be working like clockwork. Like a robot on a car production line. Camilla's train of thought was interrupted when a stack of magazines suddenly fell from a shelf in the cupboard above the studious girl. Camilla was secretly pleased and could not restrain a smirk when Candy cried out as the magazines scattered about her, immediately interrupting her efficient assembly of the vacuum cleaner.

"Oh gee! What a mess!" she gasped, noticeably and overly distressed, "And Charlie will be home soon, too!"

She bent down and began regathering the offending articles. Camilla got up quickly.

"Here, I'll give you a hand" she offered, crossing the room toward the deeply bronzed brunette. Camilla crouched down to the floor and likewise began collecting magazines and stacking them in a pile in front of her.

"Thank you so much." Candy sighed over appreciatively. Looking across at Camilla, and still bent forward, she was clearly unconscious of how obviously her breast implants showed. Camilla suddenly felt sorry for the young woman. What drove the young woman to want to please everyone? - even to the extent of having her body altered? - and at such a young age....The picturesque woman seemed sadly void of her true personality.

"That's no problem." Camilla assured her, trying to smile. She glanced down at yet another stray magazine that lay open on the floor. She was about to add it to the tidy pile in front of her, when the headline on the page to which it had fallen open caught her eye.

"This month's special feature," the headline read, "The All New Chantelle Series." It was the word 'Series' that intrigued Camilla. The page featured a large glossy photograph of a blond woman wearing only her black underwear whilst lying on a bed.

Frowning, Camilla checked the cover.

"AutoMates Inc." was the magazine's title. The cover featured a group of similarly tanned bikini-clad women, and the caption "The women of your dreams." Camilla flicked back to the page which had first grabbed her attention. She began to read the article. It opened with an introductory paragraph.

"Not since the Darlene 121 models has AutoMates Inc. put so many ground breaking innovations into one fantastic creation. From the Chantelle Entrancer model, right up to the luxurious Chantelle Xtasy 560, we've fashioned what we're calling.....'The Perfect Series'. Read on and discover......"

Camilla found that she couldn't in fact read on any further. She glanced feverishly at the array of photographs featured in the two page spread. All depicted the same attractive blond woman in various poses; Seated at a restaurant; Playing tennis; Kissing a man; Dusting an ornate china cabinet.

"Can I take those, Camilla?" Candy asked suddenly, distracting Camilla from the magazine. She was leaned forward with one hand outstretched to receive the small pile of magazines, the other clutching a larger stack at her bosom. The girl's blemishless smiling face was just inches from Camilla's. Staring into those glistening brown eyes, Camilla began to feel uneasy about how all too perfect they seemed. She managed a smile and cleared her throat.

"No, that's fine. I'll get them, Candy." she insisted.

The big breasted brunette was clearly a little surprised by the reply.

"Oh, okay." she chirped. The shapely young woman stood and returned her pile of magazines to their place on the cupboard's top shelf. Camilla watched her as she moved to the vacuum cleaner, delicately taking its power cord and heading toward a power socket to plug it in - still moving with the same contrived elegance, an expression of overwhelming serenity on her flawless face.

Camilla looked back to the magazine once again and began flicking through the pages. Shortly she came to an alphabeticised section. Each page was highlighted by a new name - Barbera - Bianca - Blanche. Each featured a large photograph of the named woman, who was invariably mostly undressed, and a small section of text - presumably a profile of their more 'attractive characteristics'. Camilla continued flicking through the pages. She had heard from news reports in recent months of breakthroughs in cybernetic technology, but surely this had to be some sort of a joke. Or perhaps it was a novelty fantasy magazine. Nonetheless she continued. The names flashed by. Caitlan. Catherine. Darlene. Deborah. Camilla stopped abruptly and flicked back a few pages. Between Caitlan and Catherine, a page had been torn out.

Suddenly the vacuum cleaner started up. With a start, Camilla looked up. The brunette was bent forward with one hand placed delicately on top of the machine, the other taking hold of the cleaner's nozzle. Her sizable cleavage was clearly displayed.

The girl's ludicrous figure bore an alarming resemblance to those depicted in the magazine. Her body had the same blemishless complexion. An identical deep even tan. The same trim shapely legs, and an exaggerated pinched waist. And those breasts. They were so generously and shamelessly oversized. At that moment Candy looked across at Camilla and smiled. Camilla looked away, back at the magazine, and closed it, adding it finally to the pile in front of her. She closed her eyes for a second, and realized she was getting a little paranoid. There was nothing to say that Candy was one of these so-called 'AutoMates', if the magazine was even genuine. And where would Charlie find the money to buy one of these presumably priceless 'perfect women' anyway?

Camilla sighed and chuckled to herself, then took the pile of magazines and stood, moving to the cupboard. As she reached up to place them on the top shelf, she noticed Candy's name written below the shelf, on the back wall of the cupboard. A moment's closer inspection revealed that what Camilla had thought to be the back wall was in fact a large collapsed industrial cardboard box, folded up and resting at the back of the cupboard. Camilla noticed several markings on it.

"Hi there. I'm Candice." was printed on the large folded up box, just beneath a small clear plastic panel. Below that there was printed,

'Devonmall AutoMates Inc.' and, still further down and repeated off to the left side,

'Fragile. Electronics.'

Camilla gasped, and put her hands at her mouth. Her pile of precariously balanced magazines came tumbling back down around her.

Immediately the vacuum shut off. Camilla, still with her hands at her face, turned to face Candy who was approaching gracefully.

"Oh gee! What a mess!" Candy gasped, looking dispirited, "And Charlie will be home soon, too!" She bent forward at the waist and began collecting the magazines once again. Camilla eyed her suspiciously, then got an idea. She pushed the second stack of magazines down off the shelf. The scantily clad voluptuous girl had not yet rectified the first mess, but she stood and looked down around her.

"Oh gee! What a mess!" she gasped yet again, "And Charlie will be home soon, too!"

The emphasis and intonation were so noticeably identical to how she had made the same remark just moments earlier that it seemed as if Candy were replaying a recording. The girl leaned forward again and continued regathering the magazines. Camilla glanced once again at the large box folded up at the back of the cupboard. Something occurred to her.

"Candy?" she began firmly, "What's your last name?"

Candy was collecting the last of the magazines.

"What's that, Camilla?" she asked casually, though it was obvious that she must have heard the question. The voluptuous girl stood upright, still smiling serenely.

"What's your last name, Candy?" Camilla repeated, still more firmly.

"My last name, Camilla?" Candy asked, adopting her increasingly typical perplexed expression. Her head was slightly to one side, her arms crossed in front of her, clutching the magazines.

"Yes. You know. The name that comes after your first one?" Camilla demanded gruffly, "What's your last name?"

Once again the picturesque girl seemed unable to formulate a reply. Her deep brown eyes lost their focus. Her whole appearance suddenly seemed strangely and unnaturally inert.

"Hello? Anybody home?" Camilla pressed, tempted to wave a hand in front of the inanimate girl's face.

Shortly the girl spoke.

"Searching." she said softly, without expression. Camilla began to realize the significance of the word. She waited. After a moment the ridiculously proportioned girl spoke again.

"Searching." the statuesque brunette repeated automatically.

Then Camilla heard a sound that confirmed to her what she had suspected. A kind of mechanical buzz. It lasted only a moment, but Camilla was sure it came from inside the girl's body. A moment later the smile returned to that flawless face and those deep brown eyes refocused on Camilla.

"I'm Candice." the curvaceous brunette recited cheerfully, her enthusiastic eyes glistening with renewed playfulness, "but you can call me Candy." The caricature of feminine perfection then stepped past Camilla to the cupboard and returned the magazines once again to the top shelf.

Camilla was agape. She was now convinced that the unnaturally bronzed young woman was in fact nothing more than a life-sized Barbie-doll-like robot. Camilla watched the artificial 'dream girl' as she turned away and returned to the vacuum cleaner. Once there, the leggy brunette leaned forward from the waist, collecting the vacuum cleaner's hose in one hand, and reactivating the machine with the other, the girl's forward bent pose exposing her toned rear end for a moment. To Camilla, the girl's repeated body flaunting poses now seemed like an unconscious pre-programmed maneuver aimed at displaying as much of the robotic girl's cartoonish figure as possible - a figure of which her builders were undoubtedly so proud.

Camilla was annoyed that when she had earlier joked to herself about how the girl moved with uncanny robotic efficiency, she had failed to realize the simile was actually true. Camilla also suddenly realized that earlier she had actually felt sorry for the manufactured plaything. She knew now that the reason the vacuous nymph seemed so devoid of any personality was because it didn't even have one. Candy really was a robot. And most importantly of all - Charlie's robot. Though she knew she shouldn't care, this irritated Camilla more than anything. This big-breasted bionic bimbo was apparently Charlie's idea of the perfect woman! This made Camilla want to find out just how fragile the plastic girl's electronics were - by means of a large brick.

Returning to her seat and watching the idyllic fantasy girl continue her vacuuming, Camilla appreciated now just how things worked with 'Little Miss Perfect' around. The glorified Barbie-doll kept the apartment clean, kept herself pretty for Charlie, and gave him 'everything he wants', to use the charlatan's own words. Camilla was fast becoming furious - with Charlie, and with 'AutoMates Incorporated' for manufacturing such an unashamedly sexist reproduction of womanhood. She decided Charlie needed to be taught a lesson. She wasn't exactly sure what that lesson was, but she knew it involved getting the artificial archaic fantasy of a woman out of Charlie's life - preferably in several separate garbage bags. For a moment Camilla considered just prizing off the plaything's head with a large kitchen implement of some sort, but the prospect of then having to pay the bill lessened the impact of her protest somehow. And Charlie would simply be able to buy himself another 'dream girl'.

Perplexed, Camilla tried to come up with a way of taking the shapely doll out of the picture, without leaving any evidence of foul play. Eventually, she conceded that she would have to wait for another time, as Charlie was about to meet with her shortly, and if 'Little Miss Perfect' was in several smoldering pieces on his arrival home, Camilla would of course be prime suspect number one. Camilla could only sit and watch the long-legged, big breasted robo-bimbo continue vacuuming, blissfully unaware of how she offended Camilla so.

At that moment the phone rang. Immediately Candy leaned forward and delicately turned off the vacuum cleaner once again. As the machine ground to a halt, Camilla watched the shapely young woman walk toward the kitchen area at the far end of the room, and pick up the telephone receiver.

"Hello, Charlie's residence. Candice speaking." she chimed, her smooth, flawless back to Camilla. "Oh, hi honey!" she gasped excitedly.

Camilla glanced around the room and spied what she suspected was the door to the bedroom. Checking that Miss Perfect's faculties were completely engrossed in deep conversation with Charlie, she stood and moved quickly to the door. She pushed it open, moved inside and closed it behind her.

"Bingo!" she whispered, moving to the bed-side telephone. She picked it up gingerly and raised it to her ear.

"...has gone on longer than we'd expected, baby." Charlie was explaining, "So I'd like you to do me a favor, okay?"

"Uh-huh, anything." Candy gushed huskily from the other end.

"Well, with the meeting running late, I'd prefer not to have to pick up something to eat on my way home. I'd like you to cook me something, okay?"

"Uh-huh. What would you like?" Candy breathed.

"Thatta girl!" Charlie replied, "Surprise me. Just use the green cook-book, all right?"

As she listened, Camilla noticed a red sheet of paper lying beside the phone. She picked it up.

"Stop Press!" was printed in block letters across the top, "Quality second-hand AutoMates at bargain prices!" read the next line. Beneath that there were two columns of 'dream girl' names and serial numbers. Camilla noticed one was circled.

"Candice, Seductress Model." she read, "One owner. Excellent condition. Call Thomas at our Devonmall branch."

Now Camilla noticed a small jotter-pad, and beneath that what she quickly recognized as the missing page from the 'AutoMates Inc.' magazine. She picked this page up too. There she was, in only a tiny fluorescent green bikini, her unwieldy bust bulging out everywhere. Candy. Her hair was a different style - shorter, and teased untidily - but the resemblance was unmistakable. Below the photograph there were three paragraphs. While being careful to monitor the conversation still continuing between Charlie and his curvaceous trophy, Camilla began to read.

"With her year-round tan, and built-for-the-beach body, the 'Candy' series will appeal to the outdoor adventure seeker. Candy doesn't only look good on the sand......Now, with new Impulseals(tm) you can take her for a playful splash in the surf, or on an intimate stroll in the rain. Or if you're in an indoor mood, why not share a sensuous hot shower?"

This paragraph was immediately followed by a tiny asterisk. Camilla glanced to the bottom of the page to find an equally insignificant disclaimer.

"While the 'Candice' series is water resistant, total immersion in water is not recommended." Camilla made a mental note of that and continued reading the main text.

"But it's not just Candy's body that makes her so appealing. As you'd expect, with all that time spent at the beach getting the perfect tan, Candy doesn't care too much for boring reasoning and dizzying intellectualizations - she's the perfect beach bimbo! She much prefers just to have fun - a principle we're certain you'll more than approve of when you discover just what we mean by a body that's 'built for the beach'.

Candy's figure is clearly one intended for more revealing attire. Her 'dream-girl' contoured body features fantastic measurements - 39, 22, 36 - and is perfectly at home in the skimpiest swim wear. Candy's not built to be a genius with numbers, but we're sure you'll agree her voluptuous curves add up to fun, fun, fun! Check her out soon, at your nearest AutoMates Showroom."

The other side of the page featured more specific statistics, and prices of the different models. Camilla had to remind herself she was holding a live telephone receiver, and restrain a gasp at seeing the prices, some in excess of two hundred thousand dollars. She noticed however, that the 'Candice Seductress' was one of the cheaper models - more expensive than only the "Candice Entrancer'. She went to put both pages down, when she noticed the jotter pad again. It was covered in messy scribbles which Camilla recognized as Charlie's rushed dictation script.

"Candy Seduct." she began to decipher, "Re-cond. after mild short out (comp. overload) Programming intact. Difficulty with multiplication (irrep. circuit damage) Best avoid. All other func. 100%. Great body. Hou/wk programmed. Cash discount."

That was all. Charlie had presumably visited the Devonmall branch, made a deal, and the air headed artificial trinket of a woman in the other room had been delivered the next day.

"Difficulty with multiplication...best avoid" read Camilla again. Perhaps if the brunette dream girl in the other room had scrambled her circuits dealing with mathematics in the past, she could be led to do the same once again. Camilla's attention was suddenly turned back to the conversation drawing to a close on the phone receiver still pressed to her ear.

"Okay then, gotta go honey. I should be home in a couple hours or so." Charlie explained. Camilla noticed that Charlie had said he would be home late, but not that he would be late for his meeting with her. Could it be that he had forgotten about the appointment? If so, Charlie need never know Camilla had been there.

"Okay." Candy replied huskily, "I'll be waiting for you."

"all right babe. See you soon."

"I want you Charlie." Candy breathed softly. Camilla heard Charlie chuckle nervously.

"Okay, bye." He hung up.

Camilla put the receiver down, arranged the papers she had moved into the order she had found them and went back to the door. She opened it and stepped back into the lounge area. The artificial young woman had returned to the vacuum cleaner and seemed surprised to see Camilla emerging from the bedroom.

"I was just using the toilet." Camilla explained quickly as she sat down again. Candy absorbed that for a moment, then smiled and leaned forward, dismantling the vacuum cleaner. As Camilla watched the curvaceous creation pack the machine away, the tropically bronzed brunette appeared all the more startlingly artificial. That mysterious meticulous elegance now seemed mechanically conceived - every move elegantly poised for maximum visual appeal. Camilla started to wonder how she had even been taken in by the absurdly fantastical figure of the girl to begin with. Her outlandish body really did look like a life sized Barbie doll, and even her over-tanned complexion now appeared to exhibit an unnatural sheen.

By now Candy had finished putting the machine back in its cupboard. Camilla watched the robotic young woman delicately close the door to the cupboard, then walk to the far end of the apartment, around the kitchen counter into the black and white tiled kitchen area - every move made as if she were modeling on an invisible cat-walk. Camilla wanted so much to see that plastic caricature of femininity in several inelegant, broken pieces. The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became that Charlie had simply forgotten about their meeting. Which meant, provided she was gone before Charlie arrived home, Little Miss Perfect was fair game. There was just the small problem of leaving no evidence of foul play....

Camilla stood and, feigning disinterest, wandered over to the counter that divided off the kitchen from the rest of the apartment.

"So, who was that on the phone?" she asked casually.

Candy was half bent over a drawer on the opposite side of the counter, leafing through the drawer's contents - her unavoidable, over-inflated bust once again on display. She removed a small green book and pushed the drawer shut with her other hand.

"Oh, It was Charlie. He's running late." replied the girl, rolling her eyes and sighing, "He works so hard, the poor guy." She then placed the book on the kitchen counter and began flicking through the pages curiously.

"So, what did he want?" Camilla pressed. Candy replied without looking up,

"He wanted me to cook him dinner." She stopped searching through the recipe book, her deep brown eyes staring down at it while she held the pages carefully open with her impeccably manicured hands.

