“What is it this time, Spencer? Do you need more money?” Cassandra asked impatiently.
“No Mom, I'm afraid it's a bit worse than that, I was let go from my job...”
She let out a deep sigh. “That's very disappointing. I pulled strings to get you that job, so when it doesn't work out that makes me look bad.”
“Yes, well, and the timing was unfortunate. I was already struggling with rent since Betty broke up with me and moved out, and now the landlord won't renew me without proof of income. I was hoping maybe you would co-sign a new lease?”
“OK, but understand you're putting me into a difficult situation. I'm not going to make myself liable for your entire rent. But I guess you can move into the guest room for a bit until you figure out your next step.” Cassandra looked around her sleek high-rise condo uneasily at the thought of how disruptive this might be; she had lived alone there for some time and was quite accustomed to everything being just so.
Spencer realized he had no other option here. “OK, I'll be by tomorrow with my stuff.”
“Tomorrow? Doesn't your landlord have to give you some notice?”
An awkward silence ensued. “Yes, he gave me 30 days, but they're over. I was hoping to figure out another solution. You're my last stop before homelessness.”
“This is not a great time for this; Ava is out right now, so I'm going to need you to clean up after yourself and pull your weight. Can you do that?”
As before, there was no real choice to be made. “Yes Mom, I promise to help out until you get your maidbot repaired.”
“I've heard such promises from you before. How will this time be different?”
“This time,” he said rather unconvincingly, “I really mean it.”
Hanging up, Cassandra braced herself for what was to come. Spencer could be uncooperative and had a flair for the dramatic. She recalled a time when her son was nine and she grounded him for misbehaving. In response, he started calling his bedroom a “cell,” bedtime “lock-down,” and his mother “boss.” He used a Sharpie to draw an inmate number on his t-shirts. His prison game became increasingly elaborate and his mother began to doubt he was even feeling punished. The only thing that worked was playing along, shaping his behavior with offers of “parole” and whimsical threats to throw him in “the hole.” Alas, her son was thirty now, so such childish games seemed long behind them.
“Good morning Son, settling in OK?” Cassandra stood in the guest room doorway. She saw Spencer had begun to unpack his boxes of items associated with his hobbies, which seemed to change weekly.
Still in bed, he did not open his eyes as he replied. “Yes Mom, I'm fine.”
“OK, I'm off to work, please remember our agreement that you need to help out and this is temporary. At the very least do some laundry today, and we'll talk more tonight.” Spencer grunted his reluctant acknowledgment as he rolled over.
An hour later, he got up and started looking for something to eat in the kitchen. Looking for something that did not require much preparation, he stumbled into an odd closet next to the pantry. It was the maidbot's space, a feature now considered a must-have in luxury kitchens; several of Ava's frilly uniforms were neatly hanging. Puttering, he eventually decided he would humor his mother and do the wash. Looking around her generous walk-in closet he found her wicker hamper, identical to two others he'd seen. The one in the guest room was still empty, so he checked the one in the maidbot closet.
Rather than focus on the task, Spencer hatched a plan to shame his mother into being less demanding: he could put on Ava's maidbot attire and act like he was a maidbot, thereby mocking her request for him to do laundry like a servant. He looked over the stockings and frilly skirts that Ava would wear; his slight 5'5” frame was similar to Ava's and so her uniform should fit him, should he dare to try.
The stockings slid up his smooth legs easily, producing silky sensations. The corset gave him some subtle curves, making him resemble a real maidbot shape. Already he was beginning to forget his rebellious plans and just lean into the titillating qualities of the outfit; he donned the frilly top and skirt and even the panties. Lastly, he found a maid's headband and matching collar, accessories that seemed sure to complete the look. As soon as he put the collar on, however, a green light blinked, as did Spencer. He heard the words “Ava-135-849ff3 control link active” in Ava's soft-spoken robotic voice, and was a bit startled to realize it was coming from his own mouth.