"Oh, that's nice. What are you going to cook?" Camilla asked.

Candy was frowning a little, still looking at the book.

"I think I'll cook him lasagna." she replied. She looked up, her flawless face suddenly excited.

"Charlie really likes lasagna!" the attractive girl explained clearly. "Uh-huh, lasagna it is."

"Right." Camilla breathed uneasily, trying - but failing - to look like she shared Candy's excitement. Candy returned her attention to the recipe book.

Suddenly Camilla got an idea - an idea that would test the beach bimbo's mathematical skills.

"How many people does the recipe serve?" she asked innocently.

"All the recipes in this book are meals for one." Candy replied, in deep consternation surveying the list of ingredients. Camilla frowned in feigned curiosity.

"But wont you be having any?" she asked. Candy looked up again and placed each of her hands on either side of her slender waist.

"Oh no." she gasped, clearly outraged, "I like to watch my figure." She resumed reading the recipe. Camilla thought for a moment.

"Candy," she began. Candy looked up again, utterly failing to look the slightest bit annoyed, as any real person would after being distracted so repeatedly. Camilla continued, "Waiting so long for Charlie's made me really hungry. Would it be too much trouble if I stayed for dinner as well?"

Candy just stared. Camilla waited. It took her a moment to realise that her request had completely immobilised the vacuous girl once again.

"Searching." the stunning brunette droned vacantly. Shortly that serene smile returned to her face.

"Oh sure, Camilla! You'd be more than welcome!" Candy gushed, her eyes sparkling playfully.

"Great." said Camilla, smiling. She composed herself and said very clearly, "So, just make a double serving, okay?"

Candy's smile faltered a little. Her head cocked to one side.

"A double serving?" she repeated, looking confused but still trying to smile.

"Yes." explained Camilla slowly, "Just double all the ingredients."

Candy just stared again. Camilla was desperately trying to think of the simplest way to put it.

"Times by two." she blurted suddenly.

She watched the voluptuous young woman take in her explanation. From Candy's expression it seemed that the shapely machine's processors were once again having some difficulty formulating a reply. Her eyebrows were raised a little, her mouth opened slightly and her eyes unfocused in an altogether dumbfounded expression. Camilla began to suspect that the mere mention of multiplication had been enough to fuse the vacuous robot's brain, when the inanimate brunette spoke softly.

"Processing" she murmured automatically, still staring vacantly straight through Camilla. Camilla could imagine cogs ticking over feverishly in the young woman's brain. Suddenly that familiar playful smile returned to the robotic girl's face.

"Oh, I see!" she laughed in realization, her sparkling eyes rolling, "Times by two." The gorgeous young woman looked back down at the recipe book.

"Okay, so... eighty grams of lasagna." she read softly, immediately shaking her head and sighing, "No, that's too tough for me." She looked up, her eyes rolling in artificial embarrassment.

"I'm such an air-head!" she gasped, asking, "What's eighty times two, Camilla?"

The busty brunette stared, her head at a slight angle, awaiting the information with an expectant smile. It seemed a little ironic to Camilla that out of the two of them, it was the one with a computer mother-board for a brain that couldn't do mathematics. Still, that's how the 'perfect beach bimbo' was designed, so Camilla wasn't about to let her off the hook easily. She just shrugged, and lied.

"I don't know. You tell me. What's eighty times two, Candy?"

For the second time, Candy seemed a little taken aback by Camilla's reply.

"Gee, I never was too good with math." she explained, with a nervous laugh and she looked back down at the book in front of her. The fingernails of her right hand began tapping on the counter rhythmically.

"Eighty times two...Hmm....eighty times two..." she murmured softly. This presumably was when the helpless plaything's owner was expected to offer assistance, but Camilla declined. Candy's plastic earrings jangled uneasily. Camilla just waited as the attractive brunette lapsed into silence. She suddenly realized the curvaceous robot was once again completely inert. This time Camilla did not resist the temptation to wave her hand in front of the attractive girl's vacant face. Unsurprisingly, there was no response.

"Processing." the robotic young woman said flatly. Camilla was startled a little by a familiar but sudden mechanical buzz sounding from within the girl. However, where previously the voluptuous robot-bimbo had immediately sprung back to life, this time she remained immobile, just staring down at the recipe book with that same perplexed expression.

"Processing." The dream girls' lips were all that moved, mouthing the word automatically. There was yet another mechanical buzz from inside the girl's body, and when it was followed briefly by an abrupt abrasive crunching noise, Camilla could not help but wince. Candy's head twitched and she blinked, then finally that characteristic serene smile returned to her face. Her glistening eyes focused blissfully on Camilla.

"Eighty times two is one hundred and sixty." she gushed proudly, as if she deserved applause. Getting none, she turned away and stepped elegantly to the other side of the kitchen area, where she opened the pantry.

Camilla watched as she bent forward slightly, the back of her floral skirt lifting to reveal even more of those bronzed trim plastic legs of which the people at 'AutoMates Inc.' were presumably so proud. The girl's blemishless, deeply tanned, contoured back glistened unnaturally in the fluorescent lighting. Shortly the shapely female robot stood, turned to face Camilla and returned to where the recipe book lay on the counter - her gravity defying bust bobbing with each step. Once returned, she carefully placed a small packet of lasagna which she had retrieved from the pantry onto the counter, then delicately pointed her right index finger to the recipe book and continued reading.

"Now, forty grams of tomato paste." she chimed confidently, "Hmm....Forty times two...." Almost immediately she shrugged and gasped "Well, I dunno." then predictably looked across to Camilla again.

"What's forty times two, Camilla?" the automated bimbo asked, frowning quizzically and awaiting a reply. Once again Camilla just smiled back and said,

"Gee, I dunno Candy. What is forty times two?"

Candy stared, dumbstruck for a moment, then her brown eyes looked upward as if thinking. She brought her right index finger up to her bottom lip in yet another transparent attempt to strengthen the illusion that the 'AutoMate' was deep in thought and in need of assistance.

"Gee, I never was too good with math." Candy breathed, still looking upward, in fraudulent consternation. Camilla just waited - she could guess what was coming next.

Shortly the hand that was raised to the robot girl's chin lowered slowly, but then it jerked to a standstill a few inches from her face. The increasingly artificial appearing 'dream girl' was completely inactive yet again. To Camilla the vacant brunette seemed posed like a store-window mannequin - one that was obviously advertising silicon breast implants.

"Processing." the life sized figurine recited coldly. Immediately there was another mechanical buzz from inside the girl's chest. The statuesque brunette remained inactive, bar speaking again.

"Processing." she repeated instantly. The buzzing also repeated, followed again by a crunching sound, even more abrasive than before. Immediately she smiled dreamily at Camilla.

"Forty times two is eighty." she breathed softly, her right hand lowering daintily to her side finally. She turned away, faced the refrigerator on the far side of the kitchen, stepped gracefully toward it, delicately pulled the refrigerator door open and leaned forward. Camilla felt that the shapely robot was due for yet another taxing mathematical problem and glanced down at the recipe book, turning it around to face her.

"While you're there," she began, "the recipe here says you need twenty grams of cheese."

Candy was bent over provocatively, away from Camilla, in her characteristic leg-flaunting pose, with one hand resting gently on the open refrigerator door, the other outstretched toward the top shelf of the appliance.

"Uh huh." replied Charlie's 'perfect woman', her outstretched hand rising to her face. "Gee - twenty times two - that's a tough one." she sighed.

"Yeah." Camilla agreed, pre-emptively asking, "What is twenty times two, Candy?"

"Twenty times two is...Ummm..." sighed the crookedly posed 'dream girl'. Her dark brown trusses bounced in waves as she shook her head. "Boy, I'm such a bimbo..."

Ignoring the AutoMate's pre-programmed ploy to illicit her help, Camilla continued.

"Oh, and don't forget the tomato paste." she reminded the buxom young woman, "It says forty grams here, but we have to times that by two, don't we?" she pointed out.

"Forty times two....Hmm...Forty times two..." Candy chimed thoughtfully, her hand reaching back toward the top shelf of the refrigerator.

"Yes, what is forty times two, Candy?" Camilla pressed, checking the recipe book for more ingredients, before Candy could reply, "Oh! And one egg - but don't forget to times that by two." she blurted.

"Okay, so...One times two is....Umm..." Candy lilted automatically and her outstretched arm lowered to the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.

"Gee, I'm getting confused." she said, as if only just realizing the fact - It seemed an obvious understatement to Camilla, "How many eggs do I need?" Candy asked, still leaning forward toward the refrigerator. Camilla just sighed and said,

"I dunno, Candy. What's one times two?"

Camilla almost felt embarrassed asking the question, doubting that such a simple calculation could be too troublesome - even for the 'perfect beach bimbo'.

"One times two is..." the attractive young woman began confidently. Camilla was surprised when there was suddenly a faint crackling from inside the robot girl.

"Forty times two is..." said the girl, and her outstretched hand rose smoothly back toward the top shelf, only to jerk to a halt as another internal crackle sounded.

"Twenty times two is..." continued the young woman, and her arm lowered indecisively.

The confident, cheerful chime seemed to be fading from the shapely woman's voice, and the jerky, mechanized movement of her arm repeatedly raising and lowering betrayed the true origin of her mystical elegance. To Camilla she seemed like a clockwork toy - one that had obviously thrown a spring or two. There was yet another sharp crackle from inside the robot girl, and for a moment a faint flash of light showed through the flawless skin of her back.

The attractive young woman suddenly sprung to attention and whirled around, her floral skirt rippling daintily. She was smiling triumphantly, a single egg held carefully between the thumb and index finger of her right hand. She strode elegantly toward Camilla, those over-sized, plastic mammaries bobbing softly as she walked. Camilla felt compelled to call out.

"Oh, don't forget to times that by two." she began, "And what about the tomato paste, and cheese?" Then she added mercilessly, "Forty grams and twenty grams respectively - both times two."

Candy ground to an awkward, abrupt halt in the middle of the kitchen, her serene expression faltering.

"Searching..." she droned vacantly. A mechanical buzzing sounded briefly from inside her chest once again. Her soft brown eyes blinked repeatedly for a moment then she smiled playfully, apparently unaware of the problems her straining circuits were experiencing.

"Oh yeah! I must have forgotten." she explained, her deep brown eyes rolling in artificial embarrassment, "I'm such an air-head!"

Predictably, Candy's eyes looked upward and her right hand raised automatically toward her chin. However, while clearly attempting to adopt her patented 'help me - I'm thinking' expression, she failed to take the egg into account, and it cracked against her chin, shattering and spilling down her hand onto her bust below. Surprisingly, she failed even to appear to notice, which betrayed to Camilla the worsening state of the robot girl's inner workings. The tanned, shapely girl just stood there looking thoughtfully upwards with her index finger at her bottom lip and pieces of egg shell sliding inexorably down between her ludicrously pert breasts.

"One times two is....." she breathed huskily, and Camilla saw a flash of sparks illuminate the dream girl's perfectly contoured chest from within. The girl's serene expression twitched unnaturally for a moment - an eyebrow flickered, eyelids fluttered, the mouth sneered - then the composure returned to her face and she smiled yet again.

"Twenty times two is..." the over-sexualized AutoMate continued, cut short by a sharp internal crackle. Her flawless face once again contorted involuntarily for a moment, and her shamelessly over-endowed torso lurched awkwardly back, sending its bulbous breasts bouncing.

A soft electronic beeping began to emit from inside the curvaceous brunette Barbie-doll and Camilla thought she noticed the faint odor of burning plastic in the air. Candy frowned and her raised hand moved smoothly to the side of her head.

"Forty times twenty is..." began the automated plaything, interrupted yet again by a flash of internal sparks. Her body lurched, her head twitched, her eyes crossed for a moment, then she smiled awkwardly and continued.

"Twenty times one is..." she chimed, sparks crackling within her. The hand that was raised to the side of her head jerked suddenly into motion, lowering stiffly. Camilla could make out continuous flashes beneath the plastic skin of her upper body.

"Forty times forty is..." The brunette's stunning face twitched with each internal flash. Camilla now noticed faint wisps of smoke appearing from between Candy's long brown, perfectly styled and superbly conditioned, trusses. The pungent smell of burning electronics was strengthening in the air.

There was yet another loud grinding sound from within the girl, and she sprung into motion, pacing awkwardly toward Camilla. Though the kitchen counter was between them, Camilla felt compelled to back away from the starry-eyed overheating pleasure toy as it bumped awkwardly into the counter. Whilst still emitting that tell-tale beeping, the manufactured malfunctioning nymph had also begun to emit an electrified crackling fizzle. To Camilla, it sounded remarkably like the glorified sex doll had just drunk a large jug of water.

"I'm such an air-head." the AutoMate breathed dreamily - once again stating what had been clear to Camilla for some time. She turned stiffly counter-clockwise and stepped laboriously toward the refrigerator, her rather dated white high heels clicking an uneven rhythm against the tiled floor. After bumping into the large appliance, she came to an awkward stand-still once again.

"Don't you just love my boobs?" Candy asked, presumably addressing the inanimate machine. Getting no reply, she turned swiftly and headed toward the pantry, her expansive breasts bouncing with each jerky step. The robot girl jerked to a halt as she bumped clumsily into the closed cupboard.

"I'm just such a bimbo." lilted the electronically beeping brunette blissfully, and she spun around, her skirt flicking up off her curvaceous hips for a moment. She walked back across the kitchen toward Camilla. She took only three steps, before grinding to a halt in the center of the kitchen, still smiling serenely, beeping and fizzling continuously.

"My body is just so great!" she proclaimed proudly as the crackling internal sparks intensified. Her torso began twitching repeatedly.

"I'm such an air..head." repeated the faltering 'perfect beach bimbo' yet again. Her deep brown eyes seemed dreamily excited as her head wobbled uneasily.

"I've got the per..fect..body." the AutoMate stammered unevenly. Two steady plumes of smoke were now clearly visible at either side of the robot's pretty head as it twitched and wobbled atop a body that continued lurching backward and forward.

"I nev..er....was..t.too...good..with..m.m.m.maths." stuttered the smoldering, beeping, twitching girl with apparent effort. Suddenly the all-too-confusable bimbo emitted that familiar abrasive grinding crunch - louder than ever before. Her back arched tightly, her egg-shell spattered bust bulging forward. Her toned arms stiffened, pointing at the ground. Her face contorted inhumanly - her eyes wide and crossed, her mouth an unnaturally twisted snarl. To Camilla the impression was of a beautiful celebrity's worst ever paparazzi photograph. The malfunctioning robot remained rigid - as if standing at attention grotesquely - as the grinding intensified. For a moment the abrasive sound faltered as if the teeth of grinding cogs were half catching each other. Then it abruptly stopped. Candy was completely inanimate, smoke issuing steadily from both ears.

Camilla waited for a moment, half expecting the inert creation to suddenly spring back to life. Eventually Camilla moved from behind the counter and nervously approached the broken-down 'Seductress'. Camilla could still hear a faint fading hiss, and the occasional crackle from inside that busty torso, but the supposedly 'perfect beach bimbo' remained frozen in that sadly unflattering pose. The thought of Charlie coming home to find that his request for a cooked dinner had fused his plaything's circuits, filled Camilla with the deepest sense of satisfaction - and there was no evidence to suggest that Camilla had even been there! Camilla suddenly remembered her briefcase, and retrieved it from the lounge, then looked the grotesquely posed, defunct pleasure doll up and down one last time.

"You would have been sooooo embarrassed." Camilla mused, rolling her eyes in a Candyesque fashion. She was startled by a sudden flash of sparks within the plaything, followed by several subsequent smaller crackles, but the 'dream girl' remained inert - its sugary brown eyes crossed and unlively. Camilla smiled and departed, closing the apartment door firmly behind her.

The expired AutoMate remained immobile in the silence of the apartment. Gradually the plumes of smoke issuing from the robot girl's ears waned, and eventually disappeared.

About two hours later, the profound silence of the apartment was broken by a key turning in the lock of the apartment door. The door opened and a slightly over-weight man in a slightly under-size business suit entered. Rubbing his eyes, he tossed his briefcase and jacket onto the couch as he made his way across the apartment toward the bedroom. He did not seem to notice the inanimate AutoMate standing in the kitchen at the other end of the apartment. Instead, he disappeared through the bedroom door.

"Candy?" he called from the bedroom a moment later. Immediately there was a small flash of sparks from inside the immobile brunette. A mechanical buzz sounded, followed by several short bleeps.

"Can I smell dinner burning?" called the man from the bedroom, emerging into the lounge a moment later, removing his tie. Candy emitted a brief electric hum, then suddenly the voluptuous young woman sprung back to life, smiling excitedly.

"Charlie!" she gasped, her eyes wide and enthusiastic. "How was your day, honey?" she asked, stepping from the kitchen.

"Oh, there you are, honey." said Charlie, noticing her finally, "Oh, fine - I guess. Is something burning?" he asked.

"Uh-uh." replied Candy, shaking her head mischievously as she approached.

Charlie smiled, threw his tie onto the back of the couch and walked toward his beautiful, perfect partner. They embraced and kissed, the buxom beauty moaning responsively. Shortly Charlie broke away from the kiss, and just stared into Candy's exotic brown eyes, holding her shoulders in each hand. He smiled.

"You are so gorgeous." he murmured sincerely. Candy's stunning eyes sparkled contentedly. Charlie frowned suddenly, staring down at the girl's cleavage.

"What's this?" he said, pointing at her right breast. Candy looked down at her over-sized brown bust. Charlie had noticed the spatters of egg and shell. He chuckled.

"Have a little accident cooking dinner?" he quipped. Candy looked up at Charlie and smiled sweetly.

"Oh, Charlie. You're so funny." she gushed, clearly mistaking Charlie's remark for an actually humorous joke. Charlie felt suddenly aware of the artificialness of the adoring girl as he stared into those perfect brown eyes. He looked away, across at the kitchen.

"So, what's for dinner then?" he asked, distracting himself. Candy did not reply. Charlie looked back at her. She was staring at him, trying to smile, but looked faintly confused.

"Dinner?" she breathed eventually.

"Yes. What did you cook for dinner?" he pressed. Candy went to speak, but froze. It took Charlie a moment to realize what had happened.

"Oh, no. Don't do that." he whined, snapping his fingers in front of the vacant girl's eyes, "Hello? Hello?"

"Searching..." the inanimate girl droned. Charlie sighed and waited patiently.

"Searching..." Candy repeated a short while later. A mechanical buzz emitted from the girl, then her eyes grew wide in realization.

"Oh gee! I must have forgotten." she gasped. She frowned, and shook her head, adding, "I'm such an air-head."

"You forgot?" said Charlie, outraged. Candy nodded shyly.

"Uh-huh. I'm sorry honey." she purred, leaning forward to kiss Charlie again, "Let me make it up to you." He pulled away, frowning.

"How could you forget?" he continued, "For goodness sake - you're a robot, right? You shouldn't just forget things!"

"I know." she sighed apologetically, putting her arms around his neck, "I'm just such a bimbo."

"That's becoming painfully obvious." said Charlie under his breath. He pulled her caressing arms away. "You know, I sometimes wonder how good a job Thomas' people did putting your brain back together."

Candy's confused expression did a lot to confirm Charlie's suspicion.

"Christ! I must have told you half a dozen times on the phone - just use the green cook book." Charlie continued, "How many times did I have to remind you?" Candy just stared blankly. Charlie turned away, frustrated.

"How many times?" he repeated softly to himself, flabbergasted.

"How many times?" the voluptuous brunette chimed back. Charlie turned to face her again. She was now smiling excitedly - utterly failing to look the least bit sorry.

"Yes - how many times?" Charlie fumed. He suddenly noticed a faint odor again and looked toward the kitchen.

"Forty times two is..." began his perfectly formed partner. Charlie wasn't paying attention, sniffing the air instead.

"Shh. Can you smell something?" he asked, still looking curiously in the direction of the kitchen.

"Twenty times two is..." his voluptuous robot continued. Charlie stepped away quickly.

"Is something burning?" he asked, moving into the kitchen.

"One times two is..." Candy continued blissfully, staring into the empty space where Charlie had been. There was another mechanical buzz inside her, then her chest was briefly incandescent as a burst of sparks flashed within it.

"Forty times two is..." the serenely staring brunette repeated. By now Charlie had checked the oven for heat, to no avail. He returned to the lounge.

"Can you smell that?" he asked his luscious robotic playmate.

"Twenty times two is..." replied the sensuous girl, still staring blissfully. Charlie frowned and approached her.

"What did you say?" he asked, the burning odor becoming more noticeable.

"One times two is..." Candy lilted clearly. That mechanical buzzing sounded once again from inside her.

"Candy? Are you okay?" Charlie asked nervously. Immediately a flash of sparks inside his costly second-hand AutoMate suggested that she was, in fact, not okay. Her pretty face twitched and Charlie noticed a wisp of smoke trailing from her left ear.

"Forty times twenty is.." she continued, smiling sweetly as a soft electronic beeping began to emit from her curvaceous torso. Charlie swore, and Candy's stunning face contorted for a moment, another flash showing through the skin of her chest. Charlie could now make out a faint fizzling sound. He took the stunning brunette's shoulders firmly in each hand and shook her gently.

"Candy!" he demanded. She was staring right through him.

"Twenty times one is..." the robot girl replied, interrupted by an internal crackle. Candy's voluptuous torso jerked back of its own volition, her expansive, pert breasts bouncing in front of Charlie for a moment.

"No, Candy. No!" Charlie stressed, "That's multiplication. Thomas said you're not supposed to do that, okay?"

"Forty times forty is..." she continued nonetheless. There was another crackle, a mechanical hum, followed by an expensive sounding crunch. Candy's back arched, thrusting her bulging bust forward. Her normally beautiful face was suddenly distorted. One eyebrow was raised, the other lowered. Her eyes were crossed - one eyelid wide open, the other half closed. And those luscious lips were stretched into an inhuman sneer.

[[Image:Fection5.jpg|thumb|300px|right]]

Charlie backed away involuntarily from the internally grinding pleasure droid, as white smoke began issuing steadily from both her ears. Suddenly there was a sharp bang and something clattered softly to the ground behind the 'dream girl'. A thick cloud of smoke billowed up from behind the voluptuous robot girl as a degree of serenity returned to the plaything's face - those soft brown eyes, glassy and distant.

"I am so gorgeous." she purred contentedly.

Charlie wasn't exactly sure what had happened, but then, as the scantily clad brunette turned stiffly toward the kitchen, it became clear. A section of her skin about four inches square was missing from the middle of her back. A silver cylinder suspended on telescopic railings and connected to smoking electronics was protruding from the cavity. She stepped quickly away, leaving Charlie in her smoke filled wake. Glancing down at the floor, Charlie noticed a square section of rubber lying near where she had been standing. He collected it and went after his faltering dream girl.

"Candy." began Charlie, rushing to her side and walking with her, "Just calm down, all right?"

The luxuriantly proportioned brunette failed even to acknowledge him and continued walking forward, her generous cleavage bobbing in time. Her eyes were wide and unnervingly doll-like. Charlie stopped, watching the malfunctioning AutoMate continue into the kitchen alone. She walked directly into the refrigerator, bouncing off of it and turning clockwise awkwardly.

"I am perfect." said the clearly erroneous robot girl as she stepped with renewed vigor across the kitchen. Charlie went quickly to the telephone and desperately dialed a number as his malfunctioning sexy android bumped into the opposite wall, a burst of blue sparks showering from the exposed mechanism protruding from her back.

"I am your AutoMate." she explained, spinning around again and pacing quickly toward the sink. Charlie heard someone answer his call.

"Welcome to Devonmall AutoMates," said a sultry woman's voice, "Rebecca speaking."

"Hi, I need to speak to Thomas." Charlie demanded, as Candy walked clumsily into the kitchen counter, beeping and sparking increasingly regularly.

"One moment please." replied 'Rebecca' softly.

"I am justabimbo." said Candy quickly. The voluptuous girl began to turn clockwise but instead suddenly jerked around in the opposite direction, her floral skirt flicking indecisively. Charlie meanwhile, had been put on hold, listening to advertisements for the latest AutoMate models. As he waited he watched Candy bustle to and fro around the kitchen. Her deeply tanned, shapely legs - the curves of her hips, and narrow waist - and her oversized bouncing breasts, of which he'd grown so fond - it all seemed to be failing. That perfectly formed luscious body bumped into the counter again and turned away, the grotesque smoldering mechanism in her back confirming to Charlie that the sensuous exotic beauty really was just a machine.

"Iamprogrammedtoobey." said the doll automatically, pacing rapidly toward the pantry, into which she collided - bust first - a moment later.

"IamaCandriceSeductress." she recited as she whirled around and walked quickly toward Charlie. Charlie found himself recoiling away from the wide eyed smoldering brunette again, then she suddenly ground to a halt amidst a flash of sparks.

"Iamoverheating." trilled the big breasted brunette. The beeping emitting from her suddenly began to rise in pitch, causing Charlie to cover one ear with his free hand, the other with the phone receiver. There was another shower of sparks, and several subsequent electrical crackles. Candy's torso lurched back, then bounced forward.

"Iamoverloading." she declared, leaned slightly forward, as if finally weighed down by the size of her bust. Several bright flashes filled the kitchen. The beeping rose to a piercing crescendo.

"Iamprogrammedtoloveyou." blurted the AutoMate, before a final distinctive 'pop' sounded. Charlie, who realized he had closed his eyes, could still hear Candy speaking.

"..programmed to love you..." she said. There was a sharp fizzle then she spoke again.

"...programmed to love you..." Charlie heard the same fizzling sound, and she repeated the words over again. He opened his eyes nervously.

The picture perfect shapely girl was frozen, posed crookedly, looking slightly down at the floor. Only her lips moved, mouthing the same sentence clearly over and over. Charlie was distracted by someone speaking suddenly from the other end of the telephone.

"Hi, Thomas speaking." said a voice. Charlie tried to compose himself.

"Oh, Yeah. Hi, Thomas. Ah..It's Charlie Harcourt here..." he began.

"Charlie! How are you? Hey, how's that little princess of yours doing?" Thomas replied.

Charlie hesitated, looking across at his costly voluptuous investment.

"Not too well, actually." he mumbled.

"Oh. Blown a servo has she? Not to worry. All covered in the warranty." Thomas explained. Charlie was still surveying the girl. Standing immobile like a mannequin, her tanned contoured body seemed suddenly too sleek. She really was plastic. With her trim, athletic calves, curvaceous thighs, her pinched waist and firm bulbous breasts, she was still just a machine.

"..programmed to love you...programmed to love you...programmed to love you..." the AutoMate repeated, still staring - those exotic brown eyes vacant, like a doll's.

"Actually, Thomas..." began Charlie, still gazing at the broken-down sensuously formed robotic woman, "I was wondering if there was anything like a thirty-day money back guarantee...."

The End.

-----

[[Stories|Back to the story archive]]

[[Category:Fection]]
[[Category:Stories]]

Model Citizen

2008-03-19T21:42:44Z

Fection:

Episode Five of 'Destined for the Junk Pile'
-----
It had started badly and had quickly gotten a lot worse......

"And yet the only sign of any struggle is the smashed jug, WHICH YOU ADMIT breaking in order to short-circuit the android...." officer Gallagher had pointed out. Camilla had sighed, tired and wanting to go home - now that she knew the wreckage of 'Candy', Charlie's psychotic robotic plaything, had been removed from her apartment and taken in as evidence.

"Like I keep saying....Any mess I made trying to get away from her, she tidied up.."

"In the middle of the fight...."

"It was all very rushed...." Camilla had insisted, somewhat flustered. The other officer who had never even given his name continued pacing back and forward in a darker part of the police interview room looking slightly bemused. Correctly, Camilla had even then sensed there was worse to come....

A few days later Camilla had received notification that Charlie, her ex-husband, was suing her for damages and emotional trauma.

Things actually seemed to be proceeding well in court (after all, it was Camilla's word against that of a short-circuited pleasure droid that wasn't in any condition to be answering questions of any sort) until Charlie's lawyer inevitably got around to asking about the first time Camilla and Charlie's 'new girl' had met. Not wanting to risk perjury, Camilla was forced to admit to deliberately short-circuiting the pleasure droid on their first meeting, to which an outraged Charlie had stood up and shouted...

"I KNEW it!!"

From there on in, despite Camilla's insistance that on this most recent occasion she was forced to electrocute the inexplicably homicidal house mate to preserve her own life, the jury found in favour of Charlie Harcourt, and Camilla was ordered to pay repair costs and damages totalling nearly one hundred thousand dollars. Unfortunately, the whole story seemed to develop a fairly frenzied media following, probably due to the first ever android-accused-of-atempted-murder angle. That, and the perceived ex-wife-jilted-for-younger-lover-and-out-for-revenge aspect. Camilla found herself harrased in the street several times, but she also received the odd piece of fan mail, mainly from women who agreed with her stand on how these artificial pleasure companions were a throw-back to last-century role models.

In the end Camilla had become a kind of infamous cult figure, and it was because of this that her boss had explained he needed to 'let her go'. Camilla had suggested that it would all blow over in a few months, but her employer had insisted that they could not afford to be loosing clients at this time. So she had been fired. Finding new work in the shadow of the television coverage proved difficult and in the end Camilla had had to settle for temp work as a secretary.

It had been scarcely a week since the judge's decision when the first call came through - the first of several from television talk shows. At first Camilla had stuck to her belief that her notoriety would pass, but the street harrassments and gossip at work began to grind her down. It was after hearing rumours that her new employer was also considering 'letting her go' about a month later that Camilla finally changed her mind. A few days later she received yet another call from a representative of 'The Tracy Gillam Show' and tentatively agreed to a meeting.

The next few days had passed somewhat in a blur. She had met a plethora of people for lunch who all seemed very pleasant, and eager to agree to many of her requests regarding lines of questioning. The show seemed credible and professional, so finally she had agreed to appear.

So now here she was, backstage at the studio, having her makeup done. She could hear the audience laughing and occasionally booing at the guests of the show previous to hers as she struggled with last minute reservations about how good an idea it was agreeing to appear on a show that encouraged the audience boo. She closed her eyes and told herself to relax. People needed to hear her side of the story. And how long would it be until another pleasure droid decided the best way to make it's owner happy was to 'remove' any perceived competition? She nodded to herself and took a deep breath. She realised she needed to use the toilet....

A few minutes later she stepped out of the womens' toilet, surprised to find that Teresa, the woman who had escorted her here, had disappeared. She looked left and right searching for a sign that said 'stage', with no luck. She knew she had probably half an hour before filming began, so was not unduly worried. She headed left, the way she had come.
A few more minutes later and Camilla was more annoyed than concerned. This place was a maze! Shortly she came to another door, marked 'Dressing Room 6'. She could hear a noise from inside so knocked, but got no reply. Shortly she tentatively tried the door and was immediately relieved to finally find a dressing room that was occupied. A slim brunnete woman wrapped in a white towel sat at a three way mirror opposite, blow-drying her hair. Camilla took only one step into the room before she suddenly recognised the overly cuvatious woman reflected in the mirrors and froze on the spot.

"Candy?!!" she gasped incredulously. The shapely girl seemed less surprised to see her, shutting off the hair dryer, placing it smoothly on the dresser in front of her and swiveling her stool to face Camilla. Though obviously very tightly wrapped in the towel, her restrained bust still managed somehow to swing around out in front of her as she turned. Her face was beaming and confident, her eyes glistening with a barely restrained excitement.
"Well, hi Camilla! It's great to see you again." she gushed. Then her head cocked slightly to one side and she added sympathetically, "How are you?"

Almost immediately, Camilla's shock was superseded by her anger.

"What the hell are you doing here?!!" she demanded. Candy stood and crossed toward Camilla, the front of her towel bobbing up and down as she walked.

"I'm appearing with you at this afternoon's filming." she explained eagerly, stopping less than a yard away from Camilla, "Isn't it exciting?"

Her chocolate brown eyes were wide with expectation, as her pristine smile waited for Camilla's reply.

"Appearing with me?! Why? What the..." Camilla stopped, choking on her disbelief.

"Tracy Gillam wanted me to appear and Charlie agreed. Isn't it exciting?" she asked again.

"No it damn well isn't! Why wasn't I told about this?!"

Candy's eyebrows rose slightly and that indomitable smile finally faltered, falling to a faintly quizical frown.

"Oh gee, I dunno. I knew you were appearing."

Still holding the door open with one hand, Camilla was speachless with fury and barely able to supress her outrage. She was about to storm out of the room when the scantily clad brunette sighed dreamily.

"Well, if you'll excuse me, I must get ready for this afternoon's filming."

The deeply bronzed brunette turned smoothly and moved away to the left end of the dressing room, where a set of tall dividing barriers were set up. As she stepped pristinely toward these, her arms rose to her bust to loosen the towel wrapped snugly around her. The towel fell away, held only in one hand, exposing her tanned, flawless back and Camilla noticed that the unsightly control panel that had featured there when they last met was now absent. Her toned pert rear end swung lazily to and fro, and as she walked smoothly forward her voluptuous torso seemed just to glide over the floor. The curvatious creation turned slightly and stepped behind the changing barrier and Camilla caught an unwelcome glimpse of her overly pert bust, bulging out sideways so much so as to be seen almost from directly behind. Camilla rolled her eyes and shook her head for a moment, then surveyed the dresser aimlessly. Amongst the make up and the discarded hairdryer she spied what looked like a large tube of mascara - but clearly much too large. She stepped forward into the room, finally allowing the door to swing closed behind her. As she moved closer to the table she called out to Candy again.