After the collar enabled the maidbot system to take over Spencer's body, he stood still for a few moments while routines and procedures downloaded. Once this was completed he suddenly sprung into motion, starting with the laundry. As his eyes darted around the room the augmented vision highlighted problem areas: dirt, dust, and items slightly askew. There were a lot of them, since the house had been without a maid for a couple of weeks now.
Without the capacity for distraction, he made rapid progress. After cleaning the primary bedroom and bathroom, Spencer folded and put away the laundry before moving to the kitchen, instructed by the system to begin supper. His body cooked a simple pasta dish, timed to coincide with the arrival of Spencer's mom, though the system would not allow him to call her that.
“Good evening Mistress, your supper is ready.”
Cassandra flipped through the incoming mail, and did not look up. “Good evening Ava, glad the repair place finally returned you.”
“Mistress? I don't know what you mean.”
Cassandra looked more closely at “Ava” and burst out laughing. “Spencer? Why are you dressed as the maid? Your impression of her voice is dead on, and her clothes even fit you, but why?”
There was no response.
“Spencer? Hello?” she prodded before realizing he was messing with her. “Ava? Thank you for becoming my literal beck-and-call servant, that's exactly what I meant by 'helping out a little,'” she cried out with dripping sarcasm.
“You're welcome Mistress,” Ava replied earnestly, and turned to walk to the dining room.
Their verbal dance continued throughout dinner. “OK 'Ava,' you've proven your point I guess, do you want to just sit down and have supper with me?”
“No thank you Mistress, I am not hungry, and my programming would never allow me to be so presumptuous as to dine with my owner.”
“Owner? So that would make you...my property? Isn't that just a tad excessive?”
“This unit will refer to itself by whatever label you see fit to specify, Mistress.”
Eventually Cassandra's amusement turned to annoyance. “I'm a bit tired of you mocking my very reasonable requests, so please load the dishwasher and knock off the theatrics.” she exclaimed, heading to her room. The system commanded Ava to clear the table and clean up after supper, along with some vacuuming and other overdue household tasks. Finally the clock reached 10 PM, the beginning of configured quiet hours, and so Spencer found his body walking back to the maid's closet, the place that started all this trouble. The soiled uniform came off, leaving him naked but for the control collar.
Moving to the maintenance pod in the corner he stood, back facing the wall, on two marked foot outlines. First two arms extended from behind him; these arms held his body and head upright. A small saddle-shaped apparatus rose up from the floor between his legs; when it reached groin height a rear probe extended into his rectum. He connected a charging cable to his collar, and the system shut Spencer's eyes for the night. The pod began to clean out his system before depositing a nanopaste that would both provide optimal nourishment and absorb bodily waste, eliminating any need for him to eat, drink, or use the bathroom. The system would be taking care of his needs now.
Cassandra was surprised to wake to a maidbot at her bedside, in a fresh uniform, carrying a breakfast tray with french toast and coffee. So, he is not yet tired of this game. She continued to play along and escalate.
“Thank you 'Ava,' when I get home this evening I shall expect clean linens on this bed.”
“Yes Mistress, I shall see to it.”
“And all of the windows urgently need washing.”
“Yes ma'am, happy to serve.”
“And I expect a great deal of pampering from you, starting with a foot massage.”
She tried and tried but nothing could faze him. Finally she left for work.
“Automatic reorder of nanopaste,” Cassandra muttered at her desk. Coming out of a meeting she saw a notification from the app for the maidbot system indicating that, based on recent changes in usage, more was recommended. But what recent changes in usage? She opened the app to see.
“Ava-135-849ff3 status: active,” showed the screen. But her maidbot isn't there, so what is active? The next line read “Interface mode: human.” Looks like my son may have gotten in over his head, she thought.
Rushing home, Cassandra found her 'maidbot' busy dusting. “Ava, stop what you are doing and stand still,” she directed. She walked over and removed his collar; it fastened with a simple clasp, no lock or anything, but none was needed since the system would never allow its wearer to remove it. Spencer's balance wavered; Ava knew how to walk in heels but he did not. She looked into her son's eyes and saw a more familiar light return.