"But why did Charlie agree to it? What could he possibly gain? He's already won the court case - unless he just wants to make more of a fool out of me...."

Upon closer inspection of the desk, she realised the tube was in fact a slim black microphone. Next to it lay a small earpiece. Camilla frowned, squinting thoughtfully, then moved back to where she had stood by the door.

"Charlie said that appearing on TV might get me started in modelling." Candy explained evenly from behind the barrier. Camilla scoffed.

"Modelling? Uh...No offence, but I'm not sure you have a particularly fashionable body shape for modern modelling - unless it's a career in porn you're after....." Camilla suggested.

"My body's perfect." Candy chimed smoothly and with supremely indomitable confidence.

"Perfect? What for? A flotation device?"

"My body's perfect. Charlie said so." that measured voice trilled and Candy emerged from behind the changing barrier clad now in a tight-fitting white one-piece mini-dress that unsurprisingly left little to the imagination. Her over sized bust was pressed tightly into the halter-neck top, that generous tanned cleavage now bulging up between straps that looped up to meet behind her neck. Similarly the scant skirt left most of the tall brunette's athletically toned thighs exposed. Her feet were still bare.

"Oh, right.....if Charlie said so, then it must be so." Camilla relented sarcastically, "I forgot that everything Charlie says is absolute undeniable fact. Sorry."

Candy crossed back toward the dresser, her deep brown eyes still regarding Camilla excitedly.

"Uh-huh. That's right. Charlie doesn't lie. Charlie said I look perfect, so I look perfect."

The long-legged brunette turned and sat smoothly on her stool as if lowered on strings.

"Riiiiight. Charlie doesn't lie..." Camilla sighed dubiously. Candy swung her long legs back under the dresser and turned her mostly bare back to Camilla, her flawless reflection looking back at Camilla.

"Now if you will excuse me, I must fix my make up." her chirpy voice insisted and she reached forward retrieving a tube of mascara.

Intending to leave once again, Camilla turned away and mimiked the seemingly self-satisfied brunette's voice softly under her breath, adding quietly as an after thought, in a equally irritable tone...

"I thought you looked perfect."

She reached for the door handle and was about to step out of the room, but it seemed Candy was not prepared to let this one lie.

"I am perfect. Charlie said so." she sighed smugly yet again, untwisting the mascara and carefully placing the long cap back on to the dresser. She began applying the mascara to her right eye in precisely measured strokes as Camilla turned back to face her.

"You keep saying that." she pointed out, "It makes you sound a little defensive. Charlie wasn't so happy with you before, y'know...."

"Charlie couldn't be happier with me. I've been fully reconditioned. My circuits are in prime condition." the shapely automaton purred, adding somewhat inexplicably, "Charlie said so."

Camilla hesitated, thinking for a moment. She couldn't help but wonder if she had finally 'touched a nerve' in the shapely brunette. She decided to press her further.

"Charlie said you were perfect?" she asked, feigning curiosity.

"Uh-huh." the brunette chirped, still applying the mascara.

Camilla frowned.

"And what made him say that?"

Candy shrugged impatiently.

"I dunno. He said so last Thursday when he came home from work." she explained, stopping suddenly and staring longingly at her reflection as if lost in the memory of a romantic dream, "I greeted him and we kissed. Then he said I always look just so perfect. I remember it exactly. I always look so perfect. Charlie said so."

Candy moved the mascara smoothly to the other eye, twisting the brush in small even strokes once again as Camilla continued.

"I see. Well, are you perfect right now?"

"Well, of course. Charlie said I always look just so perfect." the shapely brunette gushed confidently, "So I'm always perfect."

"Well then, why are you using make up if you already look perfect?"

"Charlie wants me to look my absolute best for this afternoon's filming. He said I should use the make up that he bought especially for this afternoon." she explained dismissively, looking back at Camilla in the mirror and retrieving the mascara cap delicately from the dresser without even looking at it. Then she refastened the cap and placed the sealed mascara back on the dresser in front of her. She swung her shapely legs clockwise out from under the dresser, facing off to Camilla's right.

"But you're always perfect. Charlie said that too...." Camilla reminded the flawlessly made up woman as Candy stood smoothly and crossed toward a small open doorway that led to a wardrobe.

"That's right. I always look so perfect." she agreed proudly once again, her confident expression utterly steadfast as she glided elegantly forward.

"So why do you need to use make up to look your best when you always look so perfect?......" Camilla pressed, watching as Candy stopped and bent forward at the waist, retrieving a pair of sleekly formed white platform high heels from the floor of the wardrobe, "Unless you don't look your best all the time - but that would mean not looking perfect all the time." Camilla pointed out.

Candy stood upright and Camilla noticed her head cock slightly to one side as she stared into the wardrobe.

"I always look so perfect, but I must look my best for Charlie." Candy insisted evenly after a moment, moving smoothly to a large padded white leather chair next to the wardrobe. Camilla sighed, growing frustrated.

"But surely always looking perfect would mean looking your best all the time..."

Candy turned and sat delicately on the edge of the seat. She leaned forward, placing one of the shoes on the floor at her feet, then crossed her tanned legs toward Camilla. Her voluptuous torso leaned forward again bulging down against her elevated thigh and she placed the other shoe on her foot.

"Uh-huh. That's right. I am always perfect. But...."

As Candy remained leaned forward reaching down to her foot, she stopped and just stared at the floor, her full lips parted slightly. A moment later her free hand rose delicately to the side of her head and her eyebrows seemed to press down into a faint frown. Shortly Candy's eyelids flickered for a moment then she sighed and softly breathed,
"Gee whiz. I'm getting confused."

"It's quite simple." Camilla suggested helpfully, "You're either not perfect all of the time, or you don't need to use the make up Charlie bought for you...."

Candy blinked slowly again and the brunette's raised hand lowered smoothly, reaching down to pick up the remaining shoe from the floor. She uncrossed her long tanned legs, recrossing them immediately away from Camilla.

"I am always perfect." Candy breathed determinedly, placing the second shoe on her pointed foot, "Charlie said so."

She sat upright again and blinked slowly then looked toward Camilla.

"I must use the make up. Charlie said so."

The attractive brunette's head swivelled back to face in front of her - her deep chocolate brown eyes glistening in the bright dressing room lighting.

"Charlie does not lie. I must obey Charlie."

Then she smiled again and stood smoothly, her shapely form made all the more statuesque by the added stature of her shoes. She walked forward, gliding effortlessly toward the dresser.

"I am always perfect. I must use the make up." her lilting voice continued blissfully as she turned on the toes of her shoes and sat once again on the stool. Her legs swung back under the dresser, her toned bare back glistening bronzely as she turned.

"If you'll excuse me, I must fix my make up." she sighed and a hand reached forward, collecting a tube of lipstick. Staring smugly at herself in the mirror, she removed the cap and placed the cap back on the dresser. Then she twisted the lipstick and moved the crimson shaft toward her lips. But the arm froze abruptly. She stared at herself, as if suddenly in awe.

"I always look so perfect." she breathed, and the arm began to lower again. Then it halted and the lips parted again, the head cocking to one side slightly.

"I must look my best."

The arm began to rise again, but faltered jerkily.

"I always look so perfect." that voice repeated smugly. The arm lowered stiffly, then stopped so abruptly that the lipstick tumbled from it's delicate grasp. Candy's long eyelashes fluttered for a moment and the empty hand rose to the side of her head.

"I am getting confused." she purred dreamily. Still with her hand held daintly to the side of her head, her feet pushed her body clockwise, that over sized bust swinging around in front of her as she spun smoothly, facing off to Camilla's right again. She crossed her legs, right over left and her torso tilted forward. The hand that was pressed at her head lowered again, reaching down toward her elevated foot as she spoke again.

"If you'll excuse me, I must get ready for...."

Then suddenly she froze. As the voluptuous automaton stared vacantly down at the floor once again, there came a strange sound - a delicate tick-tick-ticking that slowed and sped up in no discernable pattern. Shortly her elevated right thigh lifted suddenly up against her bulbous bust and her legs uncrossed. Candy's head swivelled smoothly to look at Camilla, her head effectively cocked to one side atop a crookedly posed torso.

"I always look so perfect." Candy repeated, her voice dreamy and laborious as that strange ticking sound continued aimlessly.

"Charlie does not lie. I must obey Charlie." she intoned. Her posture finally straightened as her apparently flawlessly made up face turned stiffly forward, then she recrossed her athletically toned legs back toward Camilla.
"I am programmed to obey Charlie. Charlie loves my perfect body." she sighed - apparently to no-one - then her serene chocolate gaze swung once more to meet Camilla's and her hand began to rise again to the side of her head. But then the tell tale ticking sped to a newly frenetic frequency and her slender forearm froze jerkily half way up, the fingers of her hand pointing rigidly. That formerly indomitable confident expression seemed to falter slightly - her lips were still held in a smug smirk, but those deep brown eyes seemed now somehow slightly vacant.

"I have been fully re-conditioned. Charlie said so. I am always so perfect." she trilled dreamily, that rapidly ticking sound still emitting softly from within her. Her head turned stiffly forward and in synchronicity with her indecisively swiveling head, the half-raised hand lowered while the other jerked upward into motion, likewise faltering stiffly as the attractive woman spoke again.

"My circuits are in prime condition. You are getting me confused."

The curvatious thigh of her left leg rose suddenly up from over the other, then jerked to a halt, the foot bouncing mechanically out infront of her. After a moment, the long tanned leg swung stiffly sideways and lowered, the other leg immediately rising, swinging jerkily and crossing over the first. Her head spun smoothly to face back at Camilla and one hand lowered stiffly as the other raised yet again.

"I must not malfunction. Charlie said so. I must use the make up." that sensuous voice breathed. Those long shapely legs uncrossed jerkily and she stood, stepping laboriously forward toward the wardrobe once again.

"I always look so perfect. Charlie said so. If you'll excuse me, I must get ready."

Her top heavy torso toppled forward and then jerked to a mechanical halt as she reached down to the floor to retrieve a pair of non-existant shoes.

"I am getting confused. My body is perfect."

Her body sprung upright and she turned about, walking forward. Camilla noticed the faint odour of warming plastic when the still softly ticking brunette passed her by and as the shapely robotic woman continued toward the changing barrier at the left hand end of the dressing room the inexplicable repetitive ticking sound was joined by a faint airy hum, like that of the hairdryer Candy had been using earlier.

"I am over heating. Charlie just loves my boobs. Charlie said so." she explained needlessly. Almost immediately a seam appeared in the tanned skin of her bare back, just below the line of her long brown hair. The ticking and humming became suddenly less muffled as a section of her skin about four inches square pushed smoothly out from her otherwise flawless back. Strands of her shiny brown hair that hung down above the new cavity shifted aimlessly as if caught in a new breeze. As the faltering pleasure companion turned and disappeared behind the barrier, Camilla could see that the panel was held out from her back by a pair of narrow steel arms. From what she could tell in the brief glimpse she had caught, the space behind the protruding panel was filled with a messy dangling nest of mutilcouloured wiring.

"I must cool off. I must not malfunction. Charlie said so." that still evenly measured voice purred from behind the barrier. A moment later Candy emerged again, evidently already changed, and headed back to the dresser. There she turned about smoothly and lowered herself back onto the stool. From this profile, Camilla could clearly see a tangled mass of wiring and components hanging limply between the cavity and the protruding back panel. But, other than the lazy way in which they were arranged, their was nothing to indicate that the wiring was damaged. No sparks. No smoke. Just that ticking and humming, and Candy's obliviously sensuous recitations.

"I am over heating. I always look just so perfect." Candy's voice intoned blissfully. It occured to Camilla that the wiring might have already been in such a condition - hardly the look of circuits in their 'prime condition' or internals that had been 'fully reconditioned'. As Candy spun her body stiffly to face the dresser again, Camilla stepped forward, frowning at the protruding panel of flawlessly bronzed skin. The noxious smell of heated plastic was strong in the air. Candy's left hand rose stiffly up beside her head, the fingers still pointed rigidly, the perfectly manicured nails glistening in the bright lighting. Camilla looked down into the space behind the protuberant brown plastic panel. Indeed the wiring appeared to be as yet undamaged, but arrayed carelessly and interconnected by what appeared to be a series of loosely hanging switches. Deeper within the cavity, almost obscured by the mass of wiring, there sat on the left side a row of circuit boards and on the other, amongst other various components, a small electronic fan mounted in a circular brace which was humming furiously. It was this that was sending forth a blast of warm ill-odoured air.

"I must not malfunction. I have been fully reconditioned. Charlie said so." Candy insisted obliviously. But even as the overheating android spoke the tiny motorised fan within her sputtered furiously and cut out, winding down quickly. Camilla immediately noticed the ticking sound seemed to be discernably speeding up again, this time unabated. Candy's slender left hand lowered as the other raised and her head began turning smoothly to the left and then to the right.
"Warning. I am over heating. I must not malfunction." the pleasure droid trilled, her voice beginning to loose that indomitably pleasant tone. Camilla realised she needed to do something urgently to avoid being responsible for the error-prone plaything's demise yet again. She looked around desperately for anything that might be of asstistance, to no avail. In the mirror she caught a glimpse of Candy's face as it swung into view. Her formerly serene brown eyes seemed now to be moving independently of eachother, crossing and uncrossing, flitting slightly this way and that, their flawlessly arched eyebrows now twisting up and down, those generous lips twitching indecisively between a frown and a smirk as her voice continued reciting obliviously. Camilla could hear the faint but furious hum of several small winding motors.

"I am Charlie's pleasure droid. Warning. My body is built to obey Charlie. I have been fully. Fully. I must not malfunction. Must not."

As Candy's head turned back and forward and her arms alternately raised and lowered automatically and the ticking sound wound and looped faster and faster, it struck Camilla how much she seemed like a broken clockwork toy. Camilla's attention was suddenly brought back to the exposed wiring at Candy's back by a small flash of sparks. One of the switches had let out a small puff of smoke. Camilla looked at it, biting her lip, then reached in and grabbed it, flicking the small toggle with her other hand.

Immediately the rapid ticking slowed as did Candy's voice. Her rigid arms lowered smoothly and her torso tipped inexorably forward as if finally succumbing to gravity. That sensuous voice began to break up as it slowed, not deepening, but digitising as if somehow aurally pixelated. Her body's forward descent was slowed as her bust rested firmly down on the dresser, sending one or two pieces of make up clattering down to the floor. Then her head lolled forward, her long dark brown shiny hair falling about her face, the forehead likewise coming to rest gently on the dresser, the vacant brown eyes unseen, but looking down at her own bulging cleavage pressed up and out of her top by the table top below it. There she stayed, with the panel of her back stuck up into the air behind her. Camilla sighed in relief. There was still a faint ticking, but this was the ticking of cooling circuits.

Camilla was tempted to just leave, but she realised it would not do to have Charlie's plaything found shut off inexplicably - suspicions would be raised, she was sure. And she couldn't even be certain that once activated the shapely artificial girl would be in any fit state for a television appearance. But she guessed it would not be wise to reactivate the inanimate doll while it was still so overheated. So she waited nervously, expecting at any moment for the door to open and to be discovered. From time to time she put her hand inside the smouldering cavity to check for warmth, checking her watch impatiently and listening for the dreaded approaching footsteps from outside. As she waited she wondered why little Miss "I'm Always Just So Perfect" had broken down so easily - and why her internal workings were in such apparent disarray when Charlie had been awarded almost a hundred thousand...........Camilla cut short her train of thought and began to suspect she knew why.

It was several minutes before the internal cooling sounds stopped, and several more before Camilla finally plucked up the courage to reactivate the unsound android. Eventually, checking her watch again, she sighed and reached back into the cavity. It still felt a little warm, but Camilla figured a little heat was probably usual. She found the switch which had crackled and, hoping it had survived the overload undamaged, flicked it. Immediately the protruding panel of tanned skin began to press smoothly closed on it's extended arms and Camilla had to withdraw her hand quickly to avoid having it caught. She backed away as the seam all but disappeared, feeling torn once again between getting away and checking that the pleasure droid was still operable. Shortly there were a couple of sharp muffled bleeps from within the ludicrously proportioned lifeless body. The head twitched slightly and rose, the torso lifting backward to once again defy gravity and sit upright. The radiant brunette appeared to focus on herself in the mirror, though her eyes seemed a little on the glazed side of serene.

"Candice Automate. Restart initiated." her sultry voice breathed. There came a mechanical buzz cut short by a dull clunk.

"Loading. Please wait....." the serenely staring automaton added pleasantly, repeating the phrase a few moments later. Camilla did so.

Shortly there were another number of sharp internal bleeps and then Candy's head swivelled to look at Camilla in the mirror and she smiled broadly.

"Well, hi Camilla! It's lovely to see you again. How are you?"

Camilla began to feel a little more relieved.

"Fine. How do you feel?" she asked. Candy's eyes flashed excitedly.

"I feel so realistic. Charlie said so."

Camilla forced an uneasy smile.

"Ohhh...kaaaay.....I'm just going to go now." she explained slowly, pointing back over her shoulder toward the exit with her thumb, "You just sit there until Charlie comes for you alright?"

"I must get ready for this afternoon's filming." the brunette gasped, looking down at the dresser quizically, "Now where has my lipstick got to?..."

"Oh, it's on the floor." Camilla pointed out. Candy's posture shifted sideways and she looked down at the floor.

"Oh, how silly of me." she breathed slowly. She reached down and collected it. Camilla checked to see that the proportedly perfect princess could now apply make up without popping her logic circuits, then opened the door behind her.

"Okay then, see you in a few minutes."

"Uh-huh. Bye Camilla. It was great to talk to you again." that sensuous voice purred as the deeply bronzed brunette put down the lipstick and reached daintily for a tissue. Camilla darted out of the door and away from the area as quickly as she could.

When Camilla found her way back to a familiar part of the complex, she found that she had not yet been missed. Fortunately the filming of a previous show had over-run. She found her partner Andy, but at that moment the stage manager insisted that she was needed side of stage. She was ushered stage left to the door that would lead her onto the set. Andy wished her luck and went to say goodbye, but she whispered urgently for him to listen, aware of the stage manager standing just behind her. Andy drew closer and as Camilla whispered, his eyes widened.
"You're kidding. The bastards!"

Camilla shushed him and continued, gesturing as surreptitiously as possible. Nearby a woman with a combined headphone/hands-free-microphone set was talking quietly to other members of the crew. "OK. Awating cue." she said softly. Andy nodded when Camilla had finished.

"Okay, I'll see what I can do...." he murmered, "Good luck hon."

Andy jogged off in the direction Camilla had come as from the other side of the door, Camilla heard Ms Gillam's introduction.

"I'm sure everyone will have heard of my next guest. She has been described by some as a martyr of women's rights, and by others as a vengeful stalker. Please welcome Camilla Harcourt!"

Camilla felt a tap on her shoulder as the door in front of her slid away.

"OK. Go!" the stage manager whispered.

Camilla smiled and stepped out onto the stage. She was immediately welcomed by what sounded like equal portions of enthusiastic applause, wholehearted cheering, derisive catcalls and booing. Never the less, she made her way down the small staircase that led to the black and white checkered floor of the set. Camilla crossed to a slightly raised daiz where Tracy Gillam had been seated and as they'd rehearsed, Tracy stood and shook her hand, inviting her to sit on the large, garishly coloured couch. Camilla did so as Tracy sat diagonally opposite her on a large leather uphostered chair. Shortly the noise from the audience trailed off and Tracy spoke.

"Camilla. Welcome to the show."

Camilla smiled generously.

"Thank you Tracy. Well, I appreciate being given this opportunity to tell my side of the story."

"And we look forward to hearing it, but first....." Tracy turned to face a nearby camera, "For those of you who've been living on Mars for the past two months and don't know who Camilla is exactly, take a look at this...."

Camilla noticed the audience looking up above the set, presumably at a video screen that she herself could not see. To her left, out of the corner of her eye a sudden flicker caught her attention and in addition to hearing the clip start up through speakers, Camilla could see the video clip on a studio monitor. The opening shot of the clip was outside the court as Camilla arrived for the first day of her case. A reporter was explaining the background to the case. There then followed a brief pastiche of key moments of the hearing, including footage of the broken-down Candy wheeled into court lying on a bench, wrapped and sealed in clear plastic - and the moment when Camilla admitted deliberately short-circuiting the pleasure droid on their first meeting followed by Charlie's outburst and the hubbub that caused. Then came the jury's decision and shots of Camilla's ex-husband being congratulated by his lawyer. As the clip finished the audience responded with another half-cheer/half-boo. Tracy held up her hands.

"Now, now. Camilla will have her say."

Smiling mischeviously, she glanced back at Camilla.

"But first, we've got a little surprise for you...."

Tracy turned to address the same camera nearby.

"As we're about to hear Camilla's side of the story, it's only fair that the woman who has not had an opportunity to speak about it at all, should now be allowed to. So, will you please welcome........Candy Harcourt!"

Camilla tried to look as if she had not expected it, managing to look a little shocked, she hoped. Shortly a familiar shapely brunette emerged from a doorway on the far side of the stage. She was greeted both with 'whoops' and wolf-whistles, but Camilla was aware also of a distinctly feminine sounding 'boo' from the audience. Dressed still in that characteristically revealing white dress and white platformed high-heels, the deeply tanned woman strode confidently toward Camilla, her face beaming broadly. The statuesque brunette continued toward the diaz, her long shining tresses bouncing as she walked, her bronzed skin radiant under the studio lighting - in lustrus contrast to her pristine white attire. Camilla fumed and stood as the shapely Automate approached, and the audience responded with an ueasy 'ooooooooooo'.

"No! We did not agree to this." Camilla insisted, pointing firmly at Ms Gillam. Tracy seemed to ignore her and simply stood as Candy stepped onto the diaz and shook the smiling host's hand. They exchanged pleasantries then Candy stepped toward Camilla, her right hand extended.

"Hi Camilla! It's lovely to see you again. How are you?" she chirped. Camilla ignored her hand and just stepped around her to address Tracy again, an accusatory finger pointed at the somewhat startled looking host, "We did not agree to this." she pointed out again. Tracy cocked her head to one side slightly.

"Oh come on Camilla. You didn't really think I'd just want to speak to you about this, did you? The public deserves both sides of the story, don't they?" She gestured toward the couch, "Just sit down and we'll talk about this."

"Uh...May I?" Candy chimed in over Camilla's shoulder, tentatively indicating the couch. Tracy glanced past Camilla.

"Oh yes, take a seat, Candy." Tracy replied pleasantly. Camilla turned and watched Candy sit down at the far end of the couch and cross her long tanned left leg over the other, toward Camilla. She interlocked her hands and stretched them forward over the raised knee, her ludicrously generous bust bulging up between her outstretched arms. Camilla forced an icy smile and sat reluctantly next to the smiling robotic woman, nearer to Tracy.

"So, Camilla, you claimed during the trial that Candy here, who is your ex-husband's Automate, tried to kill you. Are you still sticking to those claims you made in court?...."

"Absolutely." Camilla responded, "I told the absolute truth in court."

There was a doubtful murmer from some members of the audience.

"But why should people believe you when you admitted short-circuiting the Automate when you first met?" Tracy pressed.
"People should believe me because I admitted short-circuiting her - or it, rather." Camilla insisted, glancing disprovingly at Candy. Predictably the audience 'oooooo'ed. Well, if it was a cat fight they wanted, they'd get one......

"I was not prepared to lie in court. Everything I said was true." Camilla explained.

"So, what would you like to set straight with the audience and viewers today?"

"I'd like people to know that these pleasure droids are built as cheaply as possibly and that that means a limited amount of testing is done to ensure their programming is bug-free and safe. I really believe it's only a matter of time before someone is hurt or killed."

Candy scoffed slightly, her eyebrows raised dismissively.

"I wouldn't call three hundred thousand dollars cheap..." she purred, her posture shifting as her hands moved delicately to her slender waist.

"It doesn't matter how much you sell for - you could still be junk inside..." Camilla insisted, wondering if that remark was riding a little close to the bone.

"My circuits are in prime condition." Candy responded somewhat reproachfully, then smiling suddenly she added, ".....thanks to the hundred grand we won in court..."

The audience 'oooo'ed again and Camilla rolled her eyes.

"That's beside the point." she replied, looking to Tracy instead, "Automates can sell for whatever people are prepared to pay - they are still cheaply made."

"OK then, so......Candy......." Tracy began, "About the day you went to visit Camilla at her apartment......"

"Yes?" Candy breathed.

"Now I can understand if your memory of the incident is sketchy, but what exactly do you recall?"

Candy nodded once and looked confidently across at a nearby camera.

"Charlie and I had been invited to dinner at Cam's apartment." she explained, as Camilla let out a disbelieving gasp and shook her head. The shapely brunette continued non the less, and though Camilla could not see an autocue, she had the distinct impression Candy was reading from a script.

"During dinner Charlie was called away on business. He offered to drop me off at home, but Cam said she could give me a lift. Charlie was in such a rush anyway, and besides, Cam said that we hadn't had any time to really get to know eachother."

Camilla was dumbfounded, barely even able to gasp a reply.

"Wh...What a load of crap!!" she managed finally, "I don't know who reprogrammed you when they put you back together but that is far removed from what actually happened.....And don't call me Cam. My ex-husband used to call me that and I hated it."

Candy hesitated for a moment, then continued.

"Alright. But I remember it exactly. We were invited for dinner and Charlie was forced to leave. That was when you broke the water jug and asked me to clean it up." Candy insisted, her eyes rolling and a hand flitting up as if to attract Tracy's attention, "Little did I know that the jug had been broken on a live electric appliance. The shock was terrible." Candy gasped. Camilla just shook her head, closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. Tracy now addressed Camilla.

"So, you deny Charlie and Candy were invited for dinner."

Camilla sighed.

"Yes. Like I said in court, Charlie turned up out of the blue to see if he could patch things up with me. Candy turned up a few moments after he'd left asking for advice on how to make him happy. I guess Charlie must have said he was unhappy with her or something. She probably wasn't rolling his socks right." Camilla suggested. She went to continue, but Candy sighed and turned to face her again, interupting.

"I very much doubt it." she lilted, crossing her arms and arching her back slightly, "I know exactly how to make my Charlie happy."

As the voluptuous brunette's posture shifted provocatively inside her scant outfit there were wolf whistles from the audience once again and she looked across at the nearest camera again, her expression as confident as ever.

"You arrived asking for advice." Camilla insisted strongly, through semi-clenched teeth, then forcing a smile she turned back to Tracy and continued.

"It seemed to me that Charlie was bored with her. She said he'd complained that she was predictable and...well. a robot."

Candy turned to face her once again.

"You don't know what you're talking about." she insisted, her eyebrows arching slightly as if feigning offence, "Charlie's always been perfectly happy with me." She placed her hands daintily back on her elevated knee, looked at Tracy and wriggled her shoulders slightly, "I think this body would make any man happy, don't you think?"

There was more applause, wolf-whistles and a cheer from the audience, and Candy's flawless face turned proudly back to face the nearby camera as Camilla scowled and shook her head again. Tracy addressed Candy again.

"Now this is interesting, isn't it? Because of all the complaints there are about pleasure companions like yourself, the one we hear most often is that you exist just to please your owner, and that there is no equality of power in the relationship."

Candy frowned and nodded occassionally as if really listening to what Tracy was saying, as the host continued.
"Do you think there's more to your relationship with Charlie than just keeping him happy?" Tracy asked finally. The flawless brunette opposite her nodded knowingly, eyes wide and excited.

"Oh yes." Candy sighed, "Charlie likes to make me happy too. He's always buying me presents."

Camilla scoffed.

"Yeah, probably a shiny new vacuum cleaner or something equally romantic." she suggested almost under her breath. Candy rolled her eyes, laughing playfully, her hand flicking this time dismissively toward Camilla.

"Don't be silly Cam. He likes to treat me....."

Then the stunning brunette fell silent, still smiling, posed as if still speaking. After a moment her left hand moved smoothly up to her ear. Shortly the smile disappeared, an aloof serene gaze returning in it's place.

"Hey. What the. Who the hell are you? No." Candy purred softly. Camilla restrained a smile as Tracy looked on curiously. Suddenly the set wall some distance behind Tracy rattled and Camilla was aware off-stage yelling. Candy's arm lowered and she added, in her level even timbre,

"Leggo. Gimme that. Security. Security."

Another pause, then after another off-stage thumping sound and a muffled yell, she spoke again, still softly,
"Ow."
Candy seemed unphased by the absurdity of her own replies, still staring confidently and blinking intermitantly. Tracy seemed dumbfounded and leaned toward the girl.

"Candy...Are you ok?"

Candy blinked slowly then nodded, smiling pleasantly.

"Uh-huh. I feel great."

At that moment there was another commotion on the far side of the set behind Tracy's seat. Camilla noticed Andy jogging across the set toward her. A surly, determined-looking security gaurd followed closely behind. The audience murmered uneasily as the pair approached the diaz. Tracy even recoiled slightly. Andy had in his hand the microphone Camilla had seen in Candy's dressing room and he handed this to Tracy.

"I think you might like to speak into this." he said as he was grabbed roughly from behind.

"OK wise guy." the guard muttered, "Off we go."

Andy glanced at Camilla, smiling mischeviously as he was pulled away. Camilla smiled gratefully back. She noticed he had a small cut over his right eye. Behind him, at the perimeter of the set, Camilla saw Charlie, but he was restrained by a guard at either arm. Looking on, he struggled intermitantly to break free. There were some startled gasps from the audience as he did so. Camilla smiled at him and wriggled the fingers of one hand in a playfull wave.
"Speak into it!" Andy called again as he was led away. Then he disappeared from view behind the facade of the set, along with Charlie, and Camilla turned her attention back to Tracy. She was fingering the mike gingerly. Shortly she leaned her mouth toward it and blew into it twice.

"Testing. Testing." she murmered hesitantly.

"Testing. Testing." Candy echoed a moment later, staring at her serenely.

"Hello. This is Tracy Gillam speaking." Tracy said, a disapproving frown taking shape on her face. Candy looked at her confidently.

"Hello. This is Tracy Gillam speaking." she repeated smoothly. Tracy turned the microphone off and lowered it to her lap. Candy's left arm raised again, her hand pressing daintily at her ear.

"I think I know what's going on here Candy, and frankly I'm very disappointed." Tracy explained solemnly, "When I get a guest on my show, I expect to really connect with them. I want to know what they think about the issues in there life. You have betrayed my trust."

Camilla restrained a laugh and Candy's arm lowered again.

"Uh-huh." she sighed. Tracy continued, a little flustered to say the least.

"Now....We may as well continue......You were saying that Charlie likes to make you happy too...."

Candy just blinked slowly and then stared. Tracy waited.

"You said he's always buying you presents..." Tracy prompted eventually.

"Uh-huh." Candy breathed, nodding pleasantly. Tracy waited again then sighed.

"So, what has he bought for you recently?" she suggested impatiently.

"Charlie bought me make up." Candy chirped immediately, smirking proudly.

"Well, that's nice....But people could argue that that's as much a gift for him as for you.....To make you look nice for him?"

Candy just stared again. It was difficult to tell if it was a look of supreme confidence or not an expression at all. In the growing awkward silence, Camilla decided to sieze the opportunity, cutting in and addressing Candy.

"I wouldn't have thought an Automate would need to wear makeup. Surely you always look......perfect." she suggested, a hand flitting playfully up to her face as she rolled her eyes. Candy's head swivelled slightly to face her.

"I do look perfect. Charlie said so."

Camilla feigned a frown.

"Oh. So why would Charlie need to get you make up then?" she pressed.

"Charlie wants me to look my best for this afternoon's filming." Candy breathed perfectly on cue.

Camilla looked confused.

"Oh! But I thought you always look perfect."

Candy's deep brown eyes regarded her somewhat aloofly.

"I do. Charlie said so."

"But surely always looking perfect would mean you look your best all the time - so you don't need to use the make up."
"I always look perfect. Charlie said so. I must use the make up. Charlie said so." that sensuous even voice purred and Candy's head swiveled to look confidently at the nearby camera. Tracy cleared her throat.

"Um. Where is this going exactly?...." she murmered, clearly a little annoyed at having her show hijacked. Camilla turned to her and shrugged non chalantly.

"Oh, I was just wondering why Charlie would ask Candy to use make up to look her best when apparently she looks her best all the time."

At this, one of Candy's hands rose delicately to the side of her head again and her brow furrowed slightly. Shortly Candy's eyelids flickered for a moment then she sighed and softly breathed,
"You are getting me confused."

"It's quite simple." Camilla suggested clearly and precisely, "You're either not perfect all of the time, or you don't need to use the make up Charlie bought for you...."

"I am always perfect." Candy breathed, looking serenely at Camilla again, "Charlie said so. I must use the make up. Charlie said so."

Candy's raised hand lowered stiffly to her side and she uncrossed her long tanned legs, recrossing them immediately away from Camilla.

"You are confusing my circuits."

The attractive brunette's head swivelled back to face out at the camera - her deep chocolate brown eyes glistening in the bright studio lighting.

"Oh. I'm sorry." Camilla trilled, faking another frown, "But, hey, I thought your circuits were in 'prime condition'."
"They are. I have been fully reconditioned. Charlie said so." Candy replied smoothly, still looking into the camera smugly, "I always look so perfect. Charlie said so. I must use the make up. Charlie said so."

Then came the sound Camilla had been waiting for - a familiar delicate tick-tick-ticking that shifted in speed aimlessly. Candy's elevated right thigh lifted suddenly and her legs uncrossed once more as her head swivelled smoothly to look back at Camilla.