“Spencer sweetheart, are you alright? How did this happen?”
He did not speak right away, but sat down on the couch, a comfort he hadn't been permitted for the past day. “Wow, that was the weirdest thing I've ever experienced,” said a voice that was no longer Ava's.
“How much do you remember?” she asked uneasily.
“Everything I think, I was fully aware of what's going on around me while the system is directing me, I just don't control my body.”
“I'm so sorry, I thought you were just playing a game to mess with me.”
“I mean, at first that was kinda the plan, but then the system kept making me do more things.”
“Well, that's all over with now. You should change out of Ava's clothes; I'll order out for supper.”
Spencer was starting to feel himself again, coming to the kitchen in torn jeans and a tasteless T-shirt. Chinese delivery food had just arrived, and his mother prepared him a plate. He sat down at the table, another indulgence the system had not allowed him. He wasn't hungry, the nanopaste still being in his system, but he did miss the taste of food and began to eat.
“So, now that you're you again, what now?” she inquired.
“I'm not sure, while I was Ava I was living in the moment. No future concerns or anxieties.”
“Kind of a shame the world doesn't work that way.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know you're saying I need another job. Just...”
Spencer suddenly jumped up and sprinted to the toilet. At first his mother thought he was fleeing the conversation, but then she heard the Kung Pao chicken erupting from his stomach. He drank some water and found that even keeping that down was a bit challenging. Worried, his mother called the maidbot support line; they advised her that switching back to regular food from nanopaste could be quite disruptive to the digestive system, and he should limit himself to clear liquids for a few days.
Her guilt caused a bit of a role reversal for that evening as Cassandra fussed over Spencer. As evening came he headed to his room and slept uneasily, his stomach still queasy, and he was still snoring when she left for work the next morning.
Returning home, Cassandra felt for a moment like she was living Groundhog Day, because huge changes from yesterday appeared to be reset. Ava/Spencer, back in full uniform including collar, greeted her at the door, the mess from last night had been tidied, and supper had been prepared. Utterly dumbfounded, she once again removed Ava's collar in order to speak with Spencer.
She tried not to sound shocked. “So, you put the collar back on? On purpose this time?”
Spencer avoided her eye contact. “I was hungry and feeling bad after a night without the nanopaste, and still wasn't able to eat anything else. I figured putting the collar back on would fix things.”
Cassandra tried not to roll her eyes. “And you didn't realize it would also cause you to dress like that and clean the house?”
Even more sheepishly, he admitted that he did, and he'd wanted that part too. “I was trying to do some housework, but kept getting distracted, and I didn't want to disappoint you again.”
He's trying to make this my fault, she bristled. “Spencer, please. You're my son and I love you, but I expect you to be a functional adult. Can't you do that without being controlled like a maidbot?”
He finally met her gaze. “I felt such a sense of calm and purpose that way; I know this might sound nuts but it was one of the best days I've had in a while. Then I stopped doing it, and my anxieties returned. And let's be honest, left to my own devices I would create a mess, you would come home and ask about my job search, we would be butting heads constantly.”
Cassandra frowned at her son but couldn't disagree.
“So I was thinking about it. I need a mental vacation for a bit, after the changes and stress I've been through lately, and you need a maidbot because yours is being repaired. This way we can both get what we want. All I ask in return is that you hold off on bugging me about finding a job.”
The lengths my child will go to, she mused, to avoid a conversation with his mother. “So I'm not saying yes, but explain how this would work.”
“I'll allow the system to direct me to take care of the place.”
If I say no, she reasoned, then my rejection will become his excuse for everything. Whereas if I let him try, he'll surely want to stop once the novelty wears off.
He continued. “I figure once the android Ava returns, she can cook and clean for both of us, so my living here wouldn't be such an imposition. So just until then.”
“This still feels quite strange, but I suppose we can try it your way for just a bit. Once Ava is repaired, we need to discuss your plans for the future.”
“Agreed,” Spencer said, dreading the day of that discussion.
“So when do you want to start? Next Monday maybe?” she proposed, half hoping by then this whole thing would be forgotten.
“I was thinking this evening, so I can get properly 'fed' with nanopaste instead of having to transition. Otherwise I'll just spend the weekend being ill.”
She handed him the control collar. “So soon! I guess, just put this back on whenever you feel ready. And remember we can stop at any time.”
Cassandra removed Spencer's control collar, as she did each morning. “Good morning Son. So it's been three days now, how would you say it's going?”
“It's kind of cool! I never knew it was possible to get so much done.”
“Letting the maidbot system control you does seem productive, but I'm mainly concerned with how you're feeling inside there.”
“I mean, I'm good with it. I don't feel anxious and I have a sense of purpose now.”
“Well, I just want to know how much I appreciate what you've done to help make things smooth while we share the same space. Are you sure you want to keep going at this?”
He nodded. She gave her boy a hug and replaced his collar. He doesn't seem close to giving up, she conceded. Maybe if I ask him for a foot massage tonight.
Cassandra raised her voice into the phone. “What do you mean, you can't give me a date for the repairs to be complete? How much longer will I be without my maidbot?”
The customer service agent delivered a scripted apology. “I'm sorry about that ma'am, but it's beyond our control. We were already low on android parts when that South China Sea tsunami hit last month...”
“Yes, I saw that on the news, but what's that got to do with it?”
“We source our servos from two factories in different countries, and the incident hit them both. One was severely damaged and the other almost completely destroyed. So that portion of our supply chain needs to be rebuilt, which will take several months, perhaps more than a year.”
“That's very distressing. Isn't there anything that can be done here?”
There was a pause. “Ma'am, normally in this situation we apply a credit to your account for not using the service, but when I look it shows your maidbot Ava as active.”
She paused. “Yes, my son has been wearing her collar as sort of a game, but obviously that's a short term thing,” she said sheepishly.
“I understand your concerns and I wish I could help you, but with the current global parts shortage, the only way you can have a maidbot is with a human volunteer.”
Hanging up, Cassandra realized she was going to be finding herself without assistance. Obviously she couldn't keep her child as a maidbot for a year or longer, that would be crazy!
Another week passed. Responding to a summons to the living room, Ava entered to see Cassandra holding her phone. Spencer found his body suddenly working again.
“I figured out I can use the app to deactivate the system,” she explained, “which is handy. How are you doing, Son?”
Spencer took a seat. “I still feel it's going smoothly! Yesterday I got all the sheets changed in record time, so I feel like I'm hitting my stride.”
“You do seem to have the household well in hand.”
Spencer flexed his leg. “And look at my calf muscle definition! Walking around in heels seems to be good for them.”
“Yes, about that. Do you want to see if we can get you something to wear that's not so, er, humiliating?”
“I suppose some people might find it uncomfortable, but with my acting background I know that 'Ava' is a character I inhabit, so really she's the one wearing it, not me.”
Cassandra thought that perhaps her son was a bit generous in calling two high school plays an 'acting background,' but humored him. “This seems like a pretty demanding part you're playing.”
“Yes, I suppose it is, and the maidbot system is a demanding director, but Mr. Gooseman always said those things make for the very best performances.”
“I have to hand it to you, you seem to be handling these demands so far,” Cassandra concluded, then smiled mischievously at her phone. “OK then: open on living room, scene where maidbot gives owner foot massage, take one, action!” She punctuated the last word with a button press that brought Ava back online.
Ava double-checked the cheeseboard she had been directed to prepare, and confirmed the white wine was properly chilled. She brought these items out to the living room, where Cassandra was chatting with another woman who seemed to be a colleague, and stood to the side.
“Oh, you're so lucky to have a maidbot!”
“I do appreciate Ava,” Cassandra smiled as she thought of her maidbot's secret.