"I must not malfunction. Charlie said so. I am just such a bimbo. Charlie said so." Candy recited, her voice dreamy and laborious as the aimlessly ticking sound continued, slowing and speeding as if at random.
"Charlie does not lie. I must obey Charlie."

Her flawlessly made up face turned stiffly to face the camera once again and then Camilla noticed the internal ticking seemed to be speeding up gradually. The shapely brunette leaned forward slightly, her hands pressing lightly down on her thighs and she stood smoothly, her confident gaze fixed firmly on the camera ahead.

"I am programmed to obey Charlie. People will just love my body." she purred as she stepped forward slowly, her hands poised delicately at her sides.

"I have been fully reconditioned. I always look so perfect." she trilled dreamily, that increasingly more rapidly ticking sound still emitting softly from within her.

"I will be a world famous model yet. I have the looks for it. Charlie said so. I must not malfunction."

She stopped at the edge of the diaz and her hands rose smoothly up her body, one gently cupping her breast, the other brushing her hair smoothly behind one ear. So she remained posed for a few moments. The audience was strangely silent and that furious ticking sound rung out up into the spacious studio as it wound and sped still faster. On a monitor off to her left, Camilla noticed a shot of Candy's face looking straight at the camera. Her expression was of supreme confidence as her lips parted and she spoke again.

[[Image:Model_Citizen.jpg|thumb|300px|right]]

"I am over heating. I must not malfunction. I have been fully reconditioned. I am a brunette Barbie. Charlie said so. You are getting me confused. I must cool off." the curvatious brunette's voice calmly explained. There was a faint hum and the panel of skin on her back pushed outward smoothly. Tracy gaped and glanced at a cameraman to her right, pointing mutely. He immediately shifted his camera nearer to Tracy to get the shot. Candy seemed to notice him and turned with him as he moved, her confident expression unfaltering.

"I have the perfect body for modelling. Big boobs are coming back. Charlie said so. Coming back. Cool off."

There was suddenly a crackle and a flash. A single blue spark spat down out of the wiring of Candy's opened panel. Her torso jerked and her head wobbled as a faint puff of smoke rose up behind her. Her slender arms lowered slightly, freezing while still bent at the elbows, the perfectly manicured fingers pointing rigidly ahead of her. The ticking sped to an indiscernable buzz and Candy stepped down awkwardly off the diaz toward the camera. On the monitor to the left, there was a shifting close up of Candy's face. That perfect smile seemed strangely pasted on - those formerly serene brown eyes somewhat wide and vacant.

"Warning. I am perfect for modelling. Priority conflict. For modelling."

Her voice was suddenly even less expressive - almost a monotone. There was another flash of sparks and the overly voluptuous android spun slightly to her left. A tiny blackened smoking component clattered to the ground behind her, then the tall brunette seemed to notice the first camera she had been looking at and turned jerkily toward it, her rigid hands and ample bust swinging about out in front of her.

"I must not malfunction. Must not. Error."

She had scarcely glanced at it when there was an soft clattering sound from inside her and another shower of blue sparks crackled, cascading from the cavity in that bronzed bare back. She appreared to notice the third camera and continued turning anti-clockwise. There was suddenly the persistant sound of whining, melting circuits and as she continued speaking, the exotically tanned plaything began turning indecisively this way and that to face the cameras surrounding her.

"Over heating. For modelling. Big boobs. Fully. Malfunction. Malfunction."

When her flawlessly made up face swung into view it was contorting wildly, the brows stretching and twisting, the generous lips straining against eachother inhumanly, the eyes crossing and uncrossing, their lids alternately flickering half closed and pulling wide open.

"Over. Load. Big. Must. Boobs. Not."

The crackling sparks intensified and that monotonous voice began to speak just pieces of words, the sylables cutting off with abrupt unnatural clicks. The statuesque pleasure droid continued spinning indecisively about, intermitantly jerking to a halt or taking a single awkward step toward the camera she happened to be facing, then spinning in the other direction, sparks and puffs of smoke issuing constantly from her back amid the continuing whine and crackle of shorting circuits. Finally as she faced the diaz mid-turn, there was a still brighter flash and that over-endowed torso lurched forward slightly, immediately jerking to a mechanical halt, the arms and bust bouncing unnaturally. The head tipped back and bounced there, the eyes rolled back, and the voluptuous brunette was abruptly frozen with her mouth wide open.

"I..I.IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII"

The word was just a digitised tone emitting from the full parted lips, and as it continued, a thin thread of smoke trailed from the mouth of the defunct shapely machine. The internal crackling increased again in frequency and volume, flashes suddenly showing as orange through the tanned skin of that generously exposed, forward tilted cleavage. There was suddenly another bright flash accompanied by a much louder pop that made many in the studio jump. That digitised vocal tone finally cut off and an unseen engine wound down quickly inside the inanimate shapely doll. There was stunned silence, broken only by the occasional faint fizzle from within the smouldering voluptuous bronzed figure.
In the silence, Tracy gasped. Candy remained motionless, posed crookedly forward with her head back and her arms bent stiffly at her sides, smoke issuing steadily upwards from her mouth and from the smouldering cavity of her back. Tracy gasped again then looked at Camilla. Camilla just shrugged.

"See what I mean? Well 'built', maybe, but not well made."

The End.

-----

[[Stories|Back to the story archive]]

[[Category:Fection]]
[[Category:Stories]]

Model Citizen

2008-03-19T21:41:38Z

Fection:

Episode Five of 'Destined for the Junk Pile'
-----
It had started badly and had quickly gotten a lot worse......

"And yet the only sign of any struggle is the smashed jug, WHICH YOU ADMIT breaking in order to short-circuit the android...." officer Gallagher had pointed out. Camilla had sighed, tired and wanting to go home - now that she knew the wreckage of 'Candy', Charlie's psychotic robotic plaything, had been removed from her apartment and taken in as evidence.

"Like I keep saying....Any mess I made trying to get away from her, she tidied up.."

"In the middle of the fight...."

"It was all very rushed...." Camilla had insisted, somewhat flustered. The other officer who had never even given his name continued pacing back and forward in a darker part of the police interview room looking slightly bemused. Correctly, Camilla had even then sensed there was worse to come....

A few days later Camilla had received notification that Charlie, her ex-husband, was suing her for damages and emotional trauma.

Things actually seemed to be proceeding well in court (after all, it was Camilla's word against that of a short-circuited pleasure droid that wasn't in any condition to be answering questions of any sort) until Charlie's lawyer inevitably got around to asking about the first time Camilla and Charlie's 'new girl' had met. Not wanting to risk perjury, Camilla was forced to admit to deliberately short-circuiting the pleasure droid on their first meeting, to which an outraged Charlie had stood up and shouted...

"I KNEW it!!"

From there on in, despite Camilla's insistance that on this most recent occasion she was forced to electrocute the inexplicably homicidal house mate to preserve her own life, the jury found in favour of Charlie Harcourt, and Camilla was ordered to pay repair costs and damages totalling nearly one hundred thousand dollars. Unfortunately, the whole story seemed to develop a fairly frenzied media following, probably due to the first ever android-accused-of-atempted-murder angle. That, and the perceived ex-wife-jilted-for-younger-lover-and-out-for-revenge aspect. Camilla found herself harrased in the street several times, but she also received the odd piece of fan mail, mainly from women who agreed with her stand on how these artificial pleasure companions were a throw-back to last-century role models.

In the end Camilla had become a kind of infamous cult figure, and it was because of this that her boss had explained he needed to 'let her go'. Camilla had suggested that it would all blow over in a few months, but her employer had insisted that they could not afford to be loosing clients at this time. So she had been fired. Finding new work in the shadow of the television coverage proved difficult and in the end Camilla had had to settle for temp work as a secretary.

It had been scarcely a week since the judge's decision when the first call came through - the first of several from television talk shows. At first Camilla had stuck to her belief that her notoriety would pass, but the street harrassments and gossip at work began to grind her down. It was after hearing rumours that her new employer was also considering 'letting her go' about a month later that Camilla finally changed her mind. A few days later she received yet another call from a representative of 'The Tracy Gillam Show' and tentatively agreed to a meeting.

The next few days had passed somewhat in a blur. She had met a plethora of people for lunch who all seemed very pleasant, and eager to agree to many of her requests regarding lines of questioning. The show seemed credible and professional, so finally she had agreed to appear.

So now here she was, backstage at the studio, having her makeup done. She could hear the audience laughing and occasionally booing at the guests of the show previous to hers as she struggled with last minute reservations about how good an idea it was agreeing to appear on a show that encouraged the audience boo. She closed her eyes and told herself to relax. People needed to hear her side of the story. And how long would it be until another pleasure droid decided the best way to make it's owner happy was to 'remove' any perceived competition? She nodded to herself and took a deep breath. She realised she needed to use the toilet....

A few minutes later she stepped out of the womens' toilet, surprised to find that Teresa, the woman who had escorted her here, had disappeared. She looked left and right searching for a sign that said 'stage', with no luck. She knew she had probably half an hour before filming began, so was not unduly worried. She headed left, the way she had come.
A few more minutes later and Camilla was more annoyed than concerned. This place was a maze! Shortly she came to another door, marked 'Dressing Room 6'. She could hear a noise from inside so knocked, but got no reply. Shortly she tentatively tried the door and was immediately relieved to finally find a dressing room that was occupied. A slim brunnete woman wrapped in a white towel sat at a three way mirror opposite, blow-drying her hair. Camilla took only one step into the room before she suddenly recognised the overly cuvatious woman reflected in the mirrors and froze on the spot.

"Candy?!!" she gasped incredulously. The shapely girl seemed less surprised to see her, shutting off the hair dryer, placing it smoothly on the dresser in front of her and swiveling her stool to face Camilla. Though obviously very tightly wrapped in the towel, her restrained bust still managed somehow to swing around out in front of her as she turned. Her face was beaming and confident, her eyes glistening with a barely restrained excitement.
"Well, hi Camilla! It's great to see you again." she gushed. Then her head cocked slightly to one side and she added sympathetically, "How are you?"

Almost immediately, Camilla's shock was superseded by her anger.

"What the hell are you doing here?!!" she demanded. Candy stood and crossed toward Camilla, the front of her towel bobbing up and down as she walked.

"I'm appearing with you at this afternoon's filming." she explained eagerly, stopping less than a yard away from Camilla, "Isn't it exciting?"

Her chocolate brown eyes were wide with expectation, as her pristine smile waited for Camilla's reply.

"Appearing with me?! Why? What the..." Camilla stopped, choking on her disbelief.

"Tracy Gillam wanted me to appear and Charlie agreed. Isn't it exciting?" she asked again.

"No it damn well isn't! Why wasn't I told about this?!"

Candy's eyebrows rose slightly and that indomitable smile finally faltered, falling to a faintly quizical frown.

"Oh gee, I dunno. I knew you were appearing."

Still holding the door open with one hand, Camilla was speachless with fury and barely able to supress her outrage. She was about to storm out of the room when the scantily clad brunette sighed dreamily.

"Well, if you'll excuse me, I must get ready for this afternoon's filming."

The deeply bronzed brunette turned smoothly and moved away to the left end of the dressing room, where a set of tall dividing barriers were set up. As she stepped pristinely toward these, her arms rose to her bust to loosen the towel wrapped snugly around her. The towel fell away, held only in one hand, exposing her tanned, flawless back and Camilla noticed that the unsightly control panel that had featured there when they last met was now absent. Her toned pert rear end swung lazily to and fro, and as she walked smoothly forward her voluptuous torso seemed just to glide over the floor. The curvatious creation turned slightly and stepped behind the changing barrier and Camilla caught an unwelcome glimpse of her overly pert bust, bulging out sideways so much so as to be seen almost from directly behind. Camilla rolled her eyes and shook her head for a moment, then surveyed the dresser aimlessly. Amongst the make up and the discarded hairdryer she spied what looked like a large tube of mascara - but clearly much too large. She stepped forward into the room, finally allowing the door to swing closed behind her. As she moved closer to the table she called out to Candy again.

"But why did Charlie agree to it? What could he possibly gain? He's already won the court case - unless he just wants to make more of a fool out of me...."

Upon closer inspection of the desk, she realised the tube was in fact a slim black microphone. Next to it lay a small earpiece. Camilla frowned, squinting thoughtfully, then moved back to where she had stood by the door.

"Charlie said that appearing on TV might get me started in modelling." Candy explained evenly from behind the barrier. Camilla scoffed.

"Modelling? Uh...No offence, but I'm not sure you have a particularly fashionable body shape for modern modelling - unless it's a career in porn you're after....." Camilla suggested.

"My body's perfect." Candy chimed smoothly and with supremely indomitable confidence.

"Perfect? What for? A flotation device?"

"My body's perfect. Charlie said so." that measured voice trilled and Candy emerged from behind the changing barrier clad now in a tight-fitting white one-piece mini-dress that unsurprisingly left little to the imagination. Her over sized bust was pressed tightly into the halter-neck top, that generous tanned cleavage now bulging up between straps that looped up to meet behind her neck. Similarly the scant skirt left most of the tall brunette's athletically toned thighs exposed. Her feet were still bare.

"Oh, right.....if Charlie said so, then it must be so." Camilla relented sarcastically, "I forgot that everything Charlie says is absolute undeniable fact. Sorry."

Candy crossed back toward the dresser, her deep brown eyes still regarding Camilla excitedly.

"Uh-huh. That's right. Charlie doesn't lie. Charlie said I look perfect, so I look perfect."

The long-legged brunette turned and sat smoothly on her stool as if lowered on strings.

"Riiiiight. Charlie doesn't lie..." Camilla sighed dubiously. Candy swung her long legs back under the dresser and turned her mostly bare back to Camilla, her flawless reflection looking back at Camilla.

"Now if you will excuse me, I must fix my make up." her chirpy voice insisted and she reached forward retrieving a tube of mascara.

Intending to leave once again, Camilla turned away and mimiked the seemingly self-satisfied brunette's voice softly under her breath, adding quietly as an after thought, in a equally irritable tone...

"I thought you looked perfect."

She reached for the door handle and was about to step out of the room, but it seemed Candy was not prepared to let this one lie.

"I am perfect. Charlie said so." she sighed smugly yet again, untwisting the mascara and carefully placing the long cap back on to the dresser. She began applying the mascara to her right eye in precisely measured strokes as Camilla turned back to face her.

"You keep saying that." she pointed out, "It makes you sound a little defensive. Charlie wasn't so happy with you before, y'know...."

"Charlie couldn't be happier with me. I've been fully reconditioned. My circuits are in prime condition." the shapely automaton purred, adding somewhat inexplicably, "Charlie said so."

Camilla hesitated, thinking for a moment. She couldn't help but wonder if she had finally 'touched a nerve' in the shapely brunette. She decided to press her further.

"Charlie said you were perfect?" she asked, feigning curiosity.

"Uh-huh." the brunette chirped, still applying the mascara.

Camilla frowned.

"And what made him say that?"

Candy shrugged impatiently.

"I dunno. He said so last Thursday when he came home from work." she explained, stopping suddenly and staring longingly at her reflection as if lost in the memory of a romantic dream, "I greeted him and we kissed. Then he said I always look just so perfect. I remember it exactly. I always look so perfect. Charlie said so."

Candy moved the mascara smoothly to the other eye, twisting the brush in small even strokes once again as Camilla continued.

"I see. Well, are you perfect right now?"

"Well, of course. Charlie said I always look just so perfect." the shapely brunette gushed confidently, "So I'm always perfect."

"Well then, why are you using make up if you already look perfect?"

"Charlie wants me to look my absolute best for this afternoon's filming. He said I should use the make up that he bought especially for this afternoon." she explained dismissively, looking back at Camilla in the mirror and retrieving the mascara cap delicately from the dresser without even looking at it. Then she refastened the cap and placed the sealed mascara back on the dresser in front of her. She swung her shapely legs clockwise out from under the dresser, facing off to Camilla's right.

"But you're always perfect. Charlie said that too...." Camilla reminded the flawlessly made up woman as Candy stood smoothly and crossed toward a small open doorway that led to a wardrobe.

"That's right. I always look so perfect." she agreed proudly once again, her confident expression utterly steadfast as she glided elegantly forward.

"So why do you need to use make up to look your best when you always look so perfect?......" Camilla pressed, watching as Candy stopped and bent forward at the waist, retrieving a pair of sleekly formed white platform high heels from the floor of the wardrobe, "Unless you don't look your best all the time - but that would mean not looking perfect all the time." Camilla pointed out.

Candy stood upright and Camilla noticed her head cock slightly to one side as she stared into the wardrobe.

"I always look so perfect, but I must look my best for Charlie." Candy insisted evenly after a moment, moving smoothly to a large padded white leather chair next to the wardrobe. Camilla sighed, growing frustrated.

"But surely always looking perfect would mean looking your best all the time..."

Candy turned and sat delicately on the edge of the seat. She leaned forward, placing one of the shoes on the floor at her feet, then crossed her tanned legs toward Camilla. Her voluptuous torso leaned forward again bulging down against her elevated thigh and she placed the other shoe on her foot.