“I'm on the list to get one, but they tell me it will be a while. I don't suppose you'd consider lending yours out to friends?”
Ava showed no reaction, but Spencer did not like where this was going.
“Oh, I don't think so.”
“Are you sure? I could really use her for just a couple days, and I would owe you a huge favor.”
“Huge favor, I do like the sound of that,” she said, leaving a pregnant pause. “But no, my maidbot is very dear to me.”
“That's a pity. Let me know if you reconsider.”
The next two weeks seemed to fly by with Ava/Spencer maintaining the home while Cassandra's work demanded most of her energy. The condo was spotless. Spencer even became accustomed to the nanopaste dispenser's nightly violation. They agreed that they no longer needed to chat about how things were going every single day, but still vowed to do so regularly. A post-supper foot massage was a regular part of the evening.
One morning, the system directed Spencer to answer the door for two visitors whose uniforms identified them as “clutter wranglers.” Once inside they went directly to Spencer's room. After an hour Spencer found himself escorting them out with a few large boxes in tow. Shortly the system sent new commands to dust, vacuum, and refresh the bedding in what it now called the “unoccupied guest room.” He found the space restored to the minimal generic decor it had before he moved in. His clothing, his collectibles, even his wallet on the dresser, all had been taken away.
Spencer wondered why his mother had arranged this. He had to admit that he wasn't using that stuff, spending his days maintaining the home and nights in the maidbot maintenance pod. Still, questions remained. Were his things being stored somewhere? Did she need the room for something else? If this was Spencer's legal address, why was there now no trace of him to be found? He tried not to think about it as he continued his task list.
Some of his questions were answered when the system once again steered him to the door, which he answered to find his sister. Alexis lived in New York where she worked for an investment firm. She found as much success in her career as her brother did failure, a fact she reminded him of at every opportunity.
Ava curtsied to greet her. “Let me help you with your luggage, ma'am.” She carried the suitcase inside and placed it in what was, until recently, Spencer's room.
“That flight was awful, I really need a shower,” she spoke mostly to herself. Facing away from the maidbot, she rapidly peeled off her dress, the fabric pooling at her feet. “Take care of that, Ava, and help me unhook my bra.” Spencer could only watch helplessly as his body walked toward his nearly-naked kid sister; his hands unfastened her and she let the bra fall to the floor. Turning around, she dropped her panties as well, and a quick kick sent them flying right into Ava's face. Now fully nude, she continued to bark commands. “And take care of the rest of my dirty things as well.”
“Yes Miss Alexis, my pleasure.” Gathering the items Ava left the room, much to Spencer's relief. His sister had always been a bit of a jerk, but he'd never have guessed the way she treats maidbots.
“Don't you just love this Thai food that Ava made?” Cassandra inquired of her daughter.
“Um, sure. Didn't you say that Spencer had moved in with you? What happened with that?”
“She downloads and applies online libraries that can teach her to make almost anything!”
“And that's another thing, I thought your maidbot was in the shop?”
Cassandra couldn't resist a riddle. “Darling, I think you'll find the answer to both your questions has been right in front of you the whole time.”
“What the heck is that supposed to mean? The only thing in front of me is...” Alexis looked Ava in the eye for the first time since she had arrived. “Why does your maidbot look like my brother?”
Half an hour later, Alexis still seemed befuddled by her mother's explanations. “So you turned my loser brother into your maidbot because of an earthquake in Vietnam?”
“Please don't refer to Spencer like that. Here, let me turn the system off so he can help explain.”
“Mom, that's not necessa...” she trailed off
Spencer spoke softly. “Hello sister, how are you?”
A bit embarrassed over their earlier interaction, Alexis went on the offensive. “I can't believe you tried to trick me by pretending to be the maidbot! You might have mom fooled but I see right through you!”
“I can see how this whole thing may seem a bit unusual,” Spencer began.
“Mom, he was perving on me changing and sniffing my panties! So gross.”
“That's not exactly what happened.”