"Uh-huh. That's right. I am always perfect. But...."

As Candy remained leaned forward reaching down to her foot, she stopped and just stared at the floor, her full lips parted slightly. A moment later her free hand rose delicately to the side of her head and her eyebrows seemed to press down into a faint frown. Shortly Candy's eyelids flickered for a moment then she sighed and softly breathed,
"Gee whiz. I'm getting confused."

"It's quite simple." Camilla suggested helpfully, "You're either not perfect all of the time, or you don't need to use the make up Charlie bought for you...."

Candy blinked slowly again and the brunette's raised hand lowered smoothly, reaching down to pick up the remaining shoe from the floor. She uncrossed her long tanned legs, recrossing them immediately away from Camilla.

"I am always perfect." Candy breathed determinedly, placing the second shoe on her pointed foot, "Charlie said so."

She sat upright again and blinked slowly then looked toward Camilla.

"I must use the make up. Charlie said so."

The attractive brunette's head swivelled back to face in front of her - her deep chocolate brown eyes glistening in the bright dressing room lighting.

"Charlie does not lie. I must obey Charlie."

Then she smiled again and stood smoothly, her shapely form made all the more statuesque by the added stature of her shoes. She walked forward, gliding effortlessly toward the dresser.

"I am always perfect. I must use the make up." her lilting voice continued blissfully as she turned on the toes of her shoes and sat once again on the stool. Her legs swung back under the dresser, her toned bare back glistening bronzely as she turned.

"If you'll excuse me, I must fix my make up." she sighed and a hand reached forward, collecting a tube of lipstick. Staring smugly at herself in the mirror, she removed the cap and placed the cap back on the dresser. Then she twisted the lipstick and moved the crimson shaft toward her lips. But the arm froze abruptly. She stared at herself, as if suddenly in awe.

"I always look so perfect." she breathed, and the arm began to lower again. Then it halted and the lips parted again, the head cocking to one side slightly.

"I must look my best."

The arm began to rise again, but faltered jerkily.

"I always look so perfect." that voice repeated smugly. The arm lowered stiffly, then stopped so abruptly that the lipstick tumbled from it's delicate grasp. Candy's long eyelashes fluttered for a moment and the empty hand rose to the side of her head.

"I am getting confused." she purred dreamily. Still with her hand held daintly to the side of her head, her feet pushed her body clockwise, that over sized bust swinging around in front of her as she spun smoothly, facing off to Camilla's right again. She crossed her legs, right over left and her torso tilted forward. The hand that was pressed at her head lowered again, reaching down toward her elevated foot as she spoke again.

"If you'll excuse me, I must get ready for...."

Then suddenly she froze. As the voluptuous automaton stared vacantly down at the floor once again, there came a strange sound - a delicate tick-tick-ticking that slowed and sped up in no discernable pattern. Shortly her elevated right thigh lifted suddenly up against her bulbous bust and her legs uncrossed. Candy's head swivelled smoothly to look at Camilla, her head effectively cocked to one side atop a crookedly posed torso.

"I always look so perfect." Candy repeated, her voice dreamy and laborious as that strange ticking sound continued aimlessly.

"Charlie does not lie. I must obey Charlie." she intoned. Her posture finally straightened as her apparently flawlessly made up face turned stiffly forward, then she recrossed her athletically toned legs back toward Camilla.
"I am programmed to obey Charlie. Charlie loves my perfect body." she sighed - apparently to no-one - then her serene chocolate gaze swung once more to meet Camilla's and her hand began to rise again to the side of her head. But then the tell tale ticking sped to a newly frenetic frequency and her slender forearm froze jerkily half way up, the fingers of her hand pointing rigidly. That formerly indomitable confident expression seemed to falter slightly - her lips were still held in a smug smirk, but those deep brown eyes seemed now somehow slightly vacant.

"I have been fully re-conditioned. Charlie said so. I am always so perfect." she trilled dreamily, that rapidly ticking sound still emitting softly from within her. Her head turned stiffly forward and in synchronicity with her indecisively swiveling head, the half-raised hand lowered while the other jerked upward into motion, likewise faltering stiffly as the attractive woman spoke again.

"My circuits are in prime condition. You are getting me confused."

The curvatious thigh of her left leg rose suddenly up from over the other, then jerked to a halt, the foot bouncing mechanically out infront of her. After a moment, the long tanned leg swung stiffly sideways and lowered, the other leg immediately rising, swinging jerkily and crossing over the first. Her head spun smoothly to face back at Camilla and one hand lowered stiffly as the other raised yet again.

"I must not malfunction. Charlie said so. I must use the make up." that sensuous voice breathed. Those long shapely legs uncrossed jerkily and she stood, stepping laboriously forward toward the wardrobe once again.

"I always look so perfect. Charlie said so. If you'll excuse me, I must get ready."

Her top heavy torso toppled forward and then jerked to a mechanical halt as she reached down to the floor to retrieve a pair of non-existant shoes.

"I am getting confused. My body is perfect."

Her body sprung upright and she turned about, walking forward. Camilla noticed the faint odour of warming plastic when the still softly ticking brunette passed her by and as the shapely robotic woman continued toward the changing barrier at the left hand end of the dressing room the inexplicable repetitive ticking sound was joined by a faint airy hum, like that of the hairdryer Candy had been using earlier.

"I am over heating. Charlie just loves my boobs. Charlie said so." she explained needlessly. Almost immediately a seam appeared in the tanned skin of her bare back, just below the line of her long brown hair. The ticking and humming became suddenly less muffled as a section of her skin about four inches square pushed smoothly out from her otherwise flawless back. Strands of her shiny brown hair that hung down above the new cavity shifted aimlessly as if caught in a new breeze. As the faltering pleasure companion turned and disappeared behind the barrier, Camilla could see that the panel was held out from her back by a pair of narrow steel arms. From what she could tell in the brief glimpse she had caught, the space behind the protruding panel was filled with a messy dangling nest of mutilcouloured wiring.

"I must cool off. I must not malfunction. Charlie said so." that still evenly measured voice purred from behind the barrier. A moment later Candy emerged again, evidently already changed, and headed back to the dresser. There she turned about smoothly and lowered herself back onto the stool. From this profile, Camilla could clearly see a tangled mass of wiring and components hanging limply between the cavity and the protruding back panel. But, other than the lazy way in which they were arranged, their was nothing to indicate that the wiring was damaged. No sparks. No smoke. Just that ticking and humming, and Candy's obliviously sensuous recitations.

"I am over heating. I always look just so perfect." Candy's voice intoned blissfully. It occured to Camilla that the wiring might have already been in such a condition - hardly the look of circuits in their 'prime condition' or internals that had been 'fully reconditioned'. As Candy spun her body stiffly to face the dresser again, Camilla stepped forward, frowning at the protruding panel of flawlessly bronzed skin. The noxious smell of heated plastic was strong in the air. Candy's left hand rose stiffly up beside her head, the fingers still pointed rigidly, the perfectly manicured nails glistening in the bright lighting. Camilla looked down into the space behind the protuberant brown plastic panel. Indeed the wiring appeared to be as yet undamaged, but arrayed carelessly and interconnected by what appeared to be a series of loosely hanging switches. Deeper within the cavity, almost obscured by the mass of wiring, there sat on the left side a row of circuit boards and on the other, amongst other various components, a small electronic fan mounted in a circular brace which was humming furiously. It was this that was sending forth a blast of warm ill-odoured air.

"I must not malfunction. I have been fully reconditioned. Charlie said so." Candy insisted obliviously. But even as the overheating android spoke the tiny motorised fan within her sputtered furiously and cut out, winding down quickly. Camilla immediately noticed the ticking sound seemed to be discernably speeding up again, this time unabated. Candy's slender left hand lowered as the other raised and her head began turning smoothly to the left and then to the right.
"Warning. I am over heating. I must not malfunction." the pleasure droid trilled, her voice beginning to loose that indomitably pleasant tone. Camilla realised she needed to do something urgently to avoid being responsible for the error-prone plaything's demise yet again. She looked around desperately for anything that might be of asstistance, to no avail. In the mirror she caught a glimpse of Candy's face as it swung into view. Her formerly serene brown eyes seemed now to be moving independently of eachother, crossing and uncrossing, flitting slightly this way and that, their flawlessly arched eyebrows now twisting up and down, those generous lips twitching indecisively between a frown and a smirk as her voice continued reciting obliviously. Camilla could hear the faint but furious hum of several small winding motors.

"I am Charlie's pleasure droid. Warning. My body is built to obey Charlie. I have been fully. Fully. I must not malfunction. Must not."

As Candy's head turned back and forward and her arms alternately raised and lowered automatically and the ticking sound wound and looped faster and faster, it struck Camilla how much she seemed like a broken clockwork toy. Camilla's attention was suddenly brought back to the exposed wiring at Candy's back by a small flash of sparks. One of the switches had let out a small puff of smoke. Camilla looked at it, biting her lip, then reached in and grabbed it, flicking the small toggle with her other hand.

Immediately the rapid ticking slowed as did Candy's voice. Her rigid arms lowered smoothly and her torso tipped inexorably forward as if finally succumbing to gravity. That sensuous voice began to break up as it slowed, not deepening, but digitising as if somehow aurally pixelated. Her body's forward descent was slowed as her bust rested firmly down on the dresser, sending one or two pieces of make up clattering down to the floor. Then her head lolled forward, her long dark brown shiny hair falling about her face, the forehead likewise coming to rest gently on the dresser, the vacant brown eyes unseen, but looking down at her own bulging cleavage pressed up and out of her top by the table top below it. There she stayed, with the panel of her back stuck up into the air behind her. Camilla sighed in relief. There was still a faint ticking, but this was the ticking of cooling circuits.

Camilla was tempted to just leave, but she realised it would not do to have Charlie's plaything found shut off inexplicably - suspicions would be raised, she was sure. And she couldn't even be certain that once activated the shapely artificial girl would be in any fit state for a television appearance. But she guessed it would not be wise to reactivate the inanimate doll while it was still so overheated. So she waited nervously, expecting at any moment for the door to open and to be discovered. From time to time she put her hand inside the smouldering cavity to check for warmth, checking her watch impatiently and listening for the dreaded approaching footsteps from outside. As she waited she wondered why little Miss "I'm Always Just So Perfect" had broken down so easily - and why her internal workings were in such apparent disarray when Charlie had been awarded almost a hundred thousand...........Camilla cut short her train of thought and began to suspect she knew why.

It was several minutes before the internal cooling sounds stopped, and several more before Camilla finally plucked up the courage to reactivate the unsound android. Eventually, checking her watch again, she sighed and reached back into the cavity. It still felt a little warm, but Camilla figured a little heat was probably usual. She found the switch which had crackled and, hoping it had survived the overload undamaged, flicked it. Immediately the protruding panel of tanned skin began to press smoothly closed on it's extended arms and Camilla had to withdraw her hand quickly to avoid having it caught. She backed away as the seam all but disappeared, feeling torn once again between getting away and checking that the pleasure droid was still operable. Shortly there were a couple of sharp muffled bleeps from within the ludicrously proportioned lifeless body. The head twitched slightly and rose, the torso lifting backward to once again defy gravity and sit upright. The radiant brunette appeared to focus on herself in the mirror, though her eyes seemed a little on the glazed side of serene.

"Candice Automate. Restart initiated." her sultry voice breathed. There came a mechanical buzz cut short by a dull clunk.

"Loading. Please wait....." the serenely staring automaton added pleasantly, repeating the phrase a few moments later. Camilla did so.

Shortly there were another number of sharp internal bleeps and then Candy's head swivelled to look at Camilla in the mirror and she smiled broadly.

"Well, hi Camilla! It's lovely to see you again. How are you?"

Camilla began to feel a little more relieved.

"Fine. How do you feel?" she asked. Candy's eyes flashed excitedly.

"I feel so realistic. Charlie said so."

Camilla forced an uneasy smile.

"Ohhh...kaaaay.....I'm just going to go now." she explained slowly, pointing back over her shoulder toward the exit with her thumb, "You just sit there until Charlie comes for you alright?"

"I must get ready for this afternoon's filming." the brunette gasped, looking down at the dresser quizically, "Now where has my lipstick got to?..."

"Oh, it's on the floor." Camilla pointed out. Candy's posture shifted sideways and she looked down at the floor.

"Oh, how silly of me." she breathed slowly. She reached down and collected it. Camilla checked to see that the proportedly perfect princess could now apply make up without popping her logic circuits, then opened the door behind her.

"Okay then, see you in a few minutes."

"Uh-huh. Bye Camilla. It was great to talk to you again." that sensuous voice purred as the deeply bronzed brunette put down the lipstick and reached daintily for a tissue. Camilla darted out of the door and away from the area as quickly as she could.

When Camilla found her way back to a familiar part of the complex, she found that she had not yet been missed. Fortunately the filming of a previous show had over-run. She found her partner Andy, but at that moment the stage manager insisted that she was needed side of stage. She was ushered stage left to the door that would lead her onto the set. Andy wished her luck and went to say goodbye, but she whispered urgently for him to listen, aware of the stage manager standing just behind her. Andy drew closer and as Camilla whispered, his eyes widened.
"You're kidding. The bastards!"

Camilla shushed him and continued, gesturing as surreptitiously as possible. Nearby a woman with a combined headphone/hands-free-microphone set was talking quietly to other members of the crew. "OK. Awating cue." she said softly. Andy nodded when Camilla had finished.

"Okay, I'll see what I can do...." he murmered, "Good luck hon."

Andy jogged off in the direction Camilla had come as from the other side of the door, Camilla heard Ms Gillam's introduction.

"I'm sure everyone will have heard of my next guest. She has been described by some as a martyr of women's rights, and by others as a vengeful stalker. Please welcome Camilla Harcourt!"

Camilla felt a tap on her shoulder as the door in front of her slid away.

"OK. Go!" the stage manager whispered.

Camilla smiled and stepped out onto the stage. She was immediately welcomed by what sounded like equal portions of enthusiastic applause, wholehearted cheering, derisive catcalls and booing. Never the less, she made her way down the small staircase that led to the black and white checkered floor of the set. Camilla crossed to a slightly raised daiz where Tracy Gillam had been seated and as they'd rehearsed, Tracy stood and shook her hand, inviting her to sit on the large, garishly coloured couch. Camilla did so as Tracy sat diagonally opposite her on a large leather uphostered chair. Shortly the noise from the audience trailed off and Tracy spoke.

"Camilla. Welcome to the show."

Camilla smiled generously.

"Thank you Tracy. Well, I appreciate being given this opportunity to tell my side of the story."

"And we look forward to hearing it, but first....." Tracy turned to face a nearby camera, "For those of you who've been living on Mars for the past two months and don't know who Camilla is exactly, take a look at this...."

Camilla noticed the audience looking up above the set, presumably at a video screen that she herself could not see. To her left, out of the corner of her eye a sudden flicker caught her attention and in addition to hearing the clip start up through speakers, Camilla could see the video clip on a studio monitor. The opening shot of the clip was outside the court as Camilla arrived for the first day of her case. A reporter was explaining the background to the case. There then followed a brief pastiche of key moments of the hearing, including footage of the broken-down Candy wheeled into court lying on a bench, wrapped and sealed in clear plastic - and the moment when Camilla admitted deliberately short-circuiting the pleasure droid on their first meeting followed by Charlie's outburst and the hubbub that caused. Then came the jury's decision and shots of Camilla's ex-husband being congratulated by his lawyer. As the clip finished the audience responded with another half-cheer/half-boo. Tracy held up her hands.

"Now, now. Camilla will have her say."

Smiling mischeviously, she glanced back at Camilla.

"But first, we've got a little surprise for you...."

Tracy turned to address the same camera nearby.

"As we're about to hear Camilla's side of the story, it's only fair that the woman who has not had an opportunity to speak about it at all, should now be allowed to. So, will you please welcome........Candy Harcourt!"

Camilla tried to look as if she had not expected it, managing to look a little shocked, she hoped. Shortly a familiar shapely brunette emerged from a doorway on the far side of the stage. She was greeted both with 'whoops' and wolf-whistles, but Camilla was aware also of a distinctly feminine sounding 'boo' from the audience. Dressed still in that characteristically revealing white dress and white platformed high-heels, the deeply tanned woman strode confidently toward Camilla, her face beaming broadly. The statuesque brunette continued toward the diaz, her long shining tresses bouncing as she walked, her bronzed skin radiant under the studio lighting - in lustrus contrast to her pristine white attire. Camilla fumed and stood as the shapely Automate approached, and the audience responded with an ueasy 'ooooooooooo'.

"No! We did not agree to this." Camilla insisted, pointing firmly at Ms Gillam. Tracy seemed to ignore her and simply stood as Candy stepped onto the diaz and shook the smiling host's hand. They exchanged pleasantries then Candy stepped toward Camilla, her right hand extended.