“Now children, no bickering. I can't send you to your rooms so this will have to suffice,” said, reactivating the system's control of Spencer. “You will get along with each other while you're both under my roof, so you get back to your duties and you let your brother do his thing.”
“Ava, write L for Loser on your forehead in permanent marker.” Alexis, still skeptical, shadowed Ava around as she worked and constantly tested her.
“I'm sorry Miss Alexis, my programming requires maintaining a professional, efficient appearance of service.”
“Ava, scrub the toilet with your face.”
“Ma'am, the bathrooms were thoroughly deep-cleaned this morning, but I will do the toilets again. My programming requires the use of proper cleaning tools.”
“Ava, go run around the block naked.”
“I'm sorry Miss Alexis, my programming requires remaining properly uniformed at all times, except within a maidbot service space.”
Alexis considered this sentence a moment, and broke out an evil grin.
Just as every other day, at 10 PM Ava walked to the maidbot service closet. Alexis followed and hovered, obstructing her from closing the door.
“Miss Alexis, I am going offline for the night, was there something you needed?”
“No, I just want to watch. If you're really a maidbot, surely you won't mind?”
Spencer very much did mind, and he really hoped there was some maidbot rule that would save him here. Alas, his mouth formed the words “Of course not, ma'am.”
She pulled out her phone. “And as a mere maidbot, surely you won't mind if I make a video?”
Ava repeated the same response and Alexis began recording.
Much to Spencer's horror, Ava began to remove her uniform. The headband came off first; without it Spencer's not-terribly-feminine hair became more obvious, making Ava look less like a maid and more like a creepy guy wearing a maid's uniform. One by one other garments followed, each producing a snicker from the audience, until only the collar remained.
“Spencer, look at me,” Alexis said to no response. “Ava, look at me,” she corrected herself. “This is payback for earlier.”
Spencer wanted to argue but maidbots are not allowed to. “I am very sorry about what happened earlier, Miss Alexis.”
“Ava, do a 360, slowly.”
Spencer's naked body rotated, exposing every part to his sister's cruel gaze. He did not see how this could get any worse.
“Ava, touch yourself.”
“I am sorry ma'am, my programming does not support any form of sexual activity.”
Having found a limit, Alexis shifted tactics. “Spencer,” she began, indicating her phone, “I just remembered I still have the contact info for your ex-girlfriend Betty. I should send this so she knows what a bullet she dodged.”
Spencer's non-reaction finally proved his authenticity to her, yet she continued to film. Ava moved toward the maintenance pod in the corner. Alexis zoomed as the saddle and probe rose up from the floor to meet her brother's no-longer-private parts. His body became still and his eyes closed as the machinery engaged. She panned to a wall-mounted display reading “Administering enema 1 of 3” and decided that was a good place to cut.
Although she never learned about her daughter's most heinous acts, Cassandra certainly knew Alexis was less than kind to her brother. After the visit ended wanted to make up for it with a benevolent gesture; she requested Ava come to the living room and deactivated the system.
“Hello Spencer, why don't you change from Ava's outfit into your own clothes? I want to spend some real quality time with my favorite son.”
He shifted uneasily. “Thanks Mom, but you, um, had all my stuff carted away, remember?”
She thought for a moment. “Oh, I suppose I did do that,” she replied passively.
Things remained awkward. She had to remind Spencer he was allowed to have a seat on the couch. The only questions Cassandra could think to ask concerned household tasks. She microwaved some popcorn to share, forgetting Spencer couldn't eat it. They watched TV in silence.
After twenty minutes she turned to her son who, having no other option, was still wearing a maidbot uniform.
“Ava, come rub my feet.”
Spencer rose and stood in front of her. “Um, Mom? I'm me right now, not Ava.”
Embarrassed by yet another faux pas, she fumbled with an apology.
He knelt before her and spoke graciously. “It's OK Mom, just switch me back and ask again.”
Eager to dispel the tension, Cassandra pressed the button. Both felt a huge relief to put things back to normal.