"Hi Camilla! It's lovely to see you again. How are you?" she chirped. Camilla ignored her hand and just stepped around her to address Tracy again, an accusatory finger pointed at the somewhat startled looking host, "We did not agree to this." she pointed out again. Tracy cocked her head to one side slightly.

"Oh come on Camilla. You didn't really think I'd just want to speak to you about this, did you? The public deserves both sides of the story, don't they?" She gestured toward the couch, "Just sit down and we'll talk about this."

"Uh...May I?" Candy chimed in over Camilla's shoulder, tentatively indicating the couch. Tracy glanced past Camilla.

"Oh yes, take a seat, Candy." Tracy replied pleasantly. Camilla turned and watched Candy sit down at the far end of the couch and cross her long tanned left leg over the other, toward Camilla. She interlocked her hands and stretched them forward over the raised knee, her ludicrously generous bust bulging up between her outstretched arms. Camilla forced an icy smile and sat reluctantly next to the smiling robotic woman, nearer to Tracy.

"So, Camilla, you claimed during the trial that Candy here, who is your ex-husband's Automate, tried to kill you. Are you still sticking to those claims you made in court?...."

"Absolutely." Camilla responded, "I told the absolute truth in court."

There was a doubtful murmer from some members of the audience.

"But why should people believe you when you admitted short-circuiting the Automate when you first met?" Tracy pressed.
"People should believe me because I admitted short-circuiting her - or it, rather." Camilla insisted, glancing disprovingly at Candy. Predictably the audience 'oooooo'ed. Well, if it was a cat fight they wanted, they'd get one......

"I was not prepared to lie in court. Everything I said was true." Camilla explained.

"So, what would you like to set straight with the audience and viewers today?"

"I'd like people to know that these pleasure droids are built as cheaply as possibly and that that means a limited amount of testing is done to ensure their programming is bug-free and safe. I really believe it's only a matter of time before someone is hurt or killed."

Candy scoffed slightly, her eyebrows raised dismissively.

"I wouldn't call three hundred thousand dollars cheap..." she purred, her posture shifting as her hands moved delicately to her slender waist.

"It doesn't matter how much you sell for - you could still be junk inside..." Camilla insisted, wondering if that remark was riding a little close to the bone.

"My circuits are in prime condition." Candy responded somewhat reproachfully, then smiling suddenly she added, ".....thanks to the hundred grand we won in court..."

The audience 'oooo'ed again and Camilla rolled her eyes.

"That's beside the point." she replied, looking to Tracy instead, "Automates can sell for whatever people are prepared to pay - they are still cheaply made."

"OK then, so......Candy......." Tracy began, "About the day you went to visit Camilla at her apartment......"

"Yes?" Candy breathed.

"Now I can understand if your memory of the incident is sketchy, but what exactly do you recall?"

Candy nodded once and looked confidently across at a nearby camera.

"Charlie and I had been invited to dinner at Cam's apartment." she explained, as Camilla let out a disbelieving gasp and shook her head. The shapely brunette continued non the less, and though Camilla could not see an autocue, she had the distinct impression Candy was reading from a script.

"During dinner Charlie was called away on business. He offered to drop me off at home, but Cam said she could give me a lift. Charlie was in such a rush anyway, and besides, Cam said that we hadn't had any time to really get to know eachother."

Camilla was dumbfounded, barely even able to gasp a reply.

"Wh...What a load of crap!!" she managed finally, "I don't know who reprogrammed you when they put you back together but that is far removed from what actually happened.....And don't call me Cam. My ex-husband used to call me that and I hated it."

Candy hesitated for a moment, then continued.

"Alright. But I remember it exactly. We were invited for dinner and Charlie was forced to leave. That was when you broke the water jug and asked me to clean it up." Candy insisted, her eyes rolling and a hand flitting up as if to attract Tracy's attention, "Little did I know that the jug had been broken on a live electric appliance. The shock was terrible." Candy gasped. Camilla just shook her head, closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. Tracy now addressed Camilla.

"So, you deny Charlie and Candy were invited for dinner."

Camilla sighed.

"Yes. Like I said in court, Charlie turned up out of the blue to see if he could patch things up with me. Candy turned up a few moments after he'd left asking for advice on how to make him happy. I guess Charlie must have said he was unhappy with her or something. She probably wasn't rolling his socks right." Camilla suggested. She went to continue, but Candy sighed and turned to face her again, interupting.

"I very much doubt it." she lilted, crossing her arms and arching her back slightly, "I know exactly how to make my Charlie happy."

As the voluptuous brunette's posture shifted provocatively inside her scant outfit there were wolf whistles from the audience once again and she looked across at the nearest camera again, her expression as confident as ever.

"You arrived asking for advice." Camilla insisted strongly, through semi-clenched teeth, then forcing a smile she turned back to Tracy and continued.

"It seemed to me that Charlie was bored with her. She said he'd complained that she was predictable and...well. a robot."

Candy turned to face her once again.

"You don't know what you're talking about." she insisted, her eyebrows arching slightly as if feigning offence, "Charlie's always been perfectly happy with me." She placed her hands daintily back on her elevated knee, looked at Tracy and wriggled her shoulders slightly, "I think this body would make any man happy, don't you think?"

There was more applause, wolf-whistles and a cheer from the audience, and Candy's flawless face turned proudly back to face the nearby camera as Camilla scowled and shook her head again. Tracy addressed Candy again.

"Now this is interesting, isn't it? Because of all the complaints there are about pleasure companions like yourself, the one we hear most often is that you exist just to please your owner, and that there is no equality of power in the relationship."

Candy frowned and nodded occassionally as if really listening to what Tracy was saying, as the host continued.
"Do you think there's more to your relationship with Charlie than just keeping him happy?" Tracy asked finally. The flawless brunette opposite her nodded knowingly, eyes wide and excited.

"Oh yes." Candy sighed, "Charlie likes to make me happy too. He's always buying me presents."

Camilla scoffed.

"Yeah, probably a shiny new vacuum cleaner or something equally romantic." she suggested almost under her breath. Candy rolled her eyes, laughing playfully, her hand flicking this time dismissively toward Camilla.

"Don't be silly Cam. He likes to treat me....."

Then the stunning brunette fell silent, still smiling, posed as if still speaking. After a moment her left hand moved smoothly up to her ear. Shortly the smile disappeared, an aloof serene gaze returning in it's place.

"Hey. What the. Who the hell are you? No." Candy purred softly. Camilla restrained a smile as Tracy looked on curiously. Suddenly the set wall some distance behind Tracy rattled and Camilla was aware off-stage yelling. Candy's arm lowered and she added, in her level even timbre,

"Leggo. Gimme that. Security. Security."

Another pause, then after another off-stage thumping sound and a muffled yell, she spoke again, still softly,
"Ow."
Candy seemed unphased by the absurdity of her own replies, still staring confidently and blinking intermitantly. Tracy seemed dumbfounded and leaned toward the girl.

"Candy...Are you ok?"

Candy blinked slowly then nodded, smiling pleasantly.

"Uh-huh. I feel great."

At that moment there was another commotion on the far side of the set behind Tracy's seat. Camilla noticed Andy jogging across the set toward her. A surly, determined-looking security gaurd followed closely behind. The audience murmered uneasily as the pair approached the diaz. Tracy even recoiled slightly. Andy had in his hand the microphone Camilla had seen in Candy's dressing room and he handed this to Tracy.

"I think you might like to speak into this." he said as he was grabbed roughly from behind.

"OK wise guy." the guard muttered, "Off we go."

Andy glanced at Camilla, smiling mischeviously as he was pulled away. Camilla smiled gratefully back. She noticed he had a small cut over his right eye. Behind him, at the perimeter of the set, Camilla saw Charlie, but he was restrained by a guard at either arm. Looking on, he struggled intermitantly to break free. There were some startled gasps from the audience as he did so. Camilla smiled at him and wriggled the fingers of one hand in a playfull wave.
"Speak into it!" Andy called again as he was led away. Then he disappeared from view behind the facade of the set, along with Charlie, and Camilla turned her attention back to Tracy. She was fingering the mike gingerly. Shortly she leaned her mouth toward it and blew into it twice.

"Testing. Testing." she murmered hesitantly.

"Testing. Testing." Candy echoed a moment later, staring at her serenely.

"Hello. This is Tracy Gillam speaking." Tracy said, a disapproving frown taking shape on her face. Candy looked at her confidently.

"Hello. This is Tracy Gillam speaking." she repeated smoothly. Tracy turned the microphone off and lowered it to her lap. Candy's left arm raised again, her hand pressing daintily at her ear.

"I think I know what's going on here Candy, and frankly I'm very disappointed." Tracy explained solemnly, "When I get a guest on my show, I expect to really connect with them. I want to know what they think about the issues in there life. You have betrayed my trust."

Camilla restrained a laugh and Candy's arm lowered again.

"Uh-huh." she sighed. Tracy continued, a little flustered to say the least.

"Now....We may as well continue......You were saying that Charlie likes to make you happy too...."

Candy just blinked slowly and then stared. Tracy waited.

"You said he's always buying you presents..." Tracy prompted eventually.

"Uh-huh." Candy breathed, nodding pleasantly. Tracy waited again then sighed.

"So, what has he bought for you recently?" she suggested impatiently.

"Charlie bought me make up." Candy chirped immediately, smirking proudly.

"Well, that's nice....But people could argue that that's as much a gift for him as for you.....To make you look nice for him?"

Candy just stared again. It was difficult to tell if it was a look of supreme confidence or not an expression at all. In the growing awkward silence, Camilla decided to sieze the opportunity, cutting in and addressing Candy.

"I wouldn't have thought an Automate would need to wear makeup. Surely you always look......perfect." she suggested, a hand flitting playfully up to her face as she rolled her eyes. Candy's head swivelled slightly to face her.

"I do look perfect. Charlie said so."

Camilla feigned a frown.

"Oh. So why would Charlie need to get you make up then?" she pressed.

"Charlie wants me to look my best for this afternoon's filming." Candy breathed perfectly on cue.

Camilla looked confused.

"Oh! But I thought you always look perfect."

Candy's deep brown eyes regarded her somewhat aloofly.

"I do. Charlie said so."

"But surely always looking perfect would mean you look your best all the time - so you don't need to use the make up."
"I always look perfect. Charlie said so. I must use the make up. Charlie said so." that sensuous even voice purred and Candy's head swiveled to look confidently at the nearby camera. Tracy cleared her throat.

"Um. Where is this going exactly?...." she murmered, clearly a little annoyed at having her show hijacked. Camilla turned to her and shrugged non chalantly.

"Oh, I was just wondering why Charlie would ask Candy to use make up to look her best when apparently she looks her best all the time."

At this, one of Candy's hands rose delicately to the side of her head again and her brow furrowed slightly. Shortly Candy's eyelids flickered for a moment then she sighed and softly breathed,
"You are getting me confused."

"It's quite simple." Camilla suggested clearly and precisely, "You're either not perfect all of the time, or you don't need to use the make up Charlie bought for you...."

"I am always perfect." Candy breathed, looking serenely at Camilla again, "Charlie said so. I must use the make up. Charlie said so."

Candy's raised hand lowered stiffly to her side and she uncrossed her long tanned legs, recrossing them immediately away from Camilla.

"You are confusing my circuits."

The attractive brunette's head swivelled back to face out at the camera - her deep chocolate brown eyes glistening in the bright studio lighting.

"Oh. I'm sorry." Camilla trilled, faking another frown, "But, hey, I thought your circuits were in 'prime condition'."
"They are. I have been fully reconditioned. Charlie said so." Candy replied smoothly, still looking into the camera smugly, "I always look so perfect. Charlie said so. I must use the make up. Charlie said so."

Then came the sound Camilla had been waiting for - a familiar delicate tick-tick-ticking that shifted in speed aimlessly. Candy's elevated right thigh lifted suddenly and her legs uncrossed once more as her head swivelled smoothly to look back at Camilla.

"I must not malfunction. Charlie said so. I am just such a bimbo. Charlie said so." Candy recited, her voice dreamy and laborious as the aimlessly ticking sound continued, slowing and speeding as if at random.
"Charlie does not lie. I must obey Charlie."

Her flawlessly made up face turned stiffly to face the camera once again and then Camilla noticed the internal ticking seemed to be speeding up gradually. The shapely brunette leaned forward slightly, her hands pressing lightly down on her thighs and she stood smoothly, her confident gaze fixed firmly on the camera ahead.

"I am programmed to obey Charlie. People will just love my body." she purred as she stepped forward slowly, her hands poised delicately at her sides.

"I have been fully reconditioned. I always look so perfect." she trilled dreamily, that increasingly more rapidly ticking sound still emitting softly from within her.

"I will be a world famous model yet. I have the looks for it. Charlie said so. I must not malfunction."

She stopped at the edge of the diaz and her hands rose smoothly up her body, one gently cupping her breast, the other brushing her hair smoothly behind one ear. So she remained posed for a few moments. The audience was strangely silent and that furious ticking sound rung out up into the spacious studio as it wound and sped still faster. On a monitor off to her left, Camilla noticed a shot of Candy's face looking straight at the camera. Her expression was of supreme confidence as her lips parted and she spoke again.

"I am over heating. I must not malfunction. I have been fully reconditioned. I am a brunette Barbie. Charlie said so. You are getting me confused. I must cool off." the curvatious brunette's voice calmly explained. There was a faint hum and the panel of skin on her back pushed outward smoothly. Tracy gaped and glanced at a cameraman to her right, pointing mutely. He immediately shifted his camera nearer to Tracy to get the shot. Candy seemed to notice him and turned with him as he moved, her confident expression unfaltering.

"I have the perfect body for modelling. Big boobs are coming back. Charlie said so. Coming back. Cool off."

There was suddenly a crackle and a flash. A single blue spark spat down out of the wiring of Candy's opened panel. Her torso jerked and her head wobbled as a faint puff of smoke rose up behind her. Her slender arms lowered slightly, freezing while still bent at the elbows, the perfectly manicured fingers pointing rigidly ahead of her. The ticking sped to an indiscernable buzz and Candy stepped down awkwardly off the diaz toward the camera. On the monitor to the left, there was a shifting close up of Candy's face. That perfect smile seemed strangely pasted on - those formerly serene brown eyes somewhat wide and vacant.

"Warning. I am perfect for modelling. Priority conflict. For modelling."

Her voice was suddenly even less expressive - almost a monotone. There was another flash of sparks and the overly voluptuous android spun slightly to her left. A tiny blackened smoking component clattered to the ground behind her, then the tall brunette seemed to notice the first camera she had been looking at and turned jerkily toward it, her rigid hands and ample bust swinging about out in front of her.

"I must not malfunction. Must not. Error."

She had scarcely glanced at it when there was an soft clattering sound from inside her and another shower of blue sparks crackled, cascading from the cavity in that bronzed bare back. She appreared to notice the third camera and continued turning anti-clockwise. There was suddenly the persistant sound of whining, melting circuits and as she continued speaking, the exotically tanned plaything began turning indecisively this way and that to face the cameras surrounding her.

"Over heating. For modelling. Big boobs. Fully. Malfunction. Malfunction."

When her flawlessly made up face swung into view it was contorting wildly, the brows stretching and twisting, the generous lips straining against eachother inhumanly, the eyes crossing and uncrossing, their lids alternately flickering half closed and pulling wide open.

"Over. Load. Big. Must. Boobs. Not."

The crackling sparks intensified and that monotonous voice began to speak just pieces of words, the sylables cutting off with abrupt unnatural clicks. The statuesque pleasure droid continued spinning indecisively about, intermitantly jerking to a halt or taking a single awkward step toward the camera she happened to be facing, then spinning in the other direction, sparks and puffs of smoke issuing constantly from her back amid the continuing whine and crackle of shorting circuits. Finally as she faced the diaz mid-turn, there was a still brighter flash and that over-endowed torso lurched forward slightly, immediately jerking to a mechanical halt, the arms and bust bouncing unnaturally. The head tipped back and bounced there, the eyes rolled back, and the voluptuous brunette was abruptly frozen with her mouth wide open.

"I..I.IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII"
[[Image:Model_Citizen.jpg|thumb|300px|right]]

The word was just a digitised tone emitting from the full parted lips, and as it continued, a thin thread of smoke trailed from the mouth of the defunct shapely machine. The internal crackling increased again in frequency and volume, flashes suddenly showing as orange through the tanned skin of that generously exposed, forward tilted cleavage. There was suddenly another bright flash accompanied by a much louder pop that made many in the studio jump. That digitised vocal tone finally cut off and an unseen engine wound down quickly inside the inanimate shapely doll. There was stunned silence, broken only by the occasional faint fizzle from within the smouldering voluptuous bronzed figure.
In the silence, Tracy gasped. Candy remained motionless, posed crookedly forward with her head back and her arms bent stiffly at her sides, smoke issuing steadily upwards from her mouth and from the smouldering cavity of her back. Tracy gasped again then looked at Camilla. Camilla just shrugged.

"See what I mean? Well 'built', maybe, but not well made."

The End.

-----

